THE Pointer Newspapers published by Delta State Government’s printing and publishing corporation, DPPC is already in a celebration mood as activities marking the 30 years of credible and consistent contributions to the development of Delta State, the South South geo-political zone, Nigeria kick off within the week with a novelty match between the Pointer Bombers and the DBS Airwaves Commanders. Both teams have been training real hard for the historic encounter.
That Friday football match encounter marks the kickoff of the activities lined up to celebrate resilience and triumph of commitment to excellence in the evolving dynamics of information dissemination in sustainable development. As part of the preparation towards this epoch making occasion, I have literally been on the road, traversing our communities, connecting our cities, engaging with various levels of stakeholders towards a landmark celebration.
It indeed has come as a thrilling and most revealing experience which has afforded me an exciting opportunity to get encouraging feedback on a first hand basis. I encountered a traditional ruler who commended the quality of responsible journalism The Pointer represents in this age of information miasma from the often murky social media adding that while the newspaper is celebrating thirty years of credible service, himself will be celebrating 29 years on the throne.
A University Vice Chancellor also pointed out the operational synergy between the newspaper house and the varsities and Polytechnics in terms of providing the finisher platform especially for the students of Mass Communication in what is usually called industrial attachment for practical field exposure.
This is also in addition to the thousands of fresh graduates in English/ Literary Studies, Mass Communication, other social sciences who have had to use The Pointer as their place of primary assignments in the National Youth Service Corps scheme. Beyond the newspaper therefore, Pointer has become a training institution that cannot be so easily wished away.
As timeless as eternity could appear even in the bowel of history, it also ends up being measured by time. Many of the contacts had a way of expressing surprise that The Pointer narrative of ‘yesterday’ has been with us for thirty remarkable years now.
A female Director in the State Civil service encouraged me to go all out for a full blown 30th anniversary and her reason was equally instructive. Her words “Thirty years of Pointer is remarkable and deserves different layers of celebrations as the hand of God can be seen and felt upon the establishment.
I say this because I have attended meetings in the past where people were canvassing the closing down of the corporation for some selfish reasons.
But thirty years on, the establishment is getting stronger instead of going under, chronicling the exit of those who were obviously too eager to serve as its volunteered undertakers.”
She reminded me that the revocation of the corporation’s permanent site just by Delta Broadcasting Service was a form of prelude to official closure of the newspaper house being muted in some quarters but added that resilience and commitment to professionalism on the part of the staff, past and present have made it such that compellingly innovative chapters are being opened daily with exciting engagement across increasing teeming sections of readers.
What then are we celebrating as members of the Fourth Estate of the realm? Resilience and professionalism on the part of staff and management come readily. The triumph of truth also comes readily. We are also living witnesses to how the newspaper has played vital role in uniting our people of diverse cultures.
We are also celebrating enduring support of successive governments both in military and the current democratic dispensations, Delta has had successive governments who fully appreciate the critical role of the media in galvanizing a modern society towards peace and development. It is indeed getting better by the day.
We have also had very committed commissioners of Information who took personal interest in seeing that the vision of a viral and vibrant Pointer is sustained, a number of them, we shall be honouring. We are also celebrating the goodwill of advertisers and the reading public whose trust and confidence have made us operate in ever increasing relevance and public service consciousness. Equally significant is our resolve to celebrate men and women, living and dead, who gave their all to see that the pessimism of yesterday gave way to the optimism and limitless possibility of today.
The celebration with theme, honouring truth and unity through excellence in public communication will feature Prof Joyce Ogwezi of Dennis Osadebay University delivering a Lecture on The Mass Media And The Challenge Of Consolidating Nigeria’s Democracy And Cultural Ethos with Prof Sam Oyovbaire as chairman.
Equally of significance is that having keenly participated in the events that shaped our State, Delta and Nigeria, we shall be recognising outstanding performances in the various sectors of human endeavours. We call on all stakeholders to join us on Monday, October 28 as we celebrate excellence in developmental Journalism at the Grand Hotels and Resort, Asaba, Delta State.
