Uduaghan calls for developmental journalism

Having acknowledged that the pen is mightier than the sword, the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emannuel Uduaghan, has called on media practitioners to deploy developmental journalism to strengthen the unity, peace and progress of the nation.
The governor, who said if the nation must remain as an undivided entity, come 2015, the onerous responsibility of the media – to protect and strengthen the nation’s unity and democracy – must be upheld.
According to him, media reports have great impact on national interest and therefore could make or mar democratic dispensation.
Declaring the 9th edition of the All Nigerian Editors’ Conference closed during the Gala Nite in Asaba, the state capital, Governor Uduaghan said the sustenance of the nation’s democracy is the duty of all Nigerians, irrespective of political, religious and industrial affiliation.
He said: “Journalists should be objective and balanced in their reports as whatever you write or do not write, whatever you do or do not do can either keep the nation together or break it up.”
While commending the Nigerian Guild of Editors for its contributions to the development of the country, Dr. Uduaghan said each editor has a big role to play through his or her write ups, calling on them to use and apply the knowledge acquired at the brainstorming sessions of the conference to raise the economic, social and educational status of the country among the comity of nations.
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to the diversification of the economy through the “Nigeria Beyond Oil” initiative, which he said the state had since domesticated in its “Delta Beyond Oil” mantra.
According to him, the state had implemented various people-oriented programmes through its peace and security, human capital and infrastructural development agenda, ranging from healthcare programmes, and including the free maternal and child care, free and qualitative education and scholarship, affordable transportation system and empowerment programmes.
He said “the developmental strides of this administration speak for itself. l do not need to talk much on what l am doing in the state. You have gone round today on facility tour and l know you saw most of these projects.”
Uduaghan enjoined the Guild to take advantage of the rich tourism potentials of the state for their conferences and meetings, as the state was doing a lot to develop the tourism sector.
According to him;: Tourism is vital to the Delta Beyond Oil initiative and the state is doing a lot to develop this sector. In the last few days, you have seen part of our tourism potentials. I enjoin you to take advantage of it whenever you want to host your meetings and conferences.”
The President of the Guild, Femi Adesina, lauded the governor for his commitment and presence at all the sessions of the conference.
Adesina said: “We have never seen this kind of commitment from a governor since the inception of the annual conference of the guild.
“This is very rare.”
He particularly commended him for the hospitality he showcased while the conference lasted, stressing that the state has set an enviable standard for other states that will host them subsequently.
He said: “Delta State has set an enviable standard in the hosting of the Guild’s annual conference. Any other state going to host us after today will have a hard task to beat the standard. The experience we had these past four days in Delta has been wonderful and we thank the state government for this hospitality.”
Adesina’s predecessor, Gbenga Adefaye, who responded on behalf of fellows and the newly inducted members, vowed that the ethics of the profession would not be trampled upon.