Obaseki restructures, strengthens Edo media outfits for efficiency

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration is working hard to restructure the state owned media outfits and make them formidable primary sources of credible information.

Obaseki stated this when the Mrs Nefishetu Yakubu-led new executive of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo Council, paid him a courtesy visit on Monday in Benin.

Obaseki said: “our goal is to reposition Edo as an information hub in this part of the world and we are working to resuscitate the state owned Nigerian Observer and Edo Broadcasting Service.

He said the Nigerian Observer would be split into two components – the Printing Press and the Publishing Company – while the Midwest Newspaper Limited would also be restructured.

The governor said he did not believe in retrenchment of workers, but in giving them the opportunity to improve themselves through training and retraining.

“The members of staff of these media outfits will be retrained on digital reportage and publishing”, he said.

The governor promised to support and work with the new executive of the correspondents’ chapel saying, ‘’I believe in the freedom of the press and would support you in the discharge of your duties.

He also promised to digitise the chapel’s centre at the NUJ premises, Benin, and donate a bus to the correspondents, noting that the facilities were necessary especially as the 2019 electioneering period approached.

In her remarks, Yakubu commended the Obaseki-led administration for delivering on its promises to the state, especially for providing conducive working environment for the workers and investing in human capital development.

The new chapel’s chairman said the visit was to present the new executives to the governor and also assure him of continuous fair and balanced reportage of all government activities.

“The Correspondent Chapel of the NUJ is the largest constitution of accredited reporters of various media organisations.

“So, there should be a strong synergy between your government and the media for effective, credible and balanced reportage of government’s activities,” she said.