The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has assured a Non Governmental Organisation, Revive Africa Initiative, of collaboration towards ensuring that government at all levels are accountable to the people.
The chairman of the Council, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu gave the assurance while playing host to members of the group during a courtesy visit to the NUJ Press Centre in Asaba.
According to the chairman, “it is worthy to acknowledge that our youths are beginning to come to terms with the reality of how bad leadership has hurt the people of this country with lack of purposeful programmes and policies for good governance.
Our major challenge in Africa is leadership. We have become a ground for experiment by the developed nations.
I must commend you as youths, for this initiative you have taken up towards addressing issues that affect us as a people and continent.
I assure you that as progressive members of the fourth estate of the realm, we are always poised to support any initiative that is geared towards development and revival of Africa.
From your programmes and agenda, both in the areas of education activism, fight against environmental degradation and youth reorientation, I must let you know that not enough awareness has been created to inform the public of the efforts you are making. But rest assured that we will partner with you in media publicity and suggestions of ideas to guide you in some of the initiatives you will be working on going forward”, Ikeogwu affirmed.
The Delta NUJ chairman, however, decried the lack of focus of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC towards the actual needs and development of the Niger Delta region.
He called on the federal government to overhaul the Commission to enable it actualise the purpose for which it was established and see to it that the Niger Delta environment is safe for living, including implementing the Ogoni Clean-Up agreement.
The Revive Africa Initiative, led by its Director General, Comrade Ugagaoghene Ogheneyole, said the group decided to visit the NUJ as a critical stakeholder in leadership and development affairs.
The DG, recounted that they started with prison activism where innocent detainees were released through the collaborative support of a renowned legal practitioner, Prince Ned Nwoko.
As part of its agitation, Comrade Ogheneyole said the group was into advocacy for prison decongestion, proper education and return to school campaigns, safe environment and violence free Niger Delta region.
The group also affirmed that as part of its concern towards insecurity and violence in the Niger Delta, a Peace and Security Summit was recently organised at Koko in Delta State, with critical stakeholders, including youths drawn from all ethnic groups in the Niger Delta in attendance.
The DG called for the partnership of the NUJ in propagating its programmes and objectives to the public.
He used the occasion to hand over the communiqué issued at the Security Summit, where a Committee known as the Peace Advancement Initiative Committee was set up.
Comrade Ogheneyole solicited the support of NUJ towards its planned mass rally in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State on the 5th of June, 2019, to draw the attention of government to environmental degradation in the Niger Delta in marking the World Environmental Day.
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