The longest surviving state government-owned newspaper in Nigeria, The Pioneer, published by the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC), has celebrated three decades of uninterrupted publication.
The celebration which started with a thanksgiving service at the Qua Iboe Church on Sunday in Uyo climaxed with a lecture/award night, Wednesday, April 11, 2018, the exact day and month the newspaper hit the news stand in 1988.
The Akwa Ibom governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo receiving the Governor of the Year /Man of the Year 2017 Award presented to him by the general manager/editor-in-chief of the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, (AKNC), Mr Umoette Umoette at the grandfinale of The Pioneer @ 30 celebration in Uyo, recently.
Gov Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State ( whose State owns the Newspaper), at the event congratulated The Pioneer on the feat, noting that the medium since inception has been telling the Akwa Ibom story and has also helped in defining and redefining the Akwa Ibom character and identity, struggles and achievements.
Represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Ekpo, the governor called on the media community to partner the state government on its development strides. He warned against criticisms that were based on malice and with the intent to destroy.
The commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Charles Udoh observed that The Pioneer has been playing pivotal roles in information dissemination, maintaining that it has contributed greatly to the growth and development of both the state and the country.
The information boss lauded the progenitor of the Newspaper, Mr Moses Ekpo, the current Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State,who was the Commissioner of information during the military administration of Col. Tunde Ogbeha in Akwa Ibom State which established the Newspaper, adding that it was pleasing for him to share in the euphoria today while on the saddle as the number two citizen of the state.
The member for Onna State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mr Nse Essien, noted that The Pioneer, which was established on the basis of leadership and service, has not deviated from the vision of its founding fathers and called on other media establishments to emulate the newspaper for responsible press as against yellow journalism.
The chairman on the occasion, Professor Enefiok Essien, said at 30 the medium has done great things and congratulated the staff for their hardwork and dedication to service
Essien, who is the vice-chancellor of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO), commended the past state military administrators and governors for their foresight and for sustaining the newspaper to live beyond its name.
In a public lecture titled; The Role of the Media in Pioneering Leadership and Service, the rector of Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Prof. Sylvanus Udoidem, noted that with three decades of existence, The Pioneer as a government medium has justified the message in its motto: For leadership and Service.
Udoidem reasoned that leadership and service bring changes in the society, and if the media does not change the mindset of the society positively, then they do not fulfill their obligation.
The don commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for bringing the spirit of re-awakening through dakkada in the state .
The general manager/editor in-chief, Mr Umoette Umoette, said since inception the newspaper in discharging its primary function of information dissemination, education and entertainment has been providing constructive guidance to the public on matters of public interest, presentation of problems, aspirations and achievements of the government and the people as well as guiding against unlawful invasion of liberties and rights of the indigenes and beyond.
Umoette, who is also the senior special assistant to the governor on media, remarked that with the strong commitment of the present administration to strategically transform and re-position AKNC to an enviable height, the newspaper was poised to deliver on its prime responsibility of conveying information and knowledge to the public domain in a timely, strategically and politically correct manner.
He appreciated the governor for taking special interest in The Pioneer and his deputy for laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth, and pledged to repay the trust and confidence reposed in the management by maintaining the high standards that have kept the newspaper afloat for the past 30 years.
The AKNC boss acknowledged the reading public for patronage, the multinationals, non –governmental and governmental institutions as well as corporate organizations for their tremendous support to keep alive the establishment.
Highpoint of the ceremony which took place at the Emerald Event Centre, Uyo, was the conferment of awards on the Governor, deputy Governor, individuals, Corporate and institutional.
