30th October, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has said that Nigeria’s media space of today is being dominated majorly by journalists nurtured by the State-owned Nigerian Observer newspaper.
He stated this on Tuesday while commissioning the newly reconstructed buildings of the newspaper and ultra-modern printing machines.
The Governor lauded the foresight of ex-military administrator of the defunct Bendel State (now Edo and Delta States), late Brigadier-General Samuel Ogbemudia, for establishing the newspaper in 1968.
He noted that the individuals have respectively attained the zenith of their career in journalism.
“The media space in Nigeria is being dominated by Edo people. This is because they were nurtured by the Nigerian Observer. And it’s not a coincidence,” he said.
Obaseki expressed optimism that the State-of-the-art printing press would keep the newspaper afloat in many years to come, adding that his administration’s priority was to make Edo a formidable media hub, adding,
Continuing, the Governor said: “You hear politicians usually say this is the first time…That’s not true. The vision of Ogbemudia 56 years ago brought about media advancement.
“Building on the back of people who rules the State before we came in, is a testament of how far we have come as a people,” he added.
Seven veteran journalists, including the former Director-General of NTA, Dr. Tony Iredia, founder of Channels Television, Mr. Tony Momoh, were inducted into the Nigerian Observer Hall of Fame at the event.
Others are: the publisher of This Day Newspaper, Mr. Nduka Ogbaigbena and the publisher of BusinessDay Newspaper, Mr. Frank Aigbogun, the publisher of Tell Magazine, Mr. Nosa Igiebor, Ace Broadcaster, Mr. Sony Irabor and the pioneer Editor of Nigerian Observer Newspaper, late Ebenezer Abiodun Aloba, who was posthumously honored.