By Ehichioya Steve Odion
The league of top media Executives and Publishers of Private Community/Grassroots newspapers and magazines in the South South Geo-Political Zone, under the auspices of South South Publishers Forum, has appealed to the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to consider and create the office of Senior Special Assistant on Community Newspapers Publishers in Edo State.
This request was made during its regular meeting held in Benin City, Edo State Capital between Wednesday 24th to Thursday 25th, April 2024, when they later visited Edo State Government House, where they met with the Special Adviser to Governor on Media Project Mr. Crusoe Osagie, who played host to the group on behalf of His Excellency Governor Godwin Obaseki.
The leader of the delegation to the Edo State Seat of Power, Prince Joseph Orhomonokpaye, Senior Special Assistant SSA on Community Newspapers to Delta State Governor and Publisher of Delta Guide Newspaper, conveyed the warmest regards of the publishers in the South South Geo-Political Zone to the Governor for his overwhelming achievements.
The South South Publishers, after a critical look at the massive infrastructural development, people - oriented programmes and policies of the State government, including the recently initiated strategic 30-year development master plan, commended the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki for his gigantic developmental strides across the state in the course of his two - term administration that will wind up in November this year.
The Publishers, while emphasising the need for sustenance of the solid developmental foundation and blueprint laid down by Gov. Obaseki, underscored the need for continuity of those programmes and policies through a well groomed successor that shares identical vision, passion and dedication to service.
The Publishers appealed to the Edo State Governor to consider the creation of the Office of Senior Special Assistant on Community Newspapers with the appointment of a renowned indigenous publisher into the office, to ensure better synergy between the government and the community newspapers' constituency, being the closest medium of information, education and entertainment to the grassroots.
While thanking the Edo State Governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki for his passion for the BRACED Commission to which he hosted his fellow Governors and stakeholders to a crucial meeting earlier this year, the South South Publishers called on Governor Obaseki to intensify efforts of collaborating with his fellow South South States' Governors to re-activate the BRACED Commission initiated many years ago to enable it serve its purpose.
They emphasized that the BRACED Commission which means Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Edo and Delta States' Commission, remains the only platform capable of spearheading the attainment of regional development goals, stressing that the need for the collaborative initiative of a regional development template that could see the active participation of all State Governors, Law Makers of affected states and National Assembly as well as other Stakeholders from the South South Geo-Political Zone cannot be overemphasized.
The Publishers urged the Special Adviser on Media Projects to the Edo State Governor, Mr. Crusoe Osagie who played host to them on behalf of the governor, to close ranks with the state-based publishers for the overall benefit of the state.
The Publishers commended the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Project Mr. Crusoe Osagie for his warm reception, hospitality and painstaking efforts of taking the Publishers on an inspection tour of the remodeled Nigerian Observer facility, one of the Governor Obaseki's legacy projects that showcases his passion for excellence and quality service delivery, as well as passionate dedication towards leaving lasting legacies for the people of Edo State.
In his response, Mr. Crusoe Osagie thanked the publishers for their positive assessment of the achievements of his boss, Gov. Obaseki, with an assurance that he will convey the outcome of the meeting to the Governor, just as he assured the Edo State Chapter of the body of closer partnership on the publicity of the state through their respective mediums.
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