By Emeka Amaefula
MY-ACE CHINA PARTNERS WITH JOURNALISTS FOR IDEAL INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN RIVERS STATE
The 2023 Press Week organized by members of Correspondents’ Chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers state Council began on Monday 11th of December, 2023 with My-Ace China popularly addressed as Mayor of Housing, who delivered speech on the need for government of Rivers state to develop a well-tailored media relationship with journalists in creating a positive narrative about the state which will properly attract investors to Rivers state.
He stated this at the occasion with the theme: Rivers state and Imperatives of an ideal investment Climate: Role of The Media. My perception as well of the thriving brand in Rivers state has been built on the backbone of relating with the youths. I have interacted with these people. All the occultist groups in Rivers state are tired of cultism without development. We have gain without profit. We are tired of occultism without expatriate surroundings and without development. The business people are tired of the perception of insecurity scaring their customers away more than insecurity itself. Just like I said earlier , perception is stronger than reality. The perception of insecurity is more scarring than insecurity itself. If you want to have a meeting with an international Oil Company, IOC they will tell you that because of insecurity they will lodge in Lagos and fly down to Port Harcourt and have a meeting and return to Lagos which is a capital flight of cash flow. This is for an event that will take place at Port Harcourt and hosted at Port Harcourt and will make money in Port Harcourt. And the greatest thing is that we are tired of that narrative that Port Harcourt is unsafe.
“The Government has a deliberate hold on the media but not gagging up the media but it is a positive Media gagging. The control who says what by enumerating who says what with their brown envelopes. So, my first plea with the Government of the day is, learn to enumerate the piper that sings the tune and when the piper is hungry the tune will be down with sober and melancholy. Number one thing is Press men stop seeing yourselves as spectators but see yourselves as participants. Dare to be participants as you and dare to invest positively as your reports affect the economy and any negative news affects your investment economic values. Because where a man’s treasure is there also will his heart be.”
The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel NUJ, Amaechi Okonkwo in his welcome address called for a peaceful and environment for development as he said “Our intention here is not to continue to dwell on the problem but to be part of the push for an immediate change of narrative we emphasis the urgent need for our political leaders to join forces in immediate designing focused , practical socio-economic policies that must make Rivers state friendly to investments and investors. There must also be a robust ‘blend of infrastructure and entrepreneurship’ with clear intentions to accelerate economic growth in Rivers.”
The Guest speaker who is the Assistant national President of NACCIMA, Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji in his presentation called for synergy among investors including the private sector and the public sector for businesses to thrive with provision of infrastructural development both in the rural communities also in the cities to curb rural-urban migrations.
—————————Emeka Amaefula————+234(0)8111813069
