Cephas Iorhemen 
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aôndona Dajoh have acknowledged the various roles played by journalists particularly correspondents of national dailies in the reportage of the activities of his administration in the last one year that earned him national awards.
Governor Alia stated this while declaring open a one day capacity building/training workshop on economic reporting organized by the state’s Correspondent’s Chapel in collaboration with the Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC).
Governor Alia said the media have contributed immensely in the achievements recorded by his government, and promised to create a conducive and enduring environment to boost their morales in the discharge of their journalism work.
The governor who spoke via his Chief Press Secretary, Kula Tersoo, noted that it was for this reason that his administration has placed high premium on support of media practitioners to enable them operate maximally and add value to his administration.
He described journalists as partners in progress and assured them that better things will come their way to enhance their job as watchdogs of the society.
In his remark, the Speaker assured that the 10th Assembly under will continue to run an open door leadership with the correspondents with a view to having a mutual relationship with them for the overall good and development of the Assembly and the state at large.
Dajoh who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties, Terver Adom, described the media as critical stakeholders that have a pivotal role to play in the progress and development of the country and the state in particular.
He said, “Benue State House of Assembly under my leadership will continue to leave its doors opened to journalists to always access information unhindered which is part of your constitutional responsibility of information gathering and dissemination”.
The Speaker commended the Governor Alia and Benue Investment and Property Company under its Managing Director, Dr. Raymond Asemakaha for sponsoring the training workshop and assured members of the chapel of his unwavering support at all times.
Delivering a paper on the topic: “Sustaining Government Media Relationship in Nigeria: The Chief Press Secretary, stressed the need for government officials to always ensure journalists have free access to government information and challenged journalists to avoid negative reportage and embrace development journalism to enhance cordial working relationship between government and media practitioners.
Director General Benue State Education Quality Assurance, Dr. Terna Francis said the quest for acquiring knowledge was a continues process and commended members of the chapel for organizing the workshop which he said would greatly help them improve on their reportage, while the State Coordinator of Rural Access Agriculture Marketing Project (RAAMP), Mr. Stephen Numbeve expressed hope that at the end of the training, members would acquire skills and knowledge that would make them excel in the challenges of 21st Century Journalism practice.
