VOICE REPORTERS
The year 2022, no doubt came with its ups and downs, crisis, issues, and benefits, and as the year quickly winds up, it becomes necessary to recap on one of the phenomenal events that have contributed to giving Ebonyi State a good name.
Mr. Uchenna Inya, a State correspondent of the New Telegraph Newspaper, without much Ado, took the entire state in awe as the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) conferred him with the award of the most innovative reporter In the Country.
This development no doubt opened Inya to the golden opportunity to write his name in the sands of time in the history of the NMMA and therefore, journalism in Nigeria, and Ebonyi State.
Moreso, the stories of NMMA would not be complete without mentioning Mr. Inya, an Ebonyi man who in the year 2022 made a historic phenomenon.
In a statement signed by the State Governor’s special assistant on media and strategy, Mr. Chooks Oko, Governor David Umahi in his wisdom earlier congratulated Inya.
“Umahi who was full of praises to Comrade Inya for upholding professional aptitude in the discharge of his statutory duties observed that his penchant for objectivity earned him the laurel”. it stated.
He commended Inya for his various contributions to building the State through his display of professionalism in his reportage; he said “Uchenna over time has been a dependable ally in the Ebonyi project whose reportage has been nothing short of professional in the course of his practice.
Umahi continued that “On behalf of the people and Government of Ebonyi State, I congratulate one of our own, a seasoned Journalist, Uchenna Inya of the New Telegraph Newspaper for his latest award as the most Innovative Reporter of the year.”. while describing him as a golden fish that doesn’t have a hiding place.
The award conferred to Uchenna Inya is however not based on his reportage about the activities of the State Government, but on his reports on “Graduate Unemployment: surviving through metal works and fighting unemployment through imbued skills”.
He defeated two journalists from other stables; one from the Nation newspaper and the other from New Telegraph to emerge the winner.
The sincerity and passion for developmental and true journalism might have played a vital role in making out such reports, at a time when the Country needs it.
This height, without another year and of course no doubt gave Uchenna Inya another merit award from the Ebonyi State Government.
The State honorary award is a highly cherished one and it’s given to citizens that have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavor and made the State proud.
Recipients of the award include Governor David Umahi, who was conferred with the Great Grand Commander of Ebonyi Hall of Fame, the former military head of State, Gen Sani Abacha, Ex-President Good luck Jonathan, as well as the former SGF, sen. Pius Anyim, others include the founding fathers of the State, among many.
In his words, Inya said he was just doing his job and the awards were coming of their own accord, he, however, encouraged young journalists to work on projects that would elevate the lives of the people.
“I was surprised at the awards because I didn’t know that the State Government were seeing the little I was doing, I didn’t know that I have done anything to deserve the award, but if they said I have done something to deserve it who am I to reject it”.
“It’s a task for more work, a challenge to do more, if at all I have done something to deserve it then it will spur me to do more and improve in my work”. Inya said.
In this recap, recall that the special assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on media and strategy, Mr. Chooks Oko had urged journalists in the State to be selfless and professional towards contributing to a healthy society.
