ASABA- Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta on Thursday called on oil and gas companies operating in the state to support community newspapers.
The governor, represented by his Political Adviser, Sen. Emmanuel Aguariavwodo, made the call shortly after inaugurating the newly elected executive committee of the State Chapter of the Association of Community Newspapers Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN) at its 2024 Lectures and Awards Ceremony in Asaba.
The lecture and award ceremony has as its theme: “The Incessant Killings in the Country, Building Synergy Between the Governments and Grassroots for Effective Remedy; Imperative of Cooperative Society, it’s Impact on Nigerians and Nigeria Economic Growth”.
Oborevwori lauded the association for the lecture and advised the new executive to justify the confidence reposed on them by their members.
He decried the challenges faced by newspaper publishers while urging them to be resilient and focused on reporting issues affecting rural communities.
The governor, however, appealed to oil and gas companies whose major operations are in the rural communities to make budgetary provisions to support community newspaper publishers.
On his part, the Director General, Delta State Contributory Health Commission, Dr Isaac Akpoveta, who received award of excellence in appreciation of his contributions to the health commission by the Association, said 60 per cent of the residents will be covered by the scheme in 2025.
He disclosed that the scheme has covered over 2.4 million residents of Delta, adding that the Gov. Oborevwori’s administration has committed over N10 billion on the scheme as equity payment for pregnant women, under five aged children and the physically challenged ones who do not pay for healthcare in any hospital.
He urged parents to register their children under five years at any health centre and hospital free of charge to access free healthcare services.
Akpoveta, who dedicated the award he received to Gov. Oborevwori, for according priority to the health programme, appeal to well to do persons in the state to purchase health premium of seven thousand naira yearly, for the less privileged residents of the state.
“The Governor has made it clear that every pregnant woman in Delta is entitled to free healthcare; from the date of conception to delivery whether by normal delivery or caesarean,” Akpoveta said.
Earlier, the Outgoing Chairman, of ACNPN, Jude Obiemenyego, lauded Gov. Oborevwori for supporting the association to succeed.
Obiemenyego, said that the occasion was an annual event of the association where the association honour deserving personalities and cooperate organisations that had contributed to the growth and development of communities and beyond.
The highpoint was inauguration of the ACNPN Executives with Philip Abiagom as Chairman, Mercy Onyenweli, Vice Chairman; Alaska Ekele, Secretary; Mayor-Charity Okolie, Assistant Secretary; Answer Segun as Treasurer among others.
(NAN)
