The RELIANCE Newspaper: The Journey So Far!

 

Comrade Raphael Okhiria is the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of The RELIANCE Newspaper. In this exclusive interview with our reporter in Benin City, he bares his mind on experiences encountered in the establishment of the tabloid which recently attained 15 years of existence. He says the success story of the newspaper company is attributable to the divine grace of God Almighty.

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How Did The Journey Start?

How time flies! 15 years ago seems to me like just yesterday. The journey to the setting up of The RELIANCE Newspaper Company started in 2007 about a year after I left office as chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council. Before I finished serving the NUJ in the highest capacity at the state level, I had secured an admission into a degree programme at the University of Benin, Ugbowo in Benin City. My choicest programme was Public Administration.

But a few months after my disengagement from the leadership position in the NUJ, I discovered that I was not as busy as I had been, even though I was the Edo State Correspondent of the New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN) and a university student. So, I noticed that there was that void in my life wanting to be filled. I just wanted to be fully busy with positive and financially rewarding activities.

Therefore, I put on my thinking cap backed up with fervent prayers and after some weeks, I came up with a business idea to start a sponsored commercial programme on television. I decided to pitch my tent with the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Benin. But securing a prime airtime was a major challenge as there was no available space to accommodate my programme. I had already gotten a registered name.

The programme manager advised me to be patient until when a space will be available and I waited for almost one year without success. As the waiting game continued; I became worried about the delay. It got to a point where I asked myself if I shouldn’t go back to God for direction. So, I decided to go back to God and asked him to help me to re-evaluate my business proposal.

The Holy Spirit then dropped in my heart to go into the print media industry since I’m better equipped in print than electronic media. The Holy Spirit thus directed me to the print media industry where I have a comparative advantage over the electronic media. Eventually, towards the end of 2007, I decided to register a publishing company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Edo State State Information Ministry. Thereafter, I got the International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) from the National Library, thus making The RELIANCE Newspaper, corporately recognized and a legal entity.

I can still vividly remember the first edition ever produced which was like giving birth to one’s first child. Though we started as a fortnightly publication, we have since grown to be a weekly outfit. The first edition of The RELIANCE Newspaper was birthed on January 7, 2008.

Circulation Reach?

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With the print run of about 3,000 every edition, We started as a regional newspaper, going to major towns in Edo, Delta States. In later years following success achieved, we added parts of Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and Anambra states.

Why The Choice Of A Community Newspaper?

You see, the communities ought to be the bedrock of every society but unfortunately in Nigeria, they are either ignored or relegated to the backbench in the scheme of things. The national and regional space have already been saturated by all kinds of media platforms. So, the community space appears virgin and begging for attention. However, let me point out here that the choice was more of humanitarian services than economic gains. To inform and educate the rural dwellers; about happenings in the cities and governmental activities, and bring happenings in the rural communities to the attention of government and the city dwellers for proper synergy and to enable them to be properly integrated and participate in the running of their affairs.

Coping With The Ever Biting Economic Challenges?

Looking back at the journey started 15 years ago, it has really not been smooth or bed of roses all the way; it has been very slippery and full of thorns. Like we all know, our society is such a thankless one which also negatively impacts us in the media industry. This is not leaving out the ever upward inflationary trend of prices of goods and services. But in all; the cliche that: “if the going gets tough, the tough gets going”, has really been the spirit driving us. It has not been easy at all but the infinite grace of God has continued to be upon us. I want to point out that Nigerians particularly in this part of the country; how many persons know the importance of the media and render support? There is only one man: Itose Dickson Imasogie; he is a pillar of support to the survival of community newspapers in Edo State. Next to him is my father in the Lord, Papa Felix Omobude.

About Government Patronage?

Well, when I started publishing in January 2008, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor was the Governor; and Isaiah Osifo was the Secretary to Government, both of them were great lovers of the community newspapers and at regular intervals, they would give us paid adverts to help us grow and remain in business. Also, by doing so, the government was indirectly creating and helping to sustain employment as every community newspaper has its small direct and allied employees whom it pays salaries and wages. But unfortunately, beginning with the regime of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, government patronage of the Community newspapers have shrunk to zero till date in Edo State. By the grace of God, I’m the state Chairman of the Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN); we were about 30 in number as at around 2010 but as at today; I do not think the surviving ones are up to five and this is because of the huge financial demands of running the community newspaper. However, if you ask me, I would say that it is sacrosanct that the government should have a way of helping and supporting the community newspapers like during the Prof Osunbor era because of all their overwhelming importance.

National Versus Community Newspapers As Vehicles For Reaching Rural Dwellers By The Government?

Yes, I would like to align with your line of argument; it is true Edo people are in the diaspora but are they as many as those at home? No, they are not. Unfortunately the norm today is the government’s preference for the national media platforms and ignoring the home based community newspapers which have greater comparative advantage to the people and by extension the government. So, I believe that the state government can have a rethink, do research and focus on the all important and use of the community newspaper.

The Community Newspapers As Creator Of Employment?

Truly every Community Newspaper Companies have their own small directly paid staff. For example, initially, The RELIANCE Newspaper had about 18 workers on monthly salary, aside several Freelance Writer and Marketers before things nosedived in the country. As chairman of the community newspapers association in the state, I’m fully aware that my members are employers of labour and because of the unabating financial downturn, they too have downsized their workers. So, the community newspapers, with the adequate support of government at the state and local local levels, have the capacity to help take off some persons from the unemployment market. But this has been made impossible by sundry factors.

Importation Of Lagos And Abuja Journalists To Edo State By Government?

In my 35 years of practice as a media Man, it’s well known fact that nearly all the major media organisations have their representatives here in Edo State but more often than not, if the state government wants to perform any major ceremony which requires media coverage, they will abandon those in the state and run to Lagos or Abuja to import journalists to Benin City. Besides, they take delight in patronizing the Lagos and Abuja journalists with advertisements, instead of those in the state. So, this is what they do to the local/community newspapers. So, if you ask me, I will tell you that I absolutely considered it a waste of hard earned resources of the people of the State and a misplacement of priority. Therefore, the earlier those behind this unfortunate act retrace their steps, the better for us all.

The Print Run Of The RELIANCE Newspaper At The Beginning And Now?

15 years ago, The RELIANCE Newspaper was a 16 page publication and the print run was 3,000. But due to the prevailing harsh economic situation in the country, less people now have the wherewithal to buy and read newspapers. The situation is made worse with the advent of online news platforms and social media. For these reasons, The RELIANCE was forced to reduce the volume from 16 – 12 pages publication. In the same vein, the print run has been reduced to 2,500 and sometimes 2,000. Furthermore, our catchment areas have been sharply reduced to mainly Edo State and parts of Delta State.

The RELIANCE Newspaper Online Version: How Competitive Against Others?

No, The RELIANCE Newspaper will never engage in any unhealthy competition with others. Our online version is very unique and special. The management of The RELIANCE Newspaper is making sure that its online version, though being a marketing strategy, does not impede and negatively affect the fortunes of the hard copy. When you visit our online site on www.thereliance.com.ng you will appreciate what I’m talking about.

All right, with all your experience, what do you think it will take to establish a thriving Community newspaper?

You cannot do a thriving community newspaper in the real sense of the word because by now, I thought I could have gone daily. One cannot do it without support in terms of patronage and the Government has a major role to play in this; also corporate bodies and well placed individuals like Itose Dickson Imasogie is doing.

Projection Into The Future?

Going forward, my eyes are still on making The RELIANCE Newspaper a daily paper. That’s my dream and it’s very sacrosanct. As at the moment, the paper is weekly and God helping me, we will get there in no distant future.

Advice To The Government, Corporate Bodies And Well Placed Individuals In Terms Of Patronage Of Local/Community Newspapers?

As you know, the government is like a big elephant; it can feed everyone and if available resources are properly utilized, everyone will be happy. It is not necessarily about giving free money to the community newspapers; if they are properly mobilized to pass information from government to the rural communities and from the rural dwellers to the government, the people will feel a sense of belonging. But as it is right now, the people are not well informed because they do not have adequate access to the right information. So, the government should begin to rework its information management and choice of transmission channels. The money they give to one national news medium could effectively take care of not less than three community newspapers. The rural communities are key to the survival of democracy and success of any government. For me, if the government does the right thing, it will be a win-win situation for everyone. The same is applicable to the corporate organisations and well to do in the society.

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