The Anambra State Government has pledged to partner with journalists in the state on welfare and health, while also urging the media to embrace responsible and development-focused reporting.
Speaking on behalf of Governor Chukwuma Soludo at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Anambra State Council’s 35th Anniversary and 2026 Man of the Year Awards/Press Week Grand Finale in Awka, the Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, said the state is undergoing massive infrastructure development across all sectors.
He described Anambra as “to a very reasonable extent, a construction site” with projects ongoing everywhere, and commended NUJ Anambra for 35 years of growth, noting the council was founded the same year as the state.
Addressing welfare, Dr. Mefor responded to the NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahya’s call for affordable healthcare for journalists by highlighting the Anambra State Health Insurance Scheme.
He explained that for just ₦12,000, any resident can access health interventions, except for a few cases like cancer, and assured that the government would work with NUJ State Chairman, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, to explore group enrollment for journalists.
He further assured practitioners of government support and urged them to reach out whenever they face challenges.
On the role of the media, Dr. Mefor stressed that journalism is the only profession constitutionally mandated to hold government accountable, and described it as irreplaceable in democracy.
He appealed for truthful but responsible reporting, cautioning against sensationalism that could incite chaos.
According to him, “When you say ‘people were killed’ and when you say ‘people were massacred’, there is a difference. That is all government is pleading for: report responsibly.”
The event, held at the Annabel Event Centre, Awka, was attended by media stakeholders, with awardees honored for their contributions to journalism and society in Anambra.
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