February 8, 2025
Edo State Government has reclaimed the state-owned Nigerian Observer Printing Press from Fountain Brook Publishing Limited, which former governor, Godwin Obaseki, handed it over to manage it since 2022.
The Governor, Monday Okpebholo, while reclaiming the printing press, directed the former staff to return to work under a new management team led Mr Sylvester Oboh as the general manager.
Former governor Godwin Obaseki had shut down the state-owned newspaper, The Observer, on June 30, 2022, and handed it over to Fountain Brooks Publishing Ltd as consultants.
The staff were subsequently redeployed to the state’s Ministry of Information and Communication.
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The general manager, Mr Sylvester Oboh, noted that since 1968, The Observer had projected government policy thrust, served institutions, and informed the general public.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Paul Ohonbamu commended Fountain Brook Publishing Limited, led by Chike Madueke, for the peaceful handing over of the printing press to the state government.
He started that the primary mandate of The Observer as a newspaper, was to print and order inform and educate the grassroots about happenings in government.
“We need to provide the people with good news. We are excited to retrieve the printing press and strategize on training staff on its operations.
“We assure the people of Edo of quality news,” Ohonbamu said.
Also speaking at the event which had the Chief Press Secretary to the Edo Governor, Mr Fred Itua, and senior officials in the Ministry of Information and Communication in attendance, Chief Executive Officer of Fountain Brook Publishing Limited, Chike Madueke, stated that handing over the printing press to the state government was the right thing to do, as it was the government’s property.
