5th from (L), Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua and members of ‘Edo Online Media Practitioners’
From (L), Standing, Acting Chairman, Edo Online Media Practitioners’ Dada Ayoha addressing the Commissioner, Kassim Afegbua and members of Mgt. Top (R), the Commissioner 2nd L, responding, and Down (R), members of the Body.
From our news desk, Benin
The members of ‘Edo Online Media Practitioners’, an umbrella body of online journalists, were recently the guests of the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua.
The online body was led on the visit by the Acting Chairman, Dada Ayokhai who said the purpose was to formally meet and interact with the Commissioner.
Ayokhai told the Commissioner that the body aims to checkmate quacks, asserting that its members are trained journalists with both academic and field experience.
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He added that the body’s code of conduct aligns with the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ ethical standards and global journalism tenets.
He assured the Commissioner of the body’s support and called for open invitations to members to cover ministry and state government activities, ensuring first‑hand information instead of relying on secondary sources.
In his remarks, the Commissioner used the opportunity of the visit to delve into the controversy surrounding the establishment of the Museum of West African Arts (MOWAA) in Benin City, which has created a rift between the current State government and the former administration of Godwin Obaseki.
According to the Commissioner, there is a lot of secrecy about MOWAA, but he emphasized that the government will not succumb to blackmail.
He further said that having a magnificent museum like MOWAA in Benin City without Benin artifacts; it speaks volumes and is improper. He added that one cannot discuss culture in Benin without the Benin Monarchy.
“Germany alone returned about 1,200 artifacts. The Netherlands released 119 artifacts. All of these are supposed to be part of our cultural heritage,” he noted.
He urged journalists to conduct proper research on MOWAA to ascertain the true position of things and ensure the public is accurately informed about the establishment’s ownership and status.
Afegbua emphasized the rich history and meaning behind every artifact in Benin City, adding that before the Monarch says you should do something, there must be a reason behind it.
He promised to partner with the Edo Online Media Practitioners in a manner that would mutually benefit both parties for the development of Edo State.
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