Media Professionals Urged to Drive Development Through Responsible Reporting on Natural Resources

The Chairman of the Association of Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals, Elder Edet Okpo, PhD, has called on media practitioners in Akwa Ibom South to intensify efforts toward promoting accountability, transparency and sustainable development through responsible reporting on natural resources and public projects.

Elder Okpo made the call during the Association’s Annual Symposium held at Eden Hotels Limited, Eket, Akwa Ibom State, with the theme: “Harnessing Akwa Ibom South’s Natural Resources: The Role of Media Professionals.”

Addressing participants at the event, he stressed the need for media professionals to remain objective in reporting issues concerning development and management of public resources, especially funds meant for host communities under the Petroleum Industry Act.

According to him, there have been growing concerns over the management of Host Community Trust Funds in some benefiting local government areas, adding that the media must rise to the responsibility of ensuring accountability.

“But that is not the truth. I am sure our government will give us a detailed report.

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Please, let us hold them accountable,” he stated. Elder Okpo commended the Senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District, Senator Ekong Sampson, for quality representation and visible projects across the twelve local government areas in the district.

He disclosed that he had personally accompanied the Senator on several project inspection tours and confirmed the existence of impactful projects in the various local government areas.

“The senator sitting here is representing twelve good local government areas, and I had the privilege of accompanying him to project inspections. In each local government, you will see quality and visible projects on ground,” he said.

The media leader, however, decried the poor state of road infrastructure in parts of the senatorial district, narrating his experience during a project monitoring exercise in some riverine communities.

According to him, a team he led encountered severe difficulties while traveling through communities in Eastern Obolo, Ikot Abasi and neighboring areas due to deplorable road conditions.

He revealed that the team was stranded for several hours and had to be rescued after their vehicle got trapped because of the poor road network.

“As a team, we witnessed the nightmare faced by our people because of bad roads. Communities are suffering because of abandoned projects and failed contractors,” he lamented.

To address these concerns, Elder Okpo announced the constitution of three strategic committees by the Association to strengthen accountability, development monitoring and members’ welfare across the senatorial district.

The committees include the Trust Fund Management Committee, the Emoimee Projects Monitoring Committee and the Projects Monitoring Committee.

He explained that the Trust Fund Management Committee would focus on members’ empowerment and welfare initiatives, while the Emoimee Projects Monitoring Committee would monitor the utilization of Host Community Trust Funds and ensure transparency in the execution of projects within benefiting communities.

The Projects Monitoring Committee, according to him, would inspect projects executed by the Federal Government, Akwa Ibom State Government and corporate organizations across the senatorial district, identify abandoned projects and draw the attention of government to communities lacking basic infrastructure.

Elder Okpo disclosed that Mrs. Idongesit Ashameri would head one of the strategic committees inaugurated at the symposium, expressing confidence in her capacity to drive accountability and effective project monitoring.

He further revealed plans by the Association to empower at least 100 members with One Million Naira each before the next training programme to support their businesses and improve members’ welfare.

According to him, the initiative forms part of the Association’s broader commitment toward economic empowerment and professional development of media practitioners within the senatorial district.

Elder Okpo maintained that contractors who have collected funds for projects without execution must be held accountable in the interest of the people.

“Those contractors that have gotten money and gone into hiding must be sought out. We must secure good road networks and development for our people. The time to do that is now,” he declared.

He also used the opportunity to commend Senator Ekong Sampson, describing him as “an intellectual in politics” and “a global scholar in public service.”

He appreciated the senator for his support toward the activities of the Association and pledged continued media support for quality representation and impactful leadership in the district.

The symposium also featured discussions on resource management, accountability and recognition of distinguished personalities for their contributions to society and humanity.

Present at the symposium were Senator Ekong Sampson, Senator representing Eket Senatorial District; Elder Paul Bassey, Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports; Dr. Essien Ndueso, Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation and BOT Chairman of the Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals, alongside other prominent stakeholders and well-meaning indigenes of the senatorial district.

Elder Okpo concluded by thanking participants for attending the symposium and urged media professionals to continue promoting development-oriented journalism capable of advancing growth and good governance in Akwa Ibom South.