By Emma Chukwu.

Interstate Journalists for Democracy and Development, IJDD is a media advocacy group of elite journalists with domestic and international leanings with broadening the frontiers of democracy and social development as its core agenda.

IJDD has the old Eastern Nigeria as its starting catchment zone before its international expansion which is a piecemeal process. This organization has come to set development agenda across states and international borders for political leaders and the intelligentsia, beginning with leaders of old Eastern Nigeria, primarily to stimulate multilateral development consciousness among the people and their leaders.

This organization is building interactive channels between the government and the governed in line with international democratic and socio economic development specifics to guarantee participation of the various peoples in the organization’s catchment zone to the international front.

The vast experience of its members would be employed to bring cross border understanding among Diaspora groups within the Eastern region, that is the peoples of South South and South Eastern Nigeria and across the Atlantic to bring to the knowledge of the various Diaspora groups the happenings at home through the conventional media and the social media so as to foster awareness of developments at home to enable them assess the performances of the various political leaders; to grasp the dire development needs of the people and know how to respond.

On the other hand, IJDD will through the deployment of skills of its members promote international understanding of the development needs of the people. The various business opportunities in the zone are to be showcased to international business partners to inspire confidence in foreign investors, who hitherto had been afraid of direct foreign investments in the region due to corruption.

Beyond oil and gas, Eastern Nigeria has limitless business prospects in agriculture, aquaculture, manufacturing etc which need International partners for optimization. International participation is not limited to foreigners, but Diaspora groups in Europe, America and Asia are to be persuaded through media skills to intervene in the multilateral socio economic development of the region as the region is a natural industrial haven in the face of abundant human and natural resources.

While IJDD is intensifying efforts to lobby and convince international partners to key into the industrial development of the zone, it as well believes in offering ideological direction to political leaders and the intelligentsia on the imperatives of multi sectoral participation in harnessing the abundant human and natural resources outside the oil sector.

IJDD has taken deep interest and time to compile the development programmes of governors of the region. In one of its meetings in Owerri the group issued a Communique praising the practical and innovative approach of Abia State governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti in addressing the social and economic problems of Abia State. His engagement of experienced construction companies to build Abia roads which had been in deplorable state over the years, especially, the Port Harcourt road which is been reconstructed by Julius Berger attracted commendation from the group.

The group also gave its nods to the Abia governor in his resolve to listening to the cry of Abia people and other residents over the deadly activities of persons and groups terrorizing the people, which led to his government’s decision to make the cattle market in the state a non residential market. This decision fell in line with the call of the people due largely to the nefarious activities of kidnappers and terrorists that exploited the old status of the market to unleash insecurity in the area.

IJDD seems impressed with the development approach of the Abia governor so far and is willing to partner with his government for the even development of the state. Abia is a strong industrial hub in Eastern Nigeria as its optimal development will rub off on other states in the region and the entire country

It is a core objective of IJDD to promote the protection and nurturing of the ecosystem of Eastern Nigeria. The prevailing abuse of the environment by companies and individual citizens is a source of concern to the organization that it intends to interface with leaders of the zone to find lasting solutions. The problems created by oil pollution on agriculture, aquaculture and the physical environment, especially in the littoral states of Niger Delta are considered very nagging and serious to be tackled by the various governments.;

It is in line with the ideals of the organization to sensitize leaders of Niger Delta on the imperatives of securing the Marine environment and its economy in a fast changing 21st century. Hydrological pollution is a serious problem in the Niger Delta and it must be addressed to eradicate contamination of acquifers in the region as a result of chemicals used in oil exploitation.
Bonny river, river Nun, Imo river River Ethiope, the Escravos and other open water bodies in the Niger Delta are under constant pollution.

IJDD has it as one of its goals to sensitize citizens of the littoral states to protect the marine environment and aquatic lives.
As the organization is determined to promote democracy and development of the region and the international arena, it is also willing to advertise the various economic and social potentials of the region to the international community.

As part of IJDD’s international mission, it now has a coordinator for the United States and Latin America and a coordinator for the United Kingdom and entire Europe to primarily sensitize Diaspora groups in the Western Hemisphere, by publicizing the activities of IJDD, its position on democratic and social economic development issues in the region in news organs and social media channels patronized by citizens of South South and South East in the United States, Latin America and Europe.
This will keep them conversant with the true state of development in the region as told by non partisan journalists with international leaning.

Emma Chukwu is the president of IJDD.

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