Federated Chapel Election: Commissioner Absolves Self

The Rivers State Commissioner of Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim  Semenitari, has said that she did not sponsor any candidate for the just concluded election of the Federated Correspondents Chapel, of  Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Rivers State Council.

Mrs. Semenitari stated this while receiving the newly elected  Executive members of the Chapel during a courtesy visit on her in the  Ministry.

According to her, such a story “didn’t exist and it didn’t happen” and advised them to maintain the ethics of the journalism profession by playing by the rule.

Responding to the request of the group for residential  accommodation and secretariat, the commissioner said although the  State treats all residents in the State as indigenes, it will not accede to their request now because in 2012, it will rebuild the NUJ Secretariat of the State Council and advised them to partner with them so as to get  office space in the building.

On training and retraining of members, she assured them of government’s support, adding that she is working out a training programme for 2012 and further urged them to use the Ministry’s e-library and Resource centre for information on training programmes  and fellowships.

The Commissioner used the opportunity to ask the body to identify  with the government in publicizing the forthcoming State Carnival and  Miss ECOWAS Peace Pageant.

Earlier in his speech, the. Chairman, Mr. Terver Akase assured the Commissioner that the newly elected Executive would build on the achievements of the former Executive.

He appealed to the Commissioner to assist them to provide accommodation for its members in the State, acquire land as well as support them in building a State Secretariat for the Chapel.

Mr. Akase also requested for government’s assistance in the training of its members, to enable them fit into the changing trends in the

profession.

Also speaking during the visit, the Consultant for the forthcoming CARNIRIV, Dr. Henry Nzekwu informed the members that the State annual Carnival has been re-branded “Port Harcourt Carnival”, to distinguish it from other Carnivals in the country.

Highlight of the visit was a minute silence in honour of Late Mr. George Onah, the Bureau Chief of Vanguard newspaper, who until his death was a member of the body.