PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
BEING TEXT OF A GOODWILL MESSAGE
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SENATOR (DR.) ANYIM PIUS ANYIM, GCON
ON THE
OCCASION OF THE FORMAL LAUNCH
OF SIMULTANEOUS PRINTING OF
CHAMPION NEWSPAPERS
THIS DAY. AUGUST 20. 2002
PROTOCOL
I am particularly delighted to be part of this historic event which is the formal launch of Simultaneous Printing of Champion Newspapers in Lagos and Owerri. This is a major milestone in the over 100 years history of the Nigerian print media.
Even more historic is the fact that this feat is coming from a newspaper that is only 14 years old in the highly competitive Nigerian print media industry. Add to this the fact that what we are witnessing today as a formal launch actually started in September last year on a pilot basis covering just a few states in the South East.
I have been told that today, the Owerri press services the entire South East states. I also hear that there are plans to extend the services to Kogi, Benue and other adjoining states in the coming months. The implication of this is that the same edition of Champion Newspapers is read at the same time in Lagos and the entire South West states, Abuja and the entire South East states. This, to my mind, is a clean break from the past and a feat worthy of commendation.
It is on this note that I want to salute the courage, vision, foresight and patriotism of our host, the management of Champion Newspapers.
Congratulations. This landmark is actually the trademark of champions. And coming from Champion Newspapers, I am not disappointed; I am indeed delighted.
Again, I have asked myself this question: why is Champion breaking new grounds at a time other newspapers are in dire straits with some completely eclipsed from the marketplace? Each time I ask myself this question, I find one plausible answer, that is, the hand of God. Indeed, God is manifestly part of the management of Champion Newspapers. Or how do we rationalise the fact that the Chairman and Publisher is Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, MFR, while the Managing Director is a restless, dynamic young Nigerian simply called Emma Ag by both his seniors and juniors in the profession? My understanding of the meaning of Emmanuel is “God with man”. It therefore follows that since two Emmanuels are in charge of the affairs of Champion at this time, a double portion of the glory of God is on the newspaper. And I pray that this glory under any circumstance shall never depart. Amen.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I want to draw our attention to the fact that what we are doing today bears more than a mere symbolism to the state of our nation. Today, Nigeria is under severe socio-economic and political strains chief of which are how to stabilise the polity, shore up the Naira, provide basic amenities for the citizens and make democracy so attractive.