The North-East Development Commission in partnership with The Eugenia Abu Media has organised a Media Parley with Media executives on Monday 5 December 2022 at the headquarters of the Commission in Maiduguri Borno state. The media parley was held to review the projects and implementations of the commission in North-Eastern states(Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe) the media executives were also taken on a tour to sight some of the projects within Bornu state.

The MD/CEO of NEDC, Mohammed G. Alkali highlighted the success of the NEDC since its inception under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. Alkali noted the efforts of the commission in resettling and re-integrating victims of terrorism and tackling poverty in these states reducing the numbers of IDP camps. Highlighting different interventions and infrastructures that have been put in place across the 6 states in the reconstruction of infrastructure and tackling poverty & illiteracy.

Some of the projects implemented include Housing and Resettlement projects, Roads and Bridges, the Construction of one mega school in each of the 18 senatorial districts in the NE Zone, the establishment of the centre for the study of Violent Extremism at the University of Maiduguri, empowerment programmes for the youth and fully equipped Burn Centers for victims of intense fire accidents.
Group Captain Sadiq Garba Shehu, SSA to the president on disaster management representing the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq commended the NEDC and the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for their interventions bringing succour to the people in the North-East.

The Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari represented by Mr Williams Dogo highlighted the role of the media in cases of insecurity by providing adequate and verified information, urging the media to uphold the ethics of journalism in building peace and avoid apprehension in the people.

Prof Umaru Patte, Vice Chancellor of Federal University Kashere, Gombe state and Kaigamma of Adamawa represented by Prof. Joseph Wilson encouraged the media executives to carry out proper fact-checking to shun disinformation, misinformation and mal-information and also provide timely information to aid the public.

The media executives alongside the NEDC officials visited the ongoing construction of the 500-capacity seater auditorium for the Faculty of Engineering at the Borno State University, Centre for the study of Violent Extremism at the University of Maiduguri, the proposed extension of the Maternity ward at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the visit to the Burns Center at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Present at the media parley and project tour was the Chairman of the NEDC, Rtd. Major Gen. Paul Tarfa, the MD/CEO of NEDC, Mohammed G. Alkali, DG of the National Orientation Agency, Dr Garba Abari represented by Mr Williams Dogo and the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq represented by Rtd. Group Captain Sadiq Garba Shehu, SSA to the president on disaster management and other officials of the NEDC.

Esther Alaribe
Women Radio 91.7
news@wfm917.com