By Matthew Ajai-Kume
Governor Samuel Ortom has reaffirmed preparedness to revamp Benue State media houses to be well equipped, in order to promote his administration’s policies and programmes.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Terver Akase, disclosed this Friday, when he was featured on a Radio Benue programme monitored by The Voice.
Akase stated that, for that purpose, the Benue State Government has established a Benue Television which is online, while he ensured that, efforts are on-going to move the station to satellite, beginning with free to air and later on DSTV.
He explained that, in the same line, the government has also transformed its newspaper, The Voice, printed by the Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, Makurdi, which is now published online to give a wider readership to its readers.
In his words: “At The Voice Newspaper, the State Government has appointed a Digital General Manager, in person of Mr Ben Agande who has placed the paper online to compete with other National Dailies for the purpose of information dissemination.”
Akase further explained that, digital equipments would soon be procured for the state’s radio station, Radio Benue, to provide wider coverage to its audience as well as improvement of the State Library Board by making it digital for users.
The Chief Press Secretary, recorded the achievements of Governor Ortom higher in the area of education and health sector as the state has made available equipments at the Benue State University (BSU) College of Health Sciences. He said the college has trained over 400 medical students who are at the moment, impacting effectively to health care delivery service of the state and the country at large.
“The Governor has constructed 42 primary health centres across the state, the centres are providing health delivery services to our rural people,” he said.
He added that other areas of his principal’s achievements include; urban and rural roads construction across the state’s three senatorial districts, security and several other sectors.
“Governor Ortom as a man who grew up in Gboko has given back to the area, through the construction of roads and other incentives,” he noted.
Akase maintained that, though the result of the governor returned positive, he did not show the symptoms of the disease. He added that, the governor is taking medication, according to the instruction of medical personnel and informed that soon, he would be out.
Akase explained that, at the moment, Governor Ortom’s deputy, Engr Benson Abounu is carrying out the day to day activities of the government.
He debunked stories of his interest to contest the 2023 governorship of the state even as he commended the people and interest groups calling on him to contest, stating that, at the moment, he is focused on assisting his principal to succeed.