Delta government has commended Asaba Correspondents Chapel of NUJ for embarking on a Solar Power Project to serve the needs of its members , and urged other chapels of the union to emulate the good gesture.
The State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu stated this during the inauguration of a Solar Power Project at the chapel secretariat on Wednesday in Asaba.
Aniagwu represented by a Director in the state ministry, Mr Harold Ojji, said it was a thing of joy to see chapels embark on infrastructural projects other than personal needs.
“”With this energy mix, members of Asaba Correspondents Chapel of NUJ, do not need to go elsewhere to charge their gadgets to do their work”
”We as a government will keep commending the media for being our partners in progress, and we will keep appealing for their support and cooperation to ensure that the developments and other activities of government are publicized.”
In his remark, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr Isaac Akpoveta appreciated the role of the media as the fourth estate of the realm especially in publicizing the activities of government.
Akpoveta noted that Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration had released two to three billion naira as payment for health premium for children under five years and pregnant women from the day of pregnancy to when they deliver either by normal delivery or caesarean delivery.
”Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori is doing very well. He appreciates the work of the Delta State Contributory Health Commission”
‘On budget performance, last year ; this year , the governor gave us two to three billion naira budget release to pay equity premium for children under five years and pregnant women who enjoy free healthcare, ” he said.
Akpoveta urged journalists to embrace the state contributory health insurance scheme for maintenance of their health, and avoid out of pocket expenses.
Executive Assistant to Delta State Governor on Public Enlightenments, Projects and Policies, Mr Olisa Ifeajika stressed the need for journalists to look beyond government for their needs by leveraging the private sector collaboration.
He lauded the initiative of the leadership and members of the chapel for ensuring a conducive environment for journalists to do their work effectively with availability of power.
Executive Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr Norbert Chiazor urged critical stakeholders to give journalists their right of place in the society, saying that the media is vital to the development of any state and country.
”Even in this country, Journalists have lived up to expectation right from the era of Nnamdi Azikiwe , a foremost journalist, till date. Journalist should be adequately rewarded ”, Chiazor emphasized.
Chairman of NUJ, Delta State Council , Mr Churchill Oyowe congratulated Asaba Correspondents Chapel for the laudable Solar Power Project at a time when energy challenge remains a major issue in the country.
”This bold step towards renewable energy is visionary, responsible, and a demonstration of leadership.
”This is the innovative thinking is what we need across chapels and unions in the country because reliable power is critical for effective Journalism,” Oyowe said .
The Convener and Chairman of Asaba Correspondents Chapel of NUJ, Mr Ifeanyi Olannye described the Solar Power Project as an effort to ensure energy mix to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the Chapel Secretariat.
”Today, we are inaugurating this project in our effort to ensure energy mix towards sustaining 24 hours power supply at our Chapel Secretariat with the use of Generator, Public Power Source and now Solar Power Facility to complement in a bid regular power”
”However, the sustainability of the Solar Power is dependent on the Weather Condition (Sun Light) with the recharging strength of the Public Power Source”
”The History behind the Solar/Public Power Supply to our Chapel: About eight-years ago, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, liberated the Chapel from the spirit of the Newspapers Circulation Centre, where our members usually gather after collecting their complementary copie”.
”Assuming office on November 2023, I made a promise to address some of these challenges. As we speak, this Chapel has been reconnected to public power supply, (BEDC), with outstanding bills paid and a prepaid meter installed to solve the problem of estimated billings from the power company”
”Today, to ensure a more sustained energy support to the Chapel Secretariat toward attaining an uninterrupted electricity.
”We are here to inaugurate a 2.5KVA Solar Power Facility in the Chapel, all thanks to you with special thanks to Mr Charles Aniagwu and Dr Isaac Akpoveta.
”We also thank Sir Festus Ahon, and you our guests and partners for supporting the Asaba Correspondents Chapel, your dependable ally in State and Nation Building”, Olannye stated.
Highlight of the ceremony was the formal inauguration of Solar Power Facility at chapel secretariat by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu.
