National Mirror marks its one-year existence under Jimoh Ibrahim, its publisher, with pomp

It was all cheers and banters as journalists, media executives, political leaders, friends and well wishers of the National Mirror Newspapers gathered at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Abuja, Thursday, December 15, lecture for the first anniversary lecture of the fast-growing media company. The event which was used to mark one year existence of the newspaper under Barrister Jimoh Ibrahim, its publisher, was indeed a gathering of prominent Nigerians.

President Olusegun Obasanjo, chairman for the occasion, who was represented by Ojo Maduekwe, former minister of foreign affairs, witnessed the review of the newspaper, its formal presentation as well as the unveiling of National Mirror Archival Disc.  The disc contains the complete e- editions of the paper for a whole year and other data on Nigeria and who is who in the country.

National Mirror was acquired in 2008, by Ibrahim, the billionaire businessman cum turn-around expert.  Newswatch learnt that his first task, after the acquisition was to refocus the newspaper, giving it proper direction. To give the newspaper a competitive edge, he acquired six state-of -the-art printing machines. The intention is to install the machines in each of the six geo-political zones in the country.

Under the new owner, National Mirror on December 17, 2010, became the first newspaper in Nigeria to roll out with two machines in Lagos and Abuja, simultaneously.  And by September 2011, another press was installed in Ogbese, Ondo State, National Mirror achieved another first as the first newspaper to print with three machines in its first year in operation. 

Three more presses are slated for installation in Owerri, Kano and Maiduguri in 2012.

Ibrahim, while welcoming guests to the anniversary lecture last week, said his dream was to ensure that every part of the country would read the newspaper earlier than most others newspapers on a daily basis.

Richard Akinjide, SAN, and former attorney-general for the federation and minister of justice during Shehu Shagari regime, who was the guest lecturer, delivered a paper titled: “Africa and the Challenges of the 21st Century.” He said that good governance is undoubtedly one of the major challenges Africa faces in the 21st century and the major transformation that is required of the continent.

According to him, the demand is therefore for men and women of great caliber not only able to devise and implement effective policies but also leaders with far reaching vision and the courage to put into practice a rare but required amalgamation.”It is also my firm conviction that what Africa will accomplish or fail to attain in the 21st century depends not only on the quality of her leadership but also the caliber of all her men and women,” Akinjide said.  He explained that the ability of Africa to turn her huge human potential into large intangible assets was undoubtedly the major challenge which the continent must face in the next 40 years.  Otherwise, the pilfering of Africa’s natural and human resources will continue unabated whether the pilfers are Europeans, Americans or Asians while the decay of many African countries will continue. Akinjide believes that Africa has less than 40 years to think indepth and conceive a process by which value is massively added to her human asset base.  Nothing, according to him, is lost yet, but there is no time to waste. “Nowhere in Africa, is there in place a convincing procedure for elite selection and nurturing.  Preparing children for professional success begins at an increasingly early age even before primary school ends.  Nowhere in Africa does the equivalent of the American Ivy League, the French ‘Grandes Ecoles’ or the British public school exist.  Nowhere in Africa do universities embark on ground breaking research. All these, he said, must and can change.  “I do not underestimate the effort, it is colossal.  But the reward is even greater.  We have no more than 40 years,” Akijinde said.

In his address at the occasion, President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Labaran Maku, minister of information, commended the publisher of the National Mirror for taking the paper to the next height.  He said the present administration was committed to press freedom, hence the signing into law of the Freedom of Information Act. According to him, Nigeria was incapable of advancing its democracy without a formidable and viable media to serve as the watch dog.

The president explained that although there were occasions where there were disagreements between the media and the government, such disagreements were meant to deepen democracy in the country. In his remarks, Obasanjo, chairman of the occasion, said Africa was on the rise in the 21st century but that democracy, transparency and good governance must be deepened to sustain the rise.