Bayelsa journalists, Commissioner meet, reach accord on training, partnership

The Bayelsa state government has concluded arrangements to hold a two day training program for members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the State.

The decision, according to the State Commissioner for Informatio‎n and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, on Wednesday, was in line with the existing cordial ‎relationship between the government in Bayelsa and journalists in the state.

The training programme will cover members of the State Chapel of NUJ, Federated Correspondents Chapel (FCC), Bayelsa Federated Newspaper Publishers Association (BAFENPA) and the United Correspondents.

The  Commissioner made this known in two separate meetings with the leadership of the State Council of the NUJ and that of BAFENPA in his office in Yenagoa.

According to him‎, the training will be conducted by the renowned Professor of Mass Communication, Ralph Akinfeleye and other prominent journalists and will take place before the end of the year.

He appealed to the journalists to be part of the great opportunity as it will enable them improve on their reportage and expose them to new trends in journalism, particularly social media based issues.

Iworiso-Markson also urged the journalists to continue to support the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson by being fair and objective in their various reports, pointing out that the government sees them as great partners ‎in the Bayelsa project.

He stressed that Governor Henry Seriake Dickson is media-friendly, saying that that explains the freedom and massive support journalists in the state have enjoyed since he came into office in 2012.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ, Bayelsa State Council, John Angese, appealed to the state government to assist the NUJ in the provision of official vehicles, renovation of the press centre, provision of chairs as well as training of members.

The chairman of BAFENPA, Ayiebatari Easterday, thanked the Commissioner for the cordial relationship that exists between them and equally appealed to the government to set up a befitting secretariat for them, among other demands.