Agba Jalingo, a journalist and human rights activist, has revealed that Senator Bassey Otu, the governor of Cross River State, has provided him with the greatest birthday present by granting unconditional pardons to 45 individuals convicted of minor offenses.
During his closing remarks at a symposium organized by the Agba Jalingo Foundation for Investigative and Accountability Journalism (AJFIAJ) in celebration of his birthday, Jalingo expressed his happiness that previous conversations with the governor regarding the conditions of inmates at the Medium Custodial Center of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Calabar have come to fruition.
The symposium, themed “Journalism and Crossing the Cybercrime and Legal Hurdles,” featured prominent speakers such as keynote speaker Nneota Egbe, Fisayo Soyombo, founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalists, Jonathan Towuru, AIG of Zone 6 NPF, Cornelius Ellah, HOD of Journalism and Media Studies at UNICROSS, human rights lawyer James Ibor ESQ, Dr. Monday Ashibogwu, CEO of Republic Media Ltd, and Charles Kalu, GM of People’s FM in Abuja.
Dr. Justin Beshel, the Commissioner for Science and Technology, representing Governor Bassey Otu, emphasized the importance of accountability in journalism.
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He stated, “The growth of the digital landscape brings significant threats termed Cybercrimes, which we cannot ignore. Journalists must also adopt advanced security measures such as encryption and data protection to uphold their ethical standards.
“There exists a vital correlation between technology and journalism. Since the start of this administration, we have aimed to make all our policies public. We must establish a strong legal framework to combat Cybercrimes while protecting journalistic freedoms.
“This administration has successfully relaunched the state’s defunct website to counter misinformation. Additionally, by May, we will introduce a downloadable app for both Android and iOS, allowing communication with this administration, as we welcome constructive criticism from the public.
“Today, we gather to celebrate a significant milestone in journalism within Cross River State. The government recognizes and applauds your achievements,” he asserted.
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