…Tonnie Iredia, John Momoh, Nduka Obaigbena, Sunny Irabor, Nosa Igiebor, others inducted into Nigerian Observer Hall of Fame
The Edo State State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the rebirth and relaunch of the State’s newspaper, Nigerian Observer, is a testament to his government’s vision to make Edo State a formidable media hub.
Obaseki who spoke at the commissioning of the Nigerian Observer New Office Building and Edo Printing Centre, said the state’s newspaper has now been rebranded and upgraded to meet global standards.
During the event, veteran journalists, including Tonnie Iredia, John Momoh, Nduka Obaigbena, Sunny Irabor, Nosa Igiebor, Frank Aigbogun and Ebenezer Abiodun Aloba, a founding staff of the Nigerian Observer, were recognised and inducted into the Nigerian Observer Hall of Fame in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the development of the nation’s media industry.
Other guests at the event include the Edo State Deputy Governor, Marvellous Godwins Omobayo; former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion; Candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party in Edo 2024 governorship election, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and chairman of the PDP, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi.
According to Obaseki, “I welcome you to the commissioning of the rebranded and rebuilt Edo press center. 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.
“The vision of our founding fathers, including General Samuel Ogbemudia 55 years ago brought about perhaps one of the most advanced printing and media houses in Nigeria to be set up in Edo State.
“When we came into this premises to work on this press center, 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.”
Obaseki added, “The commissioning of this edifice is a testament to how far we have come as a people and also signals as a sign post of our vision to make Edo State a formidable media hub.”
The governor continued: “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.”
Obaseki further noted, “We have maximized the use of this 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.
All of these activities, the press center, the publishing house, and the creative hub were all crafted from the old premises of the Nigerian Observer which published the Bendel State-owned newspaper in 1968.
“Some of the notable journalists we have hosted today came from the stable of the Nigerian Observer Newspaper after surviving several shutdowns due to economic and political reasons and today, the newspaper continues publication.
“Looking back at the newspapers set up at the time, the Observer Newspaper is perhaps one of the few newspapers that may be surviving while others have gone into extinction.
“We are here for a simple ceremony. First to commission the Nigerian Observer building which now houses the newspaper, and also the printing presses (three printing presses) with state-of-the-art facilities which we believe will be very viable as these facilities are not common in this part of the world. We hope that it will provide jobs and expertise in the printing industry to lots of young Edo people.”
According to him, “The revamp exercise kicked off in 2022 after COVID-19 which involved the construction of new work spaces, facilities for printing and a complete redesign of the Observer newspaper. We are very aware that technology today plays a very vital role in the newspaper industry.
“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.
“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.”
Earlier, Chris Osa Nehikhare, the State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, who chronicled the history of the Nigerian Observer, noted 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.
He added, “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.”
PHOTO CAPTION
Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Chris Osa Nehikhare; Governor Godwin Obaseki, and former governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, during the commissioning of the rebranded Nigerian Observer newspaper, in Benin City, on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.