RSG Stresses Need For Media Loan Funds

The Rivers State Government has stressed the need for the central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other Financial Institutions to consider the establishment of media loan funds in the country.

The State Commissioner for information and communication. Mrs Ibim Semenitari  who said this during  a courtesy  call on  her by the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mallam Garba Mohammed and other National Executive members of the union, also restated the commitment  of the government to make Port Harcourt the  media  hub  of the South/South.

Mrs. Semenitari said that a media fund will provide easy access to funds for media  owners thereby enhancing the practice of Journalism in the country.

The commissioner commended the union for the insurance  policy for journalists in the country and stressed the need for media owners both public and private to take full advantage of it by insuring their workers.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari has said that, the government still remains committed to its promise of making Port Harcourt, the State capital, the media hub of the South/South zone.

She said that, the move is necessitated  by the unique  position of Rivers State in the economic  development of the country.

Other programmes include the  digitalisation of the state   owned media organisations by 2012, while the Garden  city  Radio  will commence  full transmission by the first of October,  this year.

Earlier the National President of the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ) Mallam Garba Mohammed had said that the visit was part of the on-going nationwide tour to state councils in the country.

Mallam Mohammed said that the tour was initiated by the National Secretariat of the union to enable the National Executive Council (NEC) interact with journalists across the country.

He commended the Rivers State Government for the various innovations across the state and expressed the hope that the State media houses will be digitalised by 2012 as promised