… urges journalists to be objective in reporting Niger Delta issues
Media professionals in the Niger Delta have been urged to use their reports to tell the many positive stories of the region rather than feast on issues that will de-market the people and the area.
Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd), gave the advice at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, at the Niger Delta Media Awards.
The annual event, which was organised by the Gbaramatu Voice Newspaper, had in attendance top media executives in the Niger Delta, the governor of Kogi State who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ahmed Mohammed, among other dignitaries.
Dikio, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Nneotaobase Egbe, also advised journalists to balance their reports by being objective, adding that the Niger Delta had suffered greatly from negative reports and bad publicity.
“No one can tell your story like you do. Tell the story of the wealth of the Niger Delta beyond the oil. There’s immense human and natural resources in the region; the region is not all about the oil”, he said.
Dikio maintained that the Niger Delta region had the most talented and resourceful persons with entertainment and creativity domiciled in the region.
The PAP boss boasted that the region was currently the most secure and stable place to live and do business “going by statistics,” urging stakeholders to work on their mindset “to see and sell a Niger Delta that could be the best place to live and do business in Nigeria”.
He also lamented that media professionals are not celebrated as they should, considering their efforts and commended GbaramatuVoice newspaper for the initiative.
The Chief Executive Officer/Publisher of the GbaramatuVoice newspaper, Jacob Abai, acknowledged the role journalists have played over the years in the success stories of the Niger Delta region.
Dikio was honoured with a merit award for the excellent way he has coordinated the Amnesty programme since he came onboard, an attribute which he said had seen sustainable peace in the Niger Delta region.
Others who were honoured include Prince Sam Amuka Pemu, the publisher of Vanguard newspaper; Emmanuel Amaize, the Editor, Vanguard; Jimitota Onoyume, a reporter with Vanguard; Grace Ekang of Channels TV; Usman Adamu Attaboh, among others.