Journalists, online publishers pledge support for Gov Eno’s administration

• Cmrd. Ini Ememobong (m) with members of the Conference of Online Publishers (COOPA), shortly after the meeting 

Media practitioners in Akwa Ibom State, including social media influencers, On-Air Personalities, national newspaper correspondents, publishers, heads of broadcast stations, among others, have reaffirmed their commitment to supporting and partnering with the Governor Umo Eno’s administration.

The media professionals who made the pledge during a meeting hosted by the State Commissioner for Information, Comrade Ini Ememobong, on Friday, December 20, acknowledged the administration’s media-friendly approach and highlighted the improved relationship between the government and the media community.

At meeting, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Comrade Amos Etuk, praised Governor Eno for regularly briefing the media, which has enhanced the bond between the administration and media professionals in the state.

Etuk explained that journalists in Akwa Ibom are in a more favorable position compared to those in many other states due to the consistent backing they receive from the government.

While he underscored that the media practitioners would remain committed to reciprocating the governor’s generosity, the NUJ chairman praised Comrade Ememobong for fostering a harmonious relationship with the media.

“We do not take the relationship you have built with us for granted. And we will continue to reciprocate this gesture in building our state. The synergy we have across all sectors of the media in the state is as a result of the relationship you have built from the scratch.”

In his remark, Mr. Utitofon Morgan, the Chancellor of the Conference of Online Publishers in Akwa Ibom State (COOPA), expressed his belief that Governor Eno’s outstanding performance has facilitated the work of those publicizing the government’s activities.

Morgan highlighted the positive collaboration between the media and Governor Eno’s administration, stating that while he and his colleagues are not government employees, they would be committed to working together for the state’s interest.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Comrade Bassey Akra, hailed Governor Eno for fostering a media-friendly environment that welcomed both criticism and praise.

Representing the heads of broadcast stations, Mr. Silas Ufot of Inspiration FM and Pastor Idy James of UNIUYO FM thanked Comrade Ememobong for acting as a vital link between the government and media practitioners, a disposition, he noted, has resulted in positive media coverage for the administration.

Responding, Commissioner Ini Ememobong acknowledged the journalists’ support throughout the year, noting that the yearly end-of-year meeting served as an opportunity to express gratitude and reinforce the partnership between the government and the media.

“Ingratitude is not just when we do not see what others do but the inability to express it. I must admit that you have been very fair to the Akwa Ibom State Government. I am grateful for your decision to support the government of the day and my office.

“I am grateful for the times we had differences, and the times we did not have and even for the times we did not talk at all. We have taken conscious effort to ensure that our relationship has worked.

“We had an excellent relationship in 2024 and we hope that in 2025, the media will have patriotic cooperation and responsible journalism. If we recall, the Rwanda genocide was media-instigated and the media personnel were not spared in the genocide. In breaking the news, let us not break the state”, he said.

During the meeting, Comrade Ememobong emphasized the importance of verifying information before publication to prevent misinformation and revealed his intention to conduct a training session for media practitioners in the coming year.

Highpoint of the meeting was the commissioner’s announcement of the donation of plots of land by the government to different media groups.