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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Edo State government, yesterday, said the purpose why it keyed into the idea of media tour as proposed by state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Festus Alenkhe, was to give journalists a first hand information about its activities in the state.
Addressing newsmen before the takeoff of the tour, Special Adviser on Media Projects and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, said Journalists have the role of informing the public and it is important that they visit some of the projects completed and those ongoing in the state for them to have an indepth knowledge of what information they reel out to the public.
He thanked the chairman of the union for coming out with such initiative, noting that it will also help the government to deliver more of its dividends of democracy to the citizens of the state.
Earlier, chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Festus Alenkhe, said the essence of the media tour was to give Journalists first hand knowledge of what they have been reporting about the government activities.
He said most times, Journalists report based on press releases issued out by the government and are not privy to have a first hand information of all its activities.
Alenkhe said with the media tour of government activities, Journalists in the state can now adequately inform the public on government activities as it relates to infrastructural projects in the state.
“We want to ‘eye mark’ and not ‘earmark’. We have been hearing about the government activities but today, we think it is appropriate we also see for ourselves and that is what we call ‘eye-marking’ and not ‘earmarking’.
“We believe that if we have a first hand knowledge of what government is doing without we getting to know it from its press releases, it will enable us inform and educate the public appropriately.
“The tour will also help us to point out the areas that needed government’s attentions if need be”, he said.
The projects visited are: National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Okada, Ovia North East, Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Ovia South West, University of Benin, Ovia North East, Government Science and Technological College, Egor and others.
Speaking on the government projects in the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, the Rector, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, commended the state governor for finalizing the payment of the newly accredited Business Administration in the institution
