The Senior Special Assistant to Akwa Ibom State Governor on Brand Management and Marketing, Mr Raphael Edem has assured that the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) is a critical stakeholder in the branding and marketing of the state.
Mr Edem, who gave the assurance Monday while making a presentation at the opening ceremony of the 2023 NUJ Press Week in Uyo, added that the Union is key part of the ARISE Agenda of the state governor.
He noted that while the Department of Brand Management is saddled with the responsibility of coordinating the branding and marketing of the state, the task of portraying Akwa Ibom to the world was not exclusive to the Department but a collective one.
“The media is a critical stakeholder in the branding and marketing of our state. As the fourth estate of the realm, and the purveyors of information in the society, the media is a major partner in the activities of the Department.
“We are hoping that our reports and analysis about our state is such that will put us in good light in the eyes of the global community. Journalism that demarkets and hampers the image of our state doesn’t augur well for our development.
“This is not a call for censorship or muzzling of the freedom of the press, but an appeal that we balance the need to break news with the desire to build our state. If the bulk of what people read or hear about our state reflects our strengths rather than our weaknesses, then we would have contributed our quota towards building the Akwa Ibom brand,” he said.
Mr Edem further disclosed that the inclusion of the NUJ leadership among participants at the recent Akwa Ibom State Government Exco Retreat in Lagos was an indication that the Union is a key part of the state governor’s ARISE Agenda.
Speaking on the achievements of the state governor, Pastor Umo Eno, since assumption of office, Mr Edem noted that the governor has touched almost all the focal areas in the ARISE Agenda with various projects, programmes and interventions.
“The governor, through his ARISE Agenda has achieved all of these and many more in just about six months. There is obviously a lot more to come. It is our collective responsibility as a people to help the government project these achievements in order to earn the state the needed global attention,” he added while reeling out of the governor’s achievements.
The event, which held at the NUJ Press Center, had the former Senator, Uyo Senatorial District, Senator Effiong Bob as Chairman while the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Udeme Otong was the Special Guest of Honour.
Other dignitaries at the event included the State Commissioner for Information, Comrd Ini Ememobong; member representing Ibiono Ibom State Constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Hon Moses Essien; member representing Ini State Constituency, Hon Lawrence Udoide; member representing Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara State Constituency and chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon Jerry Otu.
The 2023 NUJ Press Week has the theme “Development Journalism: Setting the Agenda on Climate Change” with Prof Nsikak Benson of Top Faith University as the guest lecturer.
