Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has commended members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, for their professionalism and commitment to responsible journalism, while reaffirming his administration’s resolve to invest more resources in upgrading the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) to international standards.
The governor gave the assurance at the Government House in Benin City while receiving a delegation of NUJ members on a thank-you visit following the appointment of the council’s chairman, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, as Managing Director of EBS.
Okpebholo expressed appreciation for the journalists’ visit and urged media practitioners to remain committed to objective reporting, accuracy and the ethical standards of the profession.
He said he had greater confidence in reports from conventional media organisations, stressing that professional journalists must verify information before publication, particularly in an era when unverified claims can spread rapidly across social media platforms.
The governor cited an incident in which social media influencers allegedly circulated information claiming that his Chief Security Officer had been sacked, when the officer was reportedly away on official engagement.
He used the incident to emphasise the importance of fact-checking and responsible information dissemination, warning that unverified reports could mislead the public and create unnecessary controversy.
Okpebholo encouraged journalists to contribute to the development of Edo State through balanced reporting, constructive engagement and the dissemination of credible information.
He also urged members of the profession to pursue ambitious leadership goals, including aspiring to become governors and presidents, noting that Nigeria belongs to all its citizens and that journalists should not limit their ambitions because of their professional backgrounds.
On the future of EBS, the governor reiterated his commitment to providing additional resources to improve the station’s operations, technical capacity and overall broadcasting standards.
The proposed upgrade is expected to strengthen the state-owned broadcaster’s ability to deliver quality news, public information, educational programming and other content to audiences within and beyond Edo State.
Earlier, the NUJ Edo State Council Chairman and newly appointed EBS Managing Director, Comrade Festus Alenkhe, thanked the governor for the appointment and pledged to work with his management team to advance the objectives for which the broadcasting organisation was established.
Alenkhe assured the governor that his administration at EBS would operate in accordance with the laws governing the station and pursue reforms aimed at improving its performance.
He also pledged the support of journalists in the state in publicising government activities, while emphasising that such coverage would remain subject to professional ethics and the principles of responsible journalism.
The EBS managing director further expressed gratitude to members of the NUJ for their solidarity and reaffirmed his commitment to purposeful leadership within the union.
In their separate remarks, NUJ Vice Chairman Comrade Ede Agho, Secretary Comrade Andy Egbon, Chairman of the State Information Chapel Comrade Erharuyi A. Joe, and Executive Director of OJ FM Comrade Olabisi Akpaida commended the governor for appointing one of their colleagues to lead the state-owned broadcasting organisation.
They described the appointment as recognition of the capacity of media professionals to contribute to public service and expressed confidence in Alenkhe’s experience and ability to deliver on the responsibilities of the office.
The meeting was attended by the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Secretary to the State Government, Musa Ikhilor, Esq.; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Musa Yakubu; and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kazeem Afegbua, among other dignitaries.
The governor’s pledge to upgrade EBS comes amid expectations that improved equipment, stronger professional standards and sustained investment could enhance the station’s competitiveness in Nigeria’s evolving broadcast media landscape.
For the proposed reforms to deliver lasting results, attention will need to be given to modern broadcasting technology, staff development, reliable funding, editorial professionalism and the station’s ability to serve the public with accurate and independent reporting.
