The Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson has stated that the 11th All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC), organized by the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has made Bayelsa State to meet the world and the world to meet Bayelsa State, noting that it was gratifying that the conference was taking place in Bayelsa State, ‘the Glory of all Lands’ for the second time.
Governor Dickson, who stated this while declaring the ANEC 2015 open on Thursday, 27th August, 2015, at Banquet Hall, Government House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, applauded the theme of the conference, “The Change we Need: Role of the Editor,” remarking that it was appropriate and timely, especially now that Nigeria was out for change.
According to Dickson, the media was a powerful arm of the government and should hold leaders accountable at all times recalling that it was the media that fought for the country’s independence by the enlightenment it gave the citizenry in midst of darkness.
The ‘Country Man Governor,’ as he is fondly called, disclosed that Bayelsa State, under his watch, had delivered so much in the spirit of change, by ensuring security of lives and property, which has made the state one of the most safest and peaceful states in Nigeria, pledging to collaborate with the Federal Government and other stakeholders in fighting terrorism in Nigeria.
He charged politicians to change their attitude and embrace new ways of playing politics, as well as the media to rise up to their traditional calling and jointly build a new Nigeria without any prejudice to party affiliation, ethnicity or tribe.
Earlier, the Acting President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), Garba Deen Muhammad, in his address, recognized that there was no alternative to the Nigerian nation and applauded the immediate past President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, for playing his historic statesman role when it mattered most, allowing change to thrive, saying this singular act will herald the beginning of the long walk to the Nigeria we dream and aspire to be.
He promised that the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), as a change agent, was out to partner other change agents to take our dear country to greater heights, noting that NGE already had started sacrificing for change as one of its leaders, Mr. Femi Adesina is currently the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, while the Guild was ever ready to contribute to the change of country from what it is to what it should be.
Present at the occasion were the Vice-President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Dr. (Mrs.) Oloshade Yemi-Esan; Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Admiral Gboribiogha John-Jonah; Speaker of Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Komboye Benson; Secretary to Bayelsa State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru; chairman/CEO of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, who was the chairman on the occasion; Prof. Etannibi Alemika of the Department of Sociology, University of Jos, who was the keynote; the Executive Secretary of National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Associate Prof. Barclays Foubiri Ayakoroma, who was the lead paper presenter; as well as other frontline editors of newspapers and magazines across the country, including the famous Ray Ekpu of Newswatch.
Egiobu Rex-Ogbuku
Corporate Affairs, NICO SSZ
Yenagoa, Bayelsa State