Chairmen of Ikot Abasi and Mkpat Enin Local Government Councils have appealed to journalists in Akwa Ibom State to increase their reportage of activities in the rural areas in order to socioeconomic development of those areas.
The Council Chairmen, Mr. Joshua Affia (Ikot Abasi) and Prince Aniekpon Ekpo (Mkpat Enin) made this known on Thursday when the 2021 Thanksgiving Committee of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State, paid a courtesy call on them.
Speaking, Mr. Affia appealed to journalists and the NUJ to use their respective platforms and the forthcoming event to showcase the inherent tourism potential of Ikot Abasi Local Government Area to the world.
“I will surely be part of the Thanksgiving Service because I am a product of God’s grace. I want to assure the Union that we will do our best to support the event and also be part of it,” he added.
On his part, Prince Ekpo also appealed to journalists in the state to go beyond reporting events and happenings at the urban centres to the grassroots so as to encourage rural development.
He urged media houses to cultivate rural participation by having representatives in the rural areas.
In her remarks, Chairman of the Thanksgiving Service Committee, Comrade Roseline Etukudo, briefed the Council Chairmen on the 2021 NUJ Thanksgiving Service, tagged Ikot Abasi 2021, saying “Every year, the State Council rotates its annual Thanksgiving Service among the three Senatorial Districts in the State which gives us the opportunity to access rural areas to see the gains and challenges of development.”
She said the choice of Ikot Obong, Ikot Abasi Local Government Area, for the 2021 event “is symbolic to the Union’s spiritual rebirth and development of Akwa Ibom State.”
“The 2021 Thanksgiving Service has its themed taken from the Book of Hebrews Chapter 10, Verse 23, He Who Promised is Faithful. It will take place at the Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel),” she explained.
On the NUJ Team were Comrade Darlington Udobong (Committee Secretary), Comrade Nsikak Akpan (Committee Treasurer), Comrade Emeka Samuel and Comrade Ikechukwu Agbamegbue
