Chairman of the Delta Printing and Publishing Company, publishers of The Pointer Newspapers titles, Chief Ebenezer Okorodudu, says the state needs at least billion to procure and install modern digital printing equipment, operational vehicles, and human capacity development for the revitalisation of the company.
Okorodudu disclosed this on Wednesday in Asaba, while speaking as guest of Orientation Panorama on Voice of Delta Radio 97.9 FM.
He said that the new board of the state printing and publishing company would formally send a proposal to the state governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, for his kind consideration.
He noted that since his assumption of office as Board Chairman, The Pointer Newspapers sold copies skyrocketed from sixteen thousand to twenty-eight thousand, and that efforts are being made to get copies of the Newspaper to the people across the three senatorial districts, through effective collaboration with the State Ministry of Local Government Affairs and other stakeholders.
Dr Okorodudu commended the visionary leadership of Governor Oborevwori, in all facets of the state economy, especially for his determination to revitalize state-owned media outfits; The Pointer Newspapers, Delta Broadcasting Service (Asaba and Warri Stations), to enable them to compete favourably with their public and private counterparts in the industry.
The board chairman posited that The Pointer Newspapers requires adequate funding and modern technology to boost online visibility, upscale production, reopen satellite offices in some states including; Abuja, Benin, Enugu, Imo, Ibadan, and others, pointing out that the state printing and publishing company will become viable and profit-oriented through commercial printing services for governments, private and public sectors in Delta and beyond.
Okorodudu said if the board’s vision of a fully digitized and functional printing press is achieved, the state’s printing and publishing company would become a market leader, printing books, multifaceted documents, and advertising materials for customers and corporate entities, increase The Pointer Newspapers circulation, as well as effectively project the enviable performances of governor Oborevwori across Nigeria, and beyond through online global reach and hard copies.
In terms of quality news and editorials, Dr Okorodudu, a political scientist and astute politician, said the gatekeeping structure of The Pointer Newspapers is well tailored from bottom to top, such that reports and editorial materials are filtered again and again by the gatekeepers to ensure that readers get accurate and detailed information about events and happenings in Delta State, Nigeria and around the world.
“The new board under my watch is making steady progress. It is on record that sold copies of Pointer Newspapers rose from 16,000 to 28,000 within the past few months and counting.
“We are not going to rest on our oars. We are determined to turn around the fortunes of the state printing and publishing company.
“The board has brought sanity to Pointer Newspapers, and we are working out modalities for the rebranding of the media outfit, to boost production, enhance human capacity development, professionalism, and effective dissemination of information to our esteemed readers in Delta State and beyond.
“In time past some equipment was procured for the state printing and publishing company but could not be put into use because of technical defects.
“The good news is that the new board is hopeful that the governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori, will come to our aid by injecting reasonable funds to enable the company to bounce back fully.
“With N4Billion, we shall be able to procure modern digital equipment to boost production and effective circulation of The Pointer Newspapers, and at the same time go commercial by printing for governments, individuals, and corporate entities.
“It will also provide more jobs for our people in line with the MORE Agenda of the governor.”
On the performances of Governor Oborevwori as we approach his first year in office, Dr Okorodudu assured that the governor is working very hard to fulfil all electioneering campaign promises, as can be seen from the three mega flyovers and road expansion projects in some parts of the state, and other ongoing and completed projects due for commissioning from May 29 and thereafter.
He said Governor Oborevwori was a very careful and meticulous leader who will always do the needful to advance Delta and upscale the living standards of the people of the state, noting that since he assumed office on May 29, 2023, the governor ensured that his administration caters for all Deltans, irrespective of political divide or affiliation.
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