September 05, (THEWILL) – The Secretary to Ebonyi State Government, Professor Grace Umezuruike, has called on practising journalists in Ebonyi State, to be investigative and constructive in their reportage.
The SSG made the call during a courtesy visit by the Correspondents’ Chapel in her office, at the new government house, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
Umezuruike, who stressed the importance of investigative journalism, noted that journalism practice is different from publications on social media, charging journalists on investigative reporting.
She told journalists, “I am most humbled to have the mighty men of pen among me today. Your visit is a memorable one to me, I do not take you for granted. You are for me. The press people are mighty men of valour. It is only the illiterate that can take you for granted. The pen is mightier than the sword. What the pen can do is much.
“There is nothing as being constrictive in your writing. I have read newspapers and listened to the news on the radio. You guys are commendable. Your antecedents have shown you are wonderful people. I appreciate the support you have given to this government. It is your government.
“With the zeal the governor has shown in these three months; he doesn’t talk much but he does much. If you see the way he is taking his manifesto bit by bit, you will know that it is really the People’s Charter of Needs. When the need for 2 kilometres of road came up, some people said it should be local government by local government, but His Excellency said it must be community by community. I saw the passion in him.
“You talked about investigative journalism, it is very important. Journalism is different from social media. Journalism, you are informing the world. That is why you must investigate whatever you are publishing and that is why I said the pen is mightier than the sword.
“I want to assure you that His Excellency will still do more. This is just the beginning of our partnership. I have been a researcher all my life and I know what it takes. But you go around every day to reel out reports. I am proud of you because you are exceptional people.”
Speaking earlier, Correspondent’s Chapel Acting Chairman, Mr Inya Uchenna, in his mission statement, said the courtesy visit was to reiterate the Chapel’s partnership with the government.
“It is a very great privilege to be here. It is not an easy thing to see you. Our duty is to engage in development journalism geared towards the development of the country. As we are doing that we are always objective as required by law.
“That is why we are here to show our partnership with you. We will continue to partner with the government by coming closer to the government. We thank His Excellency, the fourth Executive Governor, Francis Ogbannaya Nwifuru, for appointing you as a woman. Why I like your appointment is that the Governor appointed women of integrity into his government, like Chinwe Okah and others”, he said.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
