Pursue Dev Journalism, Nsirim Tasks Media

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, has called on the media in the State to always be development-minded in their reportage.
Nsirim who made the call at an event marking the two years anniversary of a Port Harcourt based Radio Station ‘Wish FM’ last Saturday noted that only such reportage will encourage the current development strides of the State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The Commissioner in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Soibi Max-Alalibo and made available to the Tide said the expectation of the media in the State to focus on development journalism stems from the love the Governor has shown for the media, as exemplified by his (Nsirim’s) appointment.
The statement reads, “If he (Governor) appointed me as Permanent Secretary, and posted me to the Ministry of Information, it was a bold statement, saying that this is your own, this is where he should function.
“Haven functioned there for the past two years, he has made me commissioner. This brings us to a new dawn in the media industry in Rivers.”
Nsirim, whose statements were guided by the fact that the Governor is the first to appoint a core Journalist of the State, who had grown through the ranks of the profession as Commissioner, hinted that it is the Governor’s way of showing his love for Journalists in the State, hence the call for journalist to be developmental.
“My appointment as Commissioner for Information, as I’ve repeatedly said, is a vote of confidence for the journalism profession and media industry in Rivers State.
“That is why the onus is on us to prove to prove to His Excellency, Nyesome Wike, the architect of the new vision, the man who has begun to build a legacy for prosperity, the man whose passion for the development of Rivers State is unparalleled in the history of the State.
“It’s time for those in the media to show him that haven recognized their own, they will support his policies programmes”, the Information and Communications Commissioner said.
He explained that it is the development strides of Governor Wike that has created the enabling environment for businesses such as Wish FM to thrive, just as he lauded the zeal of the management and staff of Wish FM, as the first business radio station in the State, in the level of progress recorded in just two years.
While urging them to do more in carving niche for themselves, Nsirim assured the station of Government’s support, in the same way the Governor has encourages and supported other businesses in the State.
Earlier, various dignitaries who graced the occasion separately lauded the blazing trail set by the Chairman of Wish FM, Hon. Chinyere Igwe and his staff in broadcasting in the State.
Representative of Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Ine Fubara lauded Hon Igwe for promoting indigenous business to a success.
Fubara, who is a Senior Special Assistance to the Deputy Governor, prayed and charged the station to do more.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Kamalu, emphasized that “government will continue to support serious indigenous businesses in the State”.
Chairman of the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Stanley Job Stanley, represented by the Vice Chairman, Paul Bazia, and the leadership of the State Radio, Television and Theatre Arts Workers’ Union (RATTAWU) also spoke on the uniqueness of the station and its success.
While both leadership called for support for the station, Opi Erekosima, who spoke on behalf of RATTAWU, called on the management of the station to also take the welfare of their workers serious.
On his part, Monima Daminabo, a former Editor-n-Chief of the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, who Hon Igwe identified as a key figure in the success story of the station, emphasized on the uniqueness of the focus of the station as the first truly indigenous radio station in Rivers State.
Others who graced the occasion include the Mayor of Port Harcourt, Hon. Victor Ihunwo, the Peoples’ Democratic Party Chairman in PHALGA, and the Director General of the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.