Renewed Hope Projects Media Tour Will Promote Transparency, Create Awareness About Development

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says the Renewed Hope Projects Media Tour would promote transparency,  accountability and create awareness about achievements of governments across the country.

Governor Otti stated this on Tuesday, at Michael Okpara Auditorium Umuahia, during a reception organised in honour of  members of the Renewed Hope Projects Media Tour in Abia to inspect various projects executed in the state in collaboration with the federal government, as well as the ones done by the state government.

He noted that the public depends on the media, hence the need for the team not to merely report events, but provide context, balance and truth and therefore urged the team to “remain steadfast on the principle of professionalism, objectivity, fairness and accuracy.”

The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, said journalists must rise above misinformation.

“The pursuit of truth must always remain the guiding principle of journalism. As custodians of public information, your words and reports have the power to unite or divide, to inspire confidence or create doubt, and to promote understanding of moral misconceptions.

“The nation requires journalists who can rise above such analysis, resist misinformation and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Governor Otti said.

He told the visitors to feel free to visit the cities, communities, institutions and project sites across Abia state, adding that in the  past three years, his administration has remained committed to promoting good governance.

“Over the past three years, our administration has remained committed to rebuilding public trust through transparent governance, improving infrastructure, enhancing security, revitalisation of education and healthcare sectors, supporting businesses and creating an enabling environment for economic growth and investment.

“The progress being recorded is not merely reflected in statistics, it is visible in the renewed confidence of our people and the ongoing transformation of communities across the state, which reflects the renewed hope agenda.

“We welcome scrutiny because we believe that genuine progress should be seen, assessed and reported objectively.

“We therefore encourage you to interact freely with residents, visit our cities, engage stakeholders and witness firsthand the developments that have taken place under our administration,” the Government said.

Speaking on behalf of the Renewed Hope Media Tour team, their leader, Chief Bayo Onanuga, said that the media tour would provide participants with the opportunity to inspect key federal and state projects objectively as well as see the developmental strides being recorded across the country.

Onanuga highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Federal and State Governments in driving national development and praised the cordial relationship between the two levels of governments. According to him, economic reforms of Mr. President had increased resources available to states for development projects.

“The federal and state governments are working together for the progress of Nigerians. The resources now available to states are enabling them to undertake projects that improve the lives of citizens,” Onanuga said.

Welcoming the team, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, urged members of the media team to approach their assignment with objectivity.

“Your re‍port‍s wil‍l help shape public understanding of the efforts being m‌ade by gov‌ernment⁠s at differ⁠ent levels to address national cha‌llenges and i‌mprove t‌he‍ lives of our citiz⁠ens,” Prince Kanu stated.

He said that the visit was sig‌nificant because it reflec‍ts the growing sp‌irit o⁠f col‌laboration between the federal gover⁠nm⁠ent and the Abi⁠a state government in advancing develo⁠pment, i‍mproving infrastructure, and enhancing the welfare of the pe‍ople.

He noted that, “Sin‍ce assum‍i‍n‌g office, Gover‍nor Alex Ott‍i ha‌s consistentl‌y maintained that governanc⁠e s‍hould be driven by‌ serv‌ice, re‍sults, and par‍tners⁠hips.

“This philosophy has g‍uided the administration’s engagements with the Fede‌ral Government,‌ development partners, private secto⁠r stakeholders, and v‍arious institutions to accelerate progr‍ess across cr‌itical sectors inc⁠luding‍ infrastructure, education, healthcar‍e‍, security, a‌nd‍ economic development,” he said.