…Iredia, Momoh, Obaigbena, others inducted into Hall of Fame
The noble vision of the founders of the Edo State-owned The Nigerian Observer and the resolve by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to revamp the newspaper and make the state a formidable media hub were the key talking points at the commissioning of The Nigerian Observer new office complex and Edo Printing Centre in Benin City, Tuesday.
The commissioning of the project marks the full completion of the revamp exercise which kicked off in 2022 after COVID-19 and involved the construction of new work spaces, facilities for printing and a complete redesign of The Nigerian Observer newspaper.
In his speech at the event, Governor Obaseki saluted a former governor of the state, General Samuel Ogbemudia, whose vision 55 years ago, he said, brought about the setting up of The Nigerian Observer and perhaps one of the most advanced printing and media houses in Nigeria.
“What we have tried to do here is to upgrade the premises where The Nigerian Observer was birthed 60 years ago to now become a media center in Benin City,” Obaseki said.
“When we came into this premises to work on this press centre, the quality of the printing machines we saw here were top at that time. This shows the vision of our leaders, as we are building on the back of people who ruled the state before we came in,” he said.
The event had in attendance the Edo State Deputy Governor, Marvellous Godwins Omobayo; former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare; candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Edo 2024 governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo; chairman of the PDP in the state, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, and other guests.
As part of the programme, some distinguished veteran journalists of Edo extraction who have made a great impact in journalism practice in Nigeria were inducted into The Nigerian Observer Hall of Fame. They include Tonnie Iredia, former Director General of Nigeria Television Authority; John Momoh, founder, Channels Television, and Nduka Obaigbena, founder, THISDAY Newspapers and Arise TV.
Others are Sunday Irabor, veteran broadcaster; Frank Aigbogun, founder, BusinessDay; Nosa Igiebor, founder, TELL Magazine, and Ebenezer Williams Abiodun Aloba, founding General Manager, The Nigerian Observer.
Speaking further, Obaseki the commissioning of the edifice was a testament to “how far we have come as a people and also signals as a signpost of our vision to make Edo State a formidable media hub”.
“The media business in Nigeria today is largely dominated by Edo people and it’s not a coincidence as you can see from the award of the Observer Hall of Fame given here today.
“The Nigerian Observer is a nurturing ground. Alongside this new building, we have established the Edo Press Center which is equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities for all printing and publishing needs. We have done this to diversify the risk in the newspaper business and hope that with the state-of-the-art facilities here, it will augment revenue here at the Observer,” he said.
The governor said in reforming The Nigerian Observer, his administration maximized the use of the space by also locating the Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub which offers opportunities to the state’s creative economy and enhances the talent of the young population.
“Before the press was completed, we launched the online version of The Nigerian Observer and every day the online version is published. I encourage all of us present to take advantage of the newspaper as it gives you all the information about the state,” Obaseki said.
“I also want to let the printing industry in the south region know that we have a GOSS printing machine in Edo State and it can print books and newspapers. We also have a speed printing machine,” he said.
Making his opening remarks earlier, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, chronicled the history of The Nigerian Observer, noting that “Irrespective of various upheavals the world media has 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.”
According to him, “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.”
Describing the newspaper as an essential service sector of the communication industry in Edo State, the Commissioner said the state government embarked on the overhaul of the newspaper and publishing outfit to ensure that it takes back its pride of place in the society.
“The Nigerian Observer complex you stand today boasts of three new printing presses. With installed capacity of about 32,000 newspaper pages an hour, the same machine also prints books of all forms and sizes; Speed master machine for carrier bags and gifts, and a flex printing machine, all of the latest technology. The plan of the government is to make the Nigerian Observer a printing hub for the South South states in particular and the Nigerian nation in general,” he said.
