By Mabinty M. Kamara
In an effort to give an insight into their activities and tell their own stories, the Management and Staff of NP SL Limited yesterday 25th April 2023 held a friendly engagement with senior journalists across electronic and Print Media during which a maiden edition of the company’s newsletter was also launched.
In her opening remarks, the Communications Manager of the petroleum company, Willette James Ph.D. in Media Studies said that despite it being a Sierra Leonean Company; it has over the years not enjoyed the desired coverage from the local media.
However, she was hopeful that the engagement and the launch of the Newsletter could be the beginning of a new dawn in the relationship between the media and the company. She stressed that the Newsletter provides opportunity for an insight into what the company does across the country and beyond.
Speaking on behalf of the President of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, Christian Conteh called on NP to ensure that the relationship with the media is mutually beneficial, in that the company will support the media through advertisement and training opportunities to ensure effective reporting on the petroleum industry whiles the media, will in turn, provide the entity the necessary coverage.
However, he was quick to note that the relationship between the two does not mean that the company will not be called out when it falls short of doing the right thing for the public or the country.
In his statement before the launch of the Newsletter, the Chief Executive Officer of NP SL Limited, Kobi Walker noted the request by the SLAJ representative but said the media has over the years been unfair to them by not getting their sides to stories being told about them.
The CEO gave a brief background about the company which he said was initially owned by 35 Sierra Leoneans. He added that the company currently operates in four other African countries- Guinea, Liberia, the Gambia, and Ivory Coast with 60% market shares.
He added that the company has invested thirty million dollars for the rehabilitation of a terminal at Kissy to ensure effective service delivery across their 46 stations in the country.
The Newsletter dubbed ‘the NP Zone’ was launched by two senior officials of Sierra Rutile Company which according to the CEO of NP is their biggest customer in the country.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (26/04/23)
