Olu of Warri seeks enabling environment for journalists

The Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has tasked the government in Nigeria to provide enabling environment for media practitioners in the country.

The monarch made the call on Wednesday while hosting executive members of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and  Press Week Committee, who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace to intimate him of the activities lined up to celebrate the 2022 NUJ Delta Press Week.

Atuwatse acknowledged the indispensability of the media saying there was need for government to provide practitioners with the enabling environment to discharge their constitutional role without fear or favour.

He however commended the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the government of the state for deeming it fit to build and donate a press centre and a bus to the Nigeria Union of Journalists Delta State Council.

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The monarch said that the symbiotic relationship between government and the media was needed for the advancement of society through information gathering on the policies and programmes of government and disseminating same to the public by the press.

He also commended the union for deeming it fit to visit him to acquaint him with the programmes of the union ahead of their annual press week scheduled to hold later in the year.

Earlier while addressing the monarch, the Chairman of NUJ Delta State Council,  Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, expressed the joy of the union for what the governor and the government of Delta State did for the  NUJ to enable it have a roof over its head after 31 years of existence in Delta and of course, a bus for easy movement of members.

Ikeogwu had asked Ogiame to appreciate the governor on behalf of the council for such monumental gifts of a press centre and a bus, saying “we no longer wonder about like nomads.”

The chairman told the king that it was a rare privilege meeting him to intimate him of what the council planned to achieve with the 2022 Press Week, which is majorly going to celebrate illustrious Deltans who had achieved and distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavours since the inception of the state 31 years ago.

Ikeogwu told the  monarch that it was his desire to leave a befitting legacy for the union, hence there would be a fund raising to establish businesses for the council to enable it have some level of independence.