Raphael Okhiria: The Man Behind The RELIANCE Newspaper

 

Raphael Okhiria, popularly known, called and addressed simply as ‘Ralph’ is a Man of many parts. He’s regularly called ‘Daddy’ by his nuclear family; ‘Chief’ by members of his extended family; ‘Deacon’ by his Christian brothers and sisters; ‘Comrade’ and ‘Ancestor’ by his professional colleagues; ‘Sir’ by his co-students; ‘Boss’ by his staff; ‘Leader’ by his friends; ‘Mr.’ by members of the public; ‘Oga’ by his well-wishers and admirers; yet others refer to him as ‘Chairman’, or ‘Honourable’.

He hails from Eidenu-Irrua, Esan Central Local Government of Edo State. He is a proud son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Okhiria of blessed memory.

He holds educational certificates, including the Primary School Leaving Certificate; the West African Examinations Council; the Ordinary National Diploma (Mass Communication); the Ordinary National Diploma (Journalism); Advanced Diploma (Journalism); Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA); Masters in Public Administration (MPA); Master of Science (MSc) in Public Administration, and PhD in Public Administration (in view).

Raphael Okhiria started his journalism career in 1987 and has worked in several media organizations, which include the following: the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Prime People Magazine; City News; Frontline Newspaper; New Nigerian Newspaper; and the Publisher/Chief Executive Officer of The RELIANCE Newspaper.

He has held other important elective positions and appointments. Some of them are: Vice Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); Treasurer of the Sports Writers Association (SWAN); Assistant Secretary of NUJ, Edo State Council; Chairman of NUJ, Edo State Council; Senior Special Assistant on Media/Publicity to the Hon. Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly; Member, Edo State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on EndSARS; and Chairman, Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Edo State Chapter.

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Raphael Okhiria, attended several special courses, workshops and seminars on many important subjects; they include amongst others the following:

1. Refreshers course on Sports Reporting, organized by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports.
2. Training course on Sickle Cell Disorder, organized by the Ministry of Health, Edo State.
3. Training course on Reporting Democratic Institutions, organized by the Independent Journalism Centre.
4. Oil Prospecting seminar, organized by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
5. Training course on Print Journalism, organized by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
6. Training course on Civil Society Watchdogs organized by INTEGRITY.
7. Workshop on HIV/AIDS, organized by Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) Nigeria.
8. Leadership Development Programme, organized by the New Covenant Gospel Church.
9. Workshop on Mother-Child Transmission of REV, organized by Health Communication Partnership.
10. Enlightenment on Freedom of Information Act, organized by the Media Rights Agenda.
11. Election Monitoring, organized by the Nigeria Press Council.
12. Climate Change: The Nigerian Solution, organized by Environmental Rights Action.
13. Dependency on Oil: A Curse or Blessing? organized by the Friends of the Earth (FOEN).

He’s a recipient of scores of honorary awards but holds very dear the ones received from The Achievers Organisation as ‘The Most Efficient And Prudent Union Leader In Edo State” and that of the NUJ for his “Contribution To The Growth And Stability Of Edo NUJ”.

Indeed, Raphael Okhiria, a devout Christian proudly serving God in New Covenant Gospel Church, Benin City, has high level integrity and humility. He is also loving, well-behaved and easy going.

To God Be The Glory.

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