Funkekeme task Community Newspaper Publishers on Investigative Journalism as ACNPN celebrates 2023 Annual Lecture

By Ifeayinwa Akuba

Media Practitioners have been advised to develop the habit of questioning and probing those handling public work for the general interest of the public.

The Policy Adviser to Delta State Governor ,Hon. Funkekeme Solomon who was also a former Journalist before delving into politics stressed the need for Newsmen especially Community Newspaper Publishers to focus more on investigative Journalism than reputation building as that would help to promote constructive development in the State.

He stated this while speaking on the 2023 ACNPN Annual Lecture with the Theme: THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA: BUILDING SYNERGY BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND GRASSROOTS FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY held in Asaba, Delta State.

According to Hon. Funkekeme , Community Newspaper Publishers have the obligation to visit contracts awarded in their various Communities to ascertain if the work done are upto specifications and report the state of the contract as seen on the site.

He stressed that reported findings will help the State Government led by His Excellency Oborewori Sherrif to know areas that needs amends as the Governor can not do the Job alone.

“In effect, as the fourth estate of the realm, your responsibility lies not just in checking the quality of infrastructure provided by the government but also in ensuring that contractors do not short-change the government and the Community.”

“My dear colleagues, our country is in turbulent times, not just economically. Our Institutions for the sustenance of democracy including Judiciary, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and even the security agencies have been undergoing transformations that have not enabled them acquit themselves creditably in the discharge of their duties”.

He thereby enjoined Publishers to speak truth to power as that is the only true and constructive Journalism .

Speaking also, Pastor Okezie Idowu spoke extensively on Cooperative Society Model, Palliative for self reliance , Economic Growth and Industrialization encouraged Publishers to embrace Cooperative in other to grow their business .

Speaking earlier, the ACNPN Chairman, Comrade Jude Obeimyego noted that Community Newspaper Publishers have played significant role in the development of the state mostly in the area of providing key information to government and rural dwellers in the state.

He called on Micro finance banks to increase the availability of loans to entrepreneurs for further sustainable development in the state.

Comrade Jude Obeimyego also appealed to Well meaning Deltans to support the sixty million fundraising project for the Association’s Secretariat.