THE Deputy Governor of Delta State, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN), has canvassed the need for community newspapers in Nigeria to foster growth and development of the grassroots in which they operate.Utuama gave this advice in Asaba recently while delivering a lecture on the 'Role of Community Newspapers in a Democracy', at the opening ceremony of the 6th National Delegates Conference of the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN).The deputy governor, asserted that apart from fostering growth and development, community newspapers should ensure that the contents of their publications are presented in a way that would enable the communities to join the forces of better change for community and national development.He expressed satisfaction with the growth of the media industry, adding that any government aspiring to fully carry along their various communities must, as a matter of policy, patronise community publications. He charged community newspapers not to allow themselves to be used by agents of destabilisation.'You should rather see yourselves as veritable bridges between the communities you serve and their immediate governments,' he said.Utuama, had earlier commended the association for the dissolution of its executive and the setting up of a caretaker committees three months ahead of the delegates conference.The Delta State Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, said community newspapers are potent forces for the realisation of genuine intentions of government to evolve a developed society.Ogeah promised to involve his ministry and by extension the state government in the activities of the association.Also speaking, the national co-ordinator of the association, Comrade Matthew Odion Alli, expressed gratitude to the Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for the understanding existing between the state chapter of the association and his government.A thirteen member National Officers were elected at the end of the conference to run the affairs of the Association for the next three years.Those elected include the present Chairman of Rivers State Independent Publishers Association, Sotonye Fulton as the National President, while Prince Joseph Orhomonokpaye became the Deputy National President; Babs Usigbe as National Vice President, North Central and Peter Odia Iwelomen, National Vice President, South-South.Others are Sunny Enoma Omorodion, Secretary; Chief Monday Wehere, Assistant Secretary; Jude Obiemenyego, National Treasurer; Gloria Boma Harry, National Financial Secretary; Joshua Igberaese, National Publicity Secretary, Otumba Tunde Alade, National Organising Secretary; Chief Gabriel Awodeha, Chief Provost and Victor Christopher, National Auditor.
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