In Journalism school, you are taught that for effective communication to be said to have taken place, there must be a feedback and for any serious journalist, it is always exciting when his or her works attracts a feedback, either positive or negative.
There are some news reports or feature stories that make headlines, but nobody care about its source because it is complimentary, but if it is otherwise, be rest assured that the attention of the writer will be drawn to it.
I was a bit constrained to write on the Nigerian Observer Newspaper, but it became necessary to make the point clear that the newspaper is seen from a different perspective, especially for those who do not know that they can read the online version of the newspaper from any part of the world.
This seem to be a silent selling point of the newspaper, which most readers do not take advantage of, apparently because they have access to the hard copy of the paper at the news stand. That is not the same for those who do not have the opportunity of getting the hard copy of the paper, especially those in Diaspora.
To break that silence and enlighten such people that they can read the paper on their mobile gadgets anywhere it became imperative that this piece should be published. It was particularly in response to the feedback that I received about the Nigerian Observer’s presence in the World Wide Web (Internet) and how it was highly rated by those who read the paper online.
Early this week, I received several feedbacks on a book I reviewed, with the title, “The Benin Monarchy and Ogiamien Connection, The Historical Facts.” It was published in the Nigerian Observer Newspaper and in the online edition of the paper. Most of the feedbacks came from abroad.
Not less than fifteen persons have contacted me after reading the Book review in the Nigerian Observer online portal (www.www.nigerianobservernews.com). Some commented about the book, while others requested to know how they could get copies of the book. A UK based professor also sent a relation to me in the office to request for the book, after reading the review online.
The point I am trying to make is that, while few persons still misconstrue the place of the Nigerian Observer amongst other Newspapers in the country, one thing is obvious and that is the fact that the newspaper is serving a very important role of informing, educating and entertaining the people about happenings in Edo State today and other parts of the country.
A Nigerian born Journalist based in the United States of America, Mr. Wahid Braimah, once disclosed that every morning, the Nigerian Observer online edition is among the sites he visits to be abreast with the local stories in his home state and he poured encomiums on the paper.
According to him, the Nigerian Observer online gives him an update of events closer home. Even though he is from Owan West local government area of Edo State and has been in the US for over twenty years, with the information he gets daily, he is more abreast of happenings at home.
Moreover, his views are that some of the stories about the state, published in the Nigerian Observer cannot be found in other news site and he advised the management of the newspaper to intensify efforts in their coverage of the local government areas and the villages.
This opinion was also expressed by most of the persons interviewed abroad. They are excited to get first hand information about home, which assist them in their discussions and interactions with other Nigerians. They sometimes call their relations back home to clarify what they read on the net.
However, some people have refused to appreciate the role the newspaper has been playing as a state owned newspaper, bridging the communication gap between the people and the government as well as serving as feedback machinery for the government.
The Nigerian Observer, first published in May 29, 1968 by the then governor of the state, Colonel Samuel Ogbemudia was a child of necessity, published as a document for daily circulation that would inform the public on the activities of government of the then Midwest State, educate, as well as provide a forum for a two way communication.
There is no doubt that the newspaper is playing the role it was set up. To publicize the activities of the government in power and it cannot do otherwise, as the saying goes, “who pays the piper dictates the tune.”
The newspaper has since grown with the establishment of three editions, Daily, Sunday and Weekend Observer that are exclusively owned by the government today. Within the first decade of its existence, the name Midwest Newspaper Corporation was subjected to geo-political changes that affected the political structure at the federal level.
First, it was Midwest Mass-Communication Corporation and following the creation of more states including Bendel from the defunct Midwest State, the Corporation’s name was changed to Bendel Newspaper Corporation.
After several reforms, in January 1. 1989, the Corporation’s name was changed from Bendel Newspaper Corporation to Bendel Newspaper Company Limited (BNCL).
Following the creation of Edo and Delta States from the then Bendel State in 1991 and subsequently sharing of assets and liabilities by the two States, Edo State retained Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, (BNCL).
There is no doubt that the Nigerian Observer has lived up to its expectations as one of the few surviving government owned newspapers in the country and it is still waxing stronger, especially as it is moving ahead with the new information age propagating the activities of the state government in a professional way.
The newspaper has made its mark as a training ground for renowned journalists in the country. In fact, the newspaper has been described as a breeding ground for Journalists in the country.
Among great names that have passed through the media house are Chief Tayo Akpata, Julius Ileaboya, Goodnews Eichie, Andy Akporugo, Reti Uzzi, Bisi Amagada, Eric James, Festus Ruppee, John Omo Ikirodah, Nduka Obaigbena and a host of others.
Eubaldus Enahoro is Assistant Editor with the Nigerian Observer.
