RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT RESTATED IT’S COMMITMENT TO PARTNER THE MEDIA AT ALL TIMES ON PROJECT DELIVERY.

The Rivers State Government has restated its commitment to partner the media at all times in order to consolidate on the delivery of infrastructural development and good governance.

The State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim stated this in a keynote address at the 2021 Media Day organized by the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt District 911 with the theme, Developing Media Infrastructure for Good Governance.

He said using the various media infrastructure in which a wide range of debates take place and variety of viewpoints were expressed the Rivers State Government led by Governor Nyesom Wike had continued to deliver projects that impacted positively for the betterment of Rivers State and its people.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Director Public Enlightenment in the Ministry, Celestine Ogolo said between last year and the whole of the first quarter of 2021, Rivers State was on the global map as eminent citizens of Nigeria joined Governor Wike to commission projects in eleven Local Government Areas of the State.

 He noted that this unprecedented development was coming at a time when most leaders were using the Covid-19 pandemic to cover their ineptitude.

Nsirim asserted that many social commentators across the country had opined with convictions that the only person who can realistically bear the impressive record was Governor Nyesom Wike himself, especially when the next phase of projects commissioning would commence, which would unveil some of the most amazing and marvelous legacy infrastructural projects ever seen in Rivers State.

He said plans were underway to revamp the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation to enhanced its mandate and give it a competitive edge in the media industry, as well as digitalize the State owned broadcast media platforms.

Nsirim further stated that with the digital switch over expected to take place in the State on July 8, 2021, broadcast stations in the state and consumers were on for good times.

He enumerated the advantages which the digital switch over would bring to the industry and the state describing it as enormous.

Nsirim said over the years, the Rivers State Government had made huge investments in these MDA’s to underscore the importance attached to them in ensuring good governance, especially in the areas of rule of law, transparency, accountability effectiveness, consensus oriented equity and inclusiveness and responsiveness.

Aside these, he said the Rivers State Government under the visionary leadership of Governor Wike had been open to the infrastructure of Independent Media in the State to ensure good governance.

He said the Governor believed strongly that good governance can be facilitated by a strong and independent media scope.

Also speaking, President of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, District 9141,  Adeolu Okanlawon, said the Media Day was for the appraisal of the clubs activities in terms of its public image.

Okanlawon further said the event was imperative, as it provided the club an opportunity to project its activities on an annual basis, interns of programmes and projects, saying the country was still emerging hence the government and the media must synergize for development.

In her remarks, Chairperson, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, Mrs. Susan Serekara Nwikhana, urged the government to assist the media in the area of infrastructure and welfare.

She called for the building of a media village, which would house all media organizations in each state for better interaction and productivity.

High point of the event was the award of Professional Excellence in Journalism to the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim by Rotary Club.