The Director General of Ebonyi Broadcasting Cooperation EBBC, Chief Tony Nwizi, has underscored the strategic importance of local media content in publicizing and advancing government developmental policies at all levels.
He thus called for full integration of local media content providers in the scheme of things in the state to promote societal development.
Nwizi made the disclosure when a delegation of members of Local Tabloids and Online Media in the state led by the Chairman, Comrade Celestine Chidi Okeh, paid him a courtesy visit in his office, on Monday.
Nwizi, a seasoned Journalist and former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ebonyi State Council, noted that local and online media remains a driving force of development at the grassroots and always provides a veritable platform for the defence of government policies and programs.
He promised to synergize with the State government media handlers to ensure that local media providers are properly integrated into the state government programme to alleviate some of the prevailing challenges bedevilling them.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and publisher of The Times Newspaper and Ebonyitimesnews online, Comrade Celestine Okeh, said the visit was to familiarize themselves with the DG in the New Year. He however decried the level of marginalization, segregation and exclusion of their members from anything that comes from the government, especially during the festive periods, and called on the Director General to help reach the authorities involved for proper action, pledging the continued support of members in driving home the policies and programs of State Government through objective and balanced reportage.
Comrade Celestine Okeh Commended Chief Nwizi for his commitment to implementing Governor Francis Nwifuru's people's charter of needs in EBBC through massive infrastructural and technical transformation. He congratulated him on the recent honour bestowed on him by his people, Ezeakataka Enyim Agbaja community, as IDENYI OHA DOBERU 1 of Enyim Agbaja community, Izzi Local Government Area of the State.
On his part, the Financial Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Ebonyi State Council and publisher of Peoples' Guide Newspaper, Comrade Israel Ekene Mbam, lauded the strides of Chief Tony Nwizi and his numerous interventions in the welfare of journalists in the State. He noted with dissatisfaction that, uncountable times, members of local Tabloids and Online media were marginalized and called for urgent steps to correct it as members of local Tabloids and Online media are equal partners in the business of governance in the state.
Others who spoke during the visit, Comrade Chinedu Ngwuta of Direct Reporters TV and Comrade Chidinma Imo Eze of Spring News eulogized the leadership ingenuity of the Director General and expressed confidence that the plight of the members will be addressed through his intervention.