Chris Osa Nehikhare, Hon. Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Edo State, has asserted that the state owned Nigerian Observer Newspaper, which was birthed on May 29, 1968, “with good welfare package for staff, the newspaper will no doubt regain its lost glory and bounce back to business, because of its potential of earning revenue for the state and being able to stand on its own.”
He made the assertion on the occasion of the formal commissioning of the media complex situated on Airport Road, Benin City on Tuesday afternoon.
According to him, “irrespective of various upheavals the world media have gone through in recent time, we can say the Nigerian Observer has no doubt come of age in the reporting, printing, publishing and general journalistic business in Nigeria, considering the fact that most state-owned newspapers are no more in business.”
Going down memory lane, Nehikhare averred “we can say the Nigerian Observer, one of the legacy projects of late Brigadier General, Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, Military Governor of Midwest State and Bendel State, is a response to the genuine demands of a people who increasingly began to feel that they need some outlet for the articulation of their own ideals with emphasis to inform, educate and entertain.
“The newspaper was established with the best standard in terms of provision of printing machines, vehicles for circulation, offices in all the state headquarters in Nigeria with Reporters to send in news to its headquarters at 24, Airport Road, Benin City, Edo State. This same premises!
“Provision was made for quality delivery of the newspaper in all ramifications; well-paid professional staff with a Complex that parades all the departments needed to compete with other well established newspaper companies in Nigeria.”
Going further, he stated: “the Nigerian Observer was then a training ground for most successful journalists in the country who later moved to other national newspapers and magazines, and today, media owners.”
In conclusion, he disclosed that “the plan of government is to make the Nigerian Observer a printing hub for the South South states in particular and the Nigerian nation in general.”
Highlight of the programme was the induction of a horde of veteran journalists and media luminaries, including former staff of the Nigerian Observer into The Nigerian Observer Hall of Fame. On the list were a former Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority, Tony Iredia; Founder of Channels Television, Tony Momoh; Founder of Thisday Newspapers and Arise Television, Nduka Obaigbena.
Also on the list were veteran broadcaster, Sunny Irabor; Founder of BusinessDay Newspaper, Frank Aigbogun; Founder, Tell Magazine, Nosa Igiebor and pioneer General Manager of Midwest Newspapers Limìted, Publishers of the Nigerian Observer, Ebenezer Williams Abiodun Aloba.
Governor Godwin Obaseki led a motley of officials of his administration and a former governor of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion to formally commission the rebuilt office complex and remodelled equipment.
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