Journalists have been charged to mainstream the huge investment potentials in Rivers State with a view to attract foreign direct investment that would positively impact the economy of the State.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the Mayor of Housing, My-Ace China, gave this charge at a Dinner/Award Night of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Port Harcourt, recently.

Both individuals harped on the need for a new reporting approach that focuses on highlighting the huge potentials of the state in order to attract investments, stressing the need to present accurate news and information about Rivers State to the larger society.

Represented by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, the Governor commended the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel for what he called neutrality in coverage of the current political developments in Rivers State.

He noted that his administration remains media-friendly and will sustain its support for the Correspondents’ Chapel and other components of the NUJ in Rivers State, citing the support his administration extended to the Rivers State Chapter of the National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) election which produced a National Deputy President from Rivers State.

Acknowledging that his administration is currently facing some hurdles, which he described as normal in leadership, Fubara commended the Chapel for telling the story as it is, expressed delight over the support the people of the State have shown him and his administration as seen at the flag-off of the 20,000 housing units at Mgbodo Aluu in Ikwerre LGA on Friday, December 15, 2023.

On the ongoing political crisis in the State, Fubara described himself as a “talk-and-do” governor, pointing out that though he may not be a very loud person he is a very strong and focused on delivering on his electoral mandate to his people.

He also advised that “those who are copying what President Bola Tinubu did to Akinwunmi Ambode in Lagos should try and copy well”, asserting that “when Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not want Ambode to return as Governor of Lagos, he kept quiet and waited for him to want to take a second term ticket of the party. So, if you want to copy, try and copy well”.

In his remarks during the dinner, the Mayor of Housing agreed with the Governor that negative presentation of events from Rivers State would hurt the economy and even hurt publishers and journalists.

He urged them to use their pen to shape a positive narrative of Rivers State, reminding them of their status as stakeholders in the State’s economy and political landscape.

The Mayor of Housing charged the Media Community to consider investing in reputation asset building of states they cover such as Rivers and hope to also reap from it.

He noted that the Housing sector needs good image of the political environment to grow, appealing to journalists to do reputation evaluation of locations where estates can be developed, saying this would attract global developers.

He also reminded those trying to tear the state down to know that profit flees to where there is stability, saying that some climes have turned swamps into new havens just as in Lagos State Maroko was turned into Lekki.

Speaking, the Head, Corporate Communications at Indorama Nigeria, Jossy Nkwocha, PhD, who received an awards on behalf of his company and also for himself, commended members of the NUJ Correspondents Chapel for remaining neutral in reporting the crisis in the state.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Amaechi Okonkwo commended the Rivers State Government for restoring the tradition of supporting organs of the NUJ and for supporting the Chapel for the successful hosting of the Press Week 2023.