The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Edo State Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, has reaffirmed Governor Monday Okpebholo’s resolve to build a New Edo, saying the administration is ready and willing to work closely with the media for the overall development of the state.
Dr. Ebojele spoke at a grand reception organised in his honour by Friends of the CPS, held on Friday at the NUJ Press Centre in Benin City. The event attracted journalists and media stakeholders from both traditional and digital platforms, highlighting the growing partnership between government and the media.
According to the CPS, his responsibility is to ensure that journalists have unhindered access to information needed to report the governor’s SHINE Agenda in an atmosphere of transparency, professionalism and open governance.
“This honour from the media family means a lot to me. It strengthens my resolve to serve with integrity, openness and professionalism,” Ebojele said.
He stressed that government communication under his watch would be based on facts, not propaganda, noting that Edo people deserve truthful, verifiable and accessible information.
“My assignment is simple: no propaganda, no noise. The achievements of this administration under the SHINE Agenda speak for themselves. Our duty is to communicate them clearly, truthfully and responsibly,” he stated.
Dr. Ebojele also pledged to promote fairness and inclusiveness in the media space, urging journalists and publishers to avoid discrimination among platforms and to strengthen collaboration across print, broadcast and online media.
“There should be unity in our profession. Whether print, broadcast or online, every journalist deserves respect and access. We must close communication gaps and work as one family,” he added.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council, Dr. Festus Alenkhe, urged the CPS to revive regular ministerial briefings, ensure transparency and carry journalists along in government activities to prevent speculation and misinformation.
He said the reception was not just a celebration, but a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening trust between the government and the media in Edo State.
Speaking on behalf of the Society of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria (SDNON), its President, Dr. Adeniyi Ifetayo, congratulated Dr. Ebojele, describing him as a seasoned communicator whose appointment came at a critical time in Edo State’s information management.
Represented by the SDNON Welfare Secretary, Iyabo Aina, alongside publishers Messrs Precious Eze, Victor Osehobo and Adebisi, Dr. Ifetayo said SDNON remains committed to ethical digital journalism, professionalism and constructive engagement with government.
Veteran journalist, Tony Abolo, also charged the CPS to focus on substance rather than propaganda, urging him to deploy his academic depth and professional experience to raise the standard of government communication.
“People want news, not noise. This is a chance to build a system that is factual, credible and people-focused,” Abolo said.
The reception was chaired by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, and attended by past and present NUJ chairmen, Mr. Freeman Aghedo, CPS to the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, and members of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), of which the CPS and his wife, Mrs. Ivy Ebojele — CPS to the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly — are members.
The event ended with the presentation of a portrait of the CPS by former House of Representatives member, Hon. Johnson Oghuma, on behalf of the organisers, goodwill messages, the ceremonial breaking of kolanuts and cutting of a cake, marking what many described as the beginning of a new era of open government, stronger media partnership and deepened democracy in Edo State.
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