THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD, - EMBRACE DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNALISM- Governor Uzodimma Told The Nigerian Guild Of Editors As They Converge In Owerri, For Their 2023 Biennial Convention.

Imo State Public Enlightenment 

16th June 2023

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD,  - EMBRACE DEVELOPMENTAL JOURNALISM

- Governor Uzodimma Told The Nigerian Guild Of Editors As They Converge In Owerri, For Their 2023 Biennial Convention.

"Be Conscious of what flows from your pens - Afterall, it is not for fun that a school of thought holds it to be true up to date, that the pen is mightier than the second"

"I congratulate the President, for serving his profession and his nation faithfully and passionately" 

~ Governor Hope Uzodimma to the president, Nigerian Guild of Editors

The vantage place of Imo State as the tourism capital of South Eastern Nigeria today came alive at the Rockview Hotel Owerri as the Nigerian Guild of Editors converged in Owerri for their 2023 biennial convention. 

Speaking at the event, the Imo State Governor, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma expressed his gratitude to Nigerian media editors for finding Imo State suitable to host them twice in less than one year.

It will be remembered that on the 11th of November 2022, the Nigerian Guild of Editors held their annual conference in Owerri, the Imo State. 

capital.

For the 2023 convention yet again, Governor Uzodimma told the participants that the good people of Imo State will not take for granted their love of Imo State.

While addressing this year's conference theme which is, *"Post 2023 elections, promoting professionalism for enhancement of democracy and good governance"* , Governor Uzodimma applauded the traditional media for discharging their duties creditably during the 2023 elections. "As the saying goes, opinions are free, but facts are sacred" he started.

The Governor went ahead to tell the editors, "I am impressed that you have chosen this path of self-examination which I consider germaine in our collective bid to enhance good governance and strengthen our democracy - The last time you were here, I harped on the need for journalists to embrace developmental journalism in our quest to sustain and strengthen our democracy.

The Governor reinstated that the media have the responsibility to not only hold public officers to account, but to also encourage the government through constructive criticism and well-intentioned suggestions on how things could be done differently to achieve better results.

He told them that the media is quite instrumental in determining what happens in most countries including Nigeria and as such, it is in the interest of everybody to work in synergy for the sustainability of Nigeria's democracy and collective survival.

Governor Uzodimma described as apt the postulations of Walter Lipmann, the United States political commentator who posited that citizens have limited personal experience with the government and the world, but rather depend on the media through their stories to garner ideas which inevitably become part of their frame of reference and consequently affects their decision. 

Accordingly, he advised media practitioners to be conscious of what flows from their pens because their writings can make or break both our democracy and the nation, "after all, it is not for fun that a school of thought holds it to be true to date, that the pen is mightier than the sword".

While requesting the cooperation of media professionals to help preserve, protect and celebrate the progress so far recorded by Nigeria as a democratic nation, the Governor urged them to remember that their professionalism comes in handy in post-election management. "Elections have been held and winners have already emerged by our electoral laws, I expect the professional media to stand up by this truth and encourage aggrieved losers to explore all available legal opportunities for redress. As you know, I sought redress from the court when I felt I was robbed of my victory, and to the glory of God, my mandate was restored by the Supreme Court.

Continuing, Governor Uzodimma told the editors, " It is important to state that when media practitioners wittingly or unwittingly discredit the electoral process and its outcome, what it means is that you want to ridicule the institutions empowered by law to interrogate the process and come up with binding judicial pronouncements...Such professionals have lost the salt of professionalism and have become part of the problem of our democracy. I believe that professionalism further demands that you should be seen to stand by lawful winners of every election, help them with their agenda-setting and where possible make inputs that will ensure the hitch-free take-off of the new government" 

On some of the accomplishments of his administration so far, the Governor said, "Apart from the prompt payment of salaries and pensions, my administration has religiously pursued our prosperity agenda encapsulated in Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Recovery. After your annual conference last year, our dear former President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, was here to commission our flagship dual carriageways that connect the State capital to the major cities of Orlu and Okigwe. We have also completed the MCC -Uratta -Toronto road while the Owerri – Mbaise – Obowo - Umuahia road and Orlu – Mgbee – Akokwa - Uga road are nearing completion. These are among the more than 100 standard roads built by this administration within a space of 40 months. This is in addition to equally significant progress recorded in various other sectors like education, health, industry, youth empowerment and social services, which my administration identified as priorities.

"In this respect,  I will not fail to use an auspicious occasion such as this to inform you that Imo State is the first and only State to have fully embraced the age of digital economy by establishing the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government. Through this ministry, we have commenced a Skill up Imo project that targets to train 100,000 Imo youths in different digital skills every year. The first set of 5000 youths trained in this programme graduated last month, and are now working in different High tech companies or have set up their shops, through our assistance. The next batch of 15000 is expected to graduate in a few weeks. 

 "It would gladden my heart if you would all find the time to go around and see things for yourselves".

For this year's elective convention, the president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mustapha Isa voluntarily declined to contest for a second tenure in office.