By ebosele@hotmail.com
The Edo-Delta Journalists Forum has called for renewed political cooperation, socio-economic development and stronger people-to-people relationships between Edo and Delta States, declaring that their shared historical identity should serve as a platform for unity, progress and accountable governance.
The call was made on Wednesday at the maiden one-day training workshop organised by the forum in Igolo, Republic of Benin, where journalists of both states extraction and other stakeholders examined the relationship between politics, development, culture, trade, security and cross-border diplomacy.
In his welcome address, the Protem Chairman of the forum, Mr. Tunde Umar-Daniah, described the gathering as an expression of the enduring bonds between the people of the two states, whose common history under the former Bendel State continues to shape their collective identity.
He argued that although administrative restructuring had separated the former Bendel territory into Edo and Delta States, their people remained connected by shared heritage, cultural values, professional relationships and common aspirations.
“Bendelites was not just a phrase; it was a testament to brotherhood, nobility and pioneering achievement,” Umar-Daniah said, presenting the legacy as a foundation for renewed cooperation and collective advancement.
The chairman’s message placed a broader political question before the leadership of both states about how a shared historical identity be translated into practical development outcomes for citizens.
The answer according to the forum lies in sustained engagement between both state governments, political representatives, community leaders, professionals and the media, particularly in areas where collaboration can promote economic growth, peace and human capital development.
Umar-Daniah said the forum intended to work with the governments and relevant institutions of Edo and Delta States respectively, through policy dialogue, regular interactions and constructive media engagement.
He identified peaceful coexistence, mutual socio-economic growth, youth empowerment, investment promotion, security cooperation and boundary diplomacy as areas requiring sustained attention.
The workshop also underscored the importance of journalism in examining public policy beyond official pronouncements and political promises.
For citizens of Edo and Delta, the relevance of the Bendel identity cannot be measured by nostalgia alone. Its contemporary value depends on whether shared cultural ties can encourage cooperation on infrastructure, employment, trade, security and other development concerns that affect ordinary people.
Collaborating Umar’s thoughts, some speakers noted that the forum’s intervention offers an opportunity to move discussions about regional solidarity beyond ceremonial declarations towards practical engagement with the developmental priorities of both states.
Its emphasis on policy dialogue also highlights the need for journalists to scrutinize government programmes, assess the delivery of public services and give citizens a platform to evaluate the outcomes of political promises and decisions.
Umar-Daniah acknowledged the contributions of the governors and political leaders of both states, as well as senators, members of the State Assembly, the House of Representatives, Local Government Councils; and Edo and Delta indigenes serving in federal institutions.
He also commended public officers involved in border management and security, noting their roles in trade facilitation, community intelligence and national stability.
The forum’s choice of Igolo, a border community in the Republic of Benin, gave the gathering an additional regional dimension; as the Permanent Secretary of Nigeria-Benin Republic Inter Border Forum, Dr. Bonny Abisogun Botoku, Hon. Falola Marufatu Ileola, Deputy Mayor, Deputy Mayor of Ifonyin Municipality; and Monsieur Matthew Koudogbo, another official from Ifonyin Municipality, all graced the occasion; providing an enriching perspective to the discourse in cross border cultural dynamics, socio-economic mix, diplomacy and cohesion.
It demonstrated the potential of professional networks to connect questions of state development with wider concerns involving international trade, security and relations between neighbouring countries.
The chairman said the organisation was established on the conviction that journalism must go beyond routine news reporting to contribute to societal development, regional integration, national security and cross-border diplomacy.
Participants examine the changing demands of journalism, including digital verification, open-source intelligence, emerging surveillance technologies and the responsible reporting of cross-border security issues.
The training also addressed the economic realities of contemporary journalism, including digital publishing, data analytics, content monetization and financial empowerment for media practitioners.
These issues are particularly relevant to the forum’s ambition to build a professional platform capable of sustaining investigative reporting, policy engagement and public-interest journalism.
By bringing together journalists and stakeholders in a border community, the Edo-Delta Journalists Forum has signalled its intention to connect the historical solidarity of the former Bendel people with contemporary questions of governance and regional development.
The forum is determined to sustain its proposed engagement with public institutions and translate the ideals expressed at its maiden workshop into consistent scrutiny of public policy and measurable benefits for citizens.
Most importantly, the Edo and Delta States Igolo occasion is indicative of the fact that a common past can provide the foundation for cooperation, and is certain that the enduring relevance of that heritage will ultimately translate into quality governance, highlight the opportunities available to citizens and the willingness of political leaders to work towards a shared prosperity.
