The Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, RiversState Chapter, has appealed to the Prince of Niger Delta Politics, Prince Tonye Princewill to use his status and influence to improve their welfare.
The union made the appeal during a courtesy call and media chat with the Prince recently in Port Harcourt.
Mr. Terver Akase, the Chairman of the Federated Correspondent Chapel, who led the executive members among others on the visit, noted that the cost of running the chapel has not been easy, explaining that the rent of the apartment which serves as the Chapel’s office has been increased from the sum of N400,000 to N700,000.
He also appealed for among other things, provision of permanent site or office for the chapel by the present government, empowerment of their members as it is obtainable in a few states and extends membership of the chapel’s cooperative society to the Prince.
Mr. Terver Akase who described Prince Tonye Princewill as a friend of the media as well as a worthy friend, thanked and prayed God tocontinue to protect him.
In his response, Princewill described the media as partners in shinning the light and reminisced the various roles and contributions it has made, especially at the time when he wanted to reclaim his alleged stolen mandate from the then Governor of Rivers State, Sir Celestine Omehia, noting that he is comfortable with the State’s Correspondent Chapel led by Mr. Terver Akase.
In reaction to challenges facing the union as outlined by Terver Akase, the Prince gave a cheque of N200,000 to the chapel to augment their financial base with a view to paying their office rent.
While accepting to be a member of the Chapel’s Cooperative Society, Prince Tonye said he would like to know what it entails to be a member of the society and promised to make case for them to the New Port Harcourt Authority and see if the Chapel will have a permanent office at the New Port Harcourt City.
On the issue of empowerment, the Prince averred there is nothing he could do as he is not an elected representative or a holder of a
political office in the present administration in Rivers State.
The event ended with a visit to the chapel’s office and Cyber café where the Prince saw things for himself, asked some questions and was briefed with the challenges facing the Cyber café.
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Media Consultant to the Prince, directed that a list of the demands be made and forwarded.
It would be recalled that in recent time, Prince Tonye Princewill donated “world class” photocopier to the chapel without excluding other media outfits that benefited from his magnanimity in the time past which has earned him the name “friend” of the media in some quarters.
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