By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A former council secretary to Akpabuyo Local Government Area in Cross River TT State and now Commissioner for Rural Transformation, Edem Okokon Effiom, has instituted has unveiled plans to honour Journalists of the Year 2022 award to any of the journalists in the state who tops the chat in community reportage.
Effiom stated that it’s one of the ways to encourage media men to step up their games in community reporting and to probably use the same avenue to immortalize Governor Ben Ayade’s mother, late Madam Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade, who toiled day and night to ensure that her son, who is now a state governor gets to the zenith of his academic career and indeed become a state governor.
The award of honour for best community reporter, which would come under the aegis of Madam Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade, has earmarked a cash prize to be taken home by the journalist who emerges best during the competition, scheduled for 2022 in the state.
In a brief discussion with the executive committee of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, during a courtesy call to the commissioner’s office in Calabar yesterday, the commissioner stated that his intention for the foundation shall make those in the pen pushing profession redouble their effort in their responsibilities of shaping the society.
He said “I am kicking off the Madam Beatrice Akinsheye Ayade Foundation for Best Journalist with a star prize of N100,000 annually. She was the mother of our governor, His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade.
“To me, this is my own little way of immortalizing the memory of the good woman, who God used to bring forth our digital governor. Also, the foundation is aimed at motivating journalists in Cross River State to step up their watch-dog roles for the good of our society.”
Hon Effiom noted further that the state government was doing well in terms of human capacity building as well as infrastructure, and therefore charged hournalists to reciprocate the gesture with development journalism.
He added “The governor’s intent for Cross River State is genuine. Roads are being opened up and I tell you the truth, the impacts of what His Excellency is doing in our state shall be felt by every Cross Riverians very soon.
“As stated earlier, the core mandate of my ministry is to transform rural communities of Cross River State with no particular area, and embraces roads, water, sanitation, and even social intervention.”
In her earlier remarks, chairman of the Cross River State Council of the NUJ, Mrs Eme Offiong, lauded the state government for its efforts at adding meaning to the lives of Cross River State people through tangible projects, but charged it to tackle socio-economic and security challenges especially during the yuletide.
