Akwa Ibom maiden media summit holds on Friday

Journalists in Akwa Ibom are set to hold a maiden media stakeholders summit in the state on Sept. 20.

Entitled “The State of the Media in Akwa Ibom: The Way Forward,” the one day summit would hold at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Uyo, beginning from 10 a.m.

The Secretary of the Summit, Mr Kufre Etuk, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja.

Etuk, who is also the Editor, The Crest Newspaper, said that the summit would bring together reporters, editors, and publishers in the state for a stocktaking.

He said that the event would be co-chaired by a former Chairman of the NUJ and Publisher of Straightnews Newspaper, Israel Umoh, and the Regional Editor of South-South/South-East Premium Times, Mr Cletus Ukpong.

Etuk said that goodwill messages would be delivered at the summit by the Chairman of NUJ, Akwa Ibom State Council, Mr Amos Etuk, and the Chancellor of Conference of Online Publishers, Akwa Ibom (COOPA), Mr Utitofon Ukpong.

He added that a former Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ, Akwa Ibom, Dr Idongesit Ashameri, would speak on “Media Practice in Akwa Ibom: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow’.

He also said that the Publisher of MediaPost International, Mr Idorenyin Aquaisua, would speak on “The Challenges of Media Industry in Akwa Ibom,” .

“An award-winning journalist, Mr Ekemini Simon, of the Mail Newspaper, would speak on “Opportunities for Media Sustainability in Akwa Ibom.

“Otuekong Isong, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), an internationally recognised human rights and pro-democracy organisation, will examine press freedom in Akwa Ibom.

“Also Mr Ukpong, the Regional Editor of Premium Times, will speak on Ethical and Responsible Journalism in the state,” he said.

Etuk, however, said that the summit, which would have two sessions: “a pre-summit session with media relations managers and a stakeholders’ business session”, is strictly by invitation.