The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has extolled media practitioners for the key role they have played in entrenching democracy in the country.
He spoke over the weekend, while playing host to Greater Awgu Media Practitioners Association, who paid him a courtesy call in his Enugu residence.
The Deputy President of the Senate said the press were very active before and after the just concluded general elections and gave all political parties the opportunity to present their manifestos to the public.
He maintained that democracy will only be sustained where members of the press positively sustain their role in educating members of the public which in no small way help the people in making informed choices during elections.
Senator Ekwereremadu commended the association for galvanising themselves and urged them to reach out to their colleagues outside the state who are outstanding for cohesiveness to help the association in sustaining their laudable goals.
He assured them of his total support toward their upcoming summit and reiterated that most issues raised by the group for the development of Greater Awgu were being addressed and congratulated them on the election of some of their members into the zonal and national executive boards of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
“I would like to start by appreciating the press for their role in entrenching democracy in the country. You were very vibrant before, during and after the just concluded elections, which in no small measure helped in impacting the peoples’ informed choices at the polls.
“On your part as practitioners, I urge you to reach out to your colleagues in other parts of the country for consolidation in your numbers. For me we would continue to do our best in the service for our people.
“We are already handling some of the issues you have raised and we are have been able to conquer most of them. In fact we are making progress,” he said.
Earlier, the patron of the association and commissioner for information in Enugu State, Mr. Ogbuagu Anikwe and chairman of the association, Mr. Regis Anukwuoji, said the association had come to congratulate Senator Ekweremadu on his election into the Senate for an unprecedented fifth time and notify him of its upcoming economic summit aimed at providing a road map for the development of the area.
Senator Ekweremadu also played host to the Greater Awgu Welfare Association (GAWA), Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and urged them to always strive for excellence as they play strategic roles in providing functional education which is the catalyst for the development of all societies.
Ekweremadu applauded members of the association for their contribution towards the growth of ESUT into a centre of academic excellence adding that its members were eminently qualified to hold leadership positions at the university.
He reiterated his desire to open up more economic corridors for the people of the zone by attracting and sustaining projects such as roads, electricity and water that will create economic opportunities and enhance the quality of life of the people.
The chairperson of GAWA, Lady Gladys Ukamaka Ude said the association came to felicitate with Senator Ekweremadu on his reelection as senator representing Enugu west senatorial zone.
Meanwhile, Senator Ekweremadu over the weekend donated a set of palm oil processing machine to Mr. Theophilus Ivo. The donation is part of an ongoing scheme by Senator Ekweremadu to boost agriculture output in Enugu west through the provision of various agricultural produce processing machines to farmers.