Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Nehikhare on Tuesday July 4 ,2023 heaped praises on the management team of The Nigerian Observer for diligently reviving the state’s newspaper in line with the vision of the state government.
Hon.Nehikhare gave the commendation during a brief meeting with the Nigerian Observer team at its Corporate Head Office along Airport Road, Benin City.
He said the quality work done thus far has disgraced all the critics of the state government who spread misinformation about the resuscitation programme for the legacy newspaper of the state.
The meeting was also attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Mr.Crusoe Osagie, and the Managing Director and Managing Editor of the Nigerian Observer, Mr.Osa Victor Obayagbona, as well as editors and reporters of the organisation.
The Commissioner emphasised that he was impressed by the quality of work the management team has done since the commencement of the online version of the newspaper, as well as the continuous maintenance of the structural facilities within the complex.
He also observed that Edo people still rely on the Observer Newspaper for information it brings and that he personally reads every production as it pops up.
“My purpose of this visit is to encourage you to do more, especially for what the government is doing for the state and its people. The people will like to know the good work of the government and people rely on the Nigerian Observer for that.
“I’m aware you have started online publishing but you don’t have the hard copy yet because of certain strategy you put in place,” Nehikhare said.
He reminded the Nigerian Observer team that the newspaper is the legacy of their forefathers and that the current government is determined to make it among the top newspapers in Nigeria, in furtherance of this heritage.
“I want to urge you to let the people of Edo State and beyond know more about the achievements of the state government, not in the sense of telling lies but rather, propagate the actual good work the government is doing for the people,” Nehikhare said, adding that Edo people are getting good value for their money, not just from the Nigerian Observer but from the government they voted into power at the state level.
He assured the Nigerian Observer team that his ministry would extend the needed support towards ensuring the paper publication hits the news stands in the shortest possible time.
Osa Obayagbona, managing editor of the Nigerian Observer, assured the Commissioner for Information and SA Media Projects that the newspaper’s management team would leave no stone unturned to make the newspaper the first port of call for credible news in Nigeria.
“The editors were carefully employed based on their track records. Rest assured the Nigerian Observer will soon reclaim its lost glory. Reactions we are getting from our readers at home and in the diaspora show that we will get to the top spot earlier than anticipated,” Obayagbona said.
