A Two Day Media Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, South East Zone, was held at Lyon De Gold Hotel, 4 Rangers Avenue, Enugu, on Wednesday, 28 & Thursday, 29th September 2022.
The Summit themed ‘ The South East In the Geo- Politics of Nigeria: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, was attended by dignitaries, including the Governor of Enugu State, represented by his Special Adviser on Information, Barr. Steve Ororuo, Distinguished Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who delivered the Keynote, and the National President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, among others.
The Summit deliberated on a wide range of issues concerning the South East Zone and the Media Industry in the Zone.
The event was also used to recognise Five Individuals, including the Governor of Enugu State, HE, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyii, for their exceptional contributions to the development of the South East Zone of Nigeria and the Media industry.
After a careful deliberation, the Summit resolved as follows:
IT URGED POLITICIANS/ THE ELECTORATE IN THE SOUTH EAST ZONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE PROVIDED BY IGBO INDIGENOUS MEDIA OWNERS TO DISSEMINATE USEFUL INFORMATION AND PROMOTE UNITY OF PURPOSE IN THE ZONE THROUGH SUCH MEDIA CHANNELS OWNED BY NDI IGBO.
IT CALLED FOR ALL INCLUSIVE SENSITISATION OF STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ZONE- PROFESSIONALS/POLITICIANS AND INDEED THE ELECTORATE, ON ISSUES THAT WILL FACILITATE THE SPEEDY DEVELOPMENT OF THE ZONE, INCLUDING THE NEED TO RESTORE THE VALUES OF HONESTY, RESPECT FOR CONSTITED AUTHORITY, AND THE NEED FOR A VIOLENCE FREE ELECTIONS.
THE SUMMIT URGED THE MEDIA INDUSTRY IN THE ZONE TO PROVIDE THE ELECTORATE WITH THE RIGHT INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO ELECT CREDIBLE AND CAPABLE LEADERS IN THE ZONE. AS WELL AS ENSURE THAT SUCH LEADERS ARE SUPPORTED NOT CASTIGATED PUBLICLY.
THE SUMMIT CONDEMNED THE NEGATIVE REPORTAGE OF THE ZONE AND SOME LEADERS FROM THE ZONE, BY SOME MEDIA HOUSES IN THE ZONE AND ADVISED SUCH MEDIA ESTABLISHMENTS TO DESIST FROM SUCH FORTHWITH AS THE PRACTICE WAS UNDERMINING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ZONE.
IT URGED THE MEDIA IN THE ZONE TO PROMOTE THE NEED FOR STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ZONE, INCLUDING GOVERNORS, LEGISLATORS AND OTHERS TO WORK TOWARDS THE FORMULATION OF A SOUTH EAST DEVELOPMENT AGENDA, AS A DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK, AS WELL AS ENCOURAGE SOUTH EASTERNERS TO INVEST IN THE ZONE, IN ORDER TO QUICKEN THE PACE OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE ZONE AND MAKE IT MORE ECONOMICALLY VIABLE.
THE SUMMIT URGED THE MEDIA TO ENSURE THAT ALL THOSE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY IN THE ZONE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND PERIODICALLY EXAMINED TO ENSURE THAT THEIR PROGRAMES ARE CARRIED OUT TO THE LETTER.
THE SUMMIT STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE IGBO SOCIO- CULTURAL ORGANISATION, OHANEZE NDIGBO,TO SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE, AT ALL TIMES, AND THE NEED FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE SOUTH EAST TO RESPECT THEIR VIEWS ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE ZONE, IN THE OVERALL INTEREST OF THE ZONE.
IT ALSO STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE MEDIA IN THE ZONE, TO PRESENT A UNITED FRONT THROUGH THEIR PROGRAMMES AND CONTENTS, TO AVOID DISUNITY OF PURPOSE,
THE SUMMIT COMMENDED THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION, INEC, FOR DEMONSTRATING IT’S READINESS TO CONDUCT THE 2023 POLLS, ,BY STEADILY IMPLEMENTING THE TIME TABLE FOR THE EXERCISE AND URGED POLITICIANS AND POLITICAL PARTIES, IN THE SOUTH EAST, TO PLAY BY THE RULES, AS CAMPAIGNS FOR ThE POLLS COMMENCED.
IT ALSO URGED GOVERNORS OF ALL THE SOUTH EAST STATES TO WORK WITH RELEVANT SECURITY AGENCIES TO GUARANTEE PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE ZONE ,IN ORDER TO ATTRACT INVESTORS AND CREATE THE MUCH NEEDED EMPLOYMENT FOR OUR TEEMING YOUTH.
IT THANKED THE GOVERNOR OF ENUGU STATE, HE, CHIEF IFEANYI UGWUANYI FOR PROVIDING THE PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT FOR THE SUMMIT AND DISTINGUISHED SENATOR ENYINNAYA ABARIBE, THE KEYNOTER FOR THE SEMINAL LECTURE.
Sir Emmanuel Ifesinachi, (KSJI, JP)
Vice President, NUJ, Zone C
Ezenwa Adiuku
Secretary, NUJ, Zone C