Congress publisher gives powerful speech as leaders, stakeholders converge in Delta

•Promises to uphold objectivity, justice in its reportage

• Reveals the paper has been read by over 250 countries in the world

By Markson Ode

The Managing Director and Publisher of Congress newspaper Amb. Comrade Austin Ozobo, who is also the national President of Ijaw People’s Development Initiative, IPDI, and National Secretary Conference for the Actualization of Human Rights, has delivered a powerful speech during the unveiling and launching ceremony of the Congress newspaper as Niger Delta leaders and stakeholders converged in Warri, Delta State.

The event which took place during the weekend had in attendance, noticeable political leaders and key stakeholders of Niger Delta region.

However, the publisher who was also the former aspirant and candidate of DTHA and Special Assistant to the Governor of Delta State on Political Matters expressed gratitude towards the unwavering support of leaders in the region, adding that the paper was to unify people of the region and as well create a speaking space for the oppressed minorities in Niger Delta and the world at large.

The statement reads: “I greet you all for deeming it fit to honour our humble invitation for this event. We are honoured by your overwhelming presence. I welcome you to this maiden event of Congress newspaper launch/unveiling. It is an auspicious day! We cherish your contributions and supports towards making this event a huge success. We know very well that Fridays are busy days where everyone is fully engaged in one activity or the other. Yet, you chose to honour this event out of your busy schedules. This is a greater love and sportsmanship expressed. It is a gesture we will not forget in a hurry.”

Ozobo went further: “We are here today for the much talked about launching/ unveiling of Congress newspaper. To be precise, Congress newspaper is an offshoot of Congress Media and Global Publishing Company. It is not only a national newspaper in Nigeria but a Global Publishing Company in the world. This company was established sometime March 2021 and registered as a Publishing Company with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, July 8, 2021.

“Congress newspaper came to limelight after the statutory registration with the CAC, and from the date of registration to this point of unveiling/launching, it is barely within eight months.”

The CEO who said that the paper would uphold credibility, objectivity and Justice, added that Congress is already leading in the media space in Niger Delta

The statement reads the partly: “Not withstanding our short time in the media space, we have done explicitly well. Our services in the media space are impressive and excellent. We tell accurate and interesting stories. We break stories as fast as we can and deliver improved quality of service. Congress is a brand already. Our contents are overwhelming and superb. Fortunately, Congress is already leading in the media space in Niger Delta.

“These are facts upheld by many, including veteran reporters across Nigeria.We received commendations on a daily basis. Despite that, we are yet to fully optimize and monitise our website. Over two hundred countries in the world have read about Congress newspaper within this short time of our presence in the media space. Every day at least 15 countries in the world read stories published by Congress newspaper. Most of these countries where Congress is widely read are United States, United Kingdom, China, South Africa, Canada, Ireland, Germany, etc.

“We started online publication in May 2021 and applied for Google adsense a month later and got it approved barely a day later. This was a major achievement. It shows that our contents are clear, impressive and exceptional. If you are in the media profession, you will understand what this means. It takes three months and more for a website to get Google adsense approval from the date of request, and the condition to apply is that you must have been publishing for at least three months and more.

“While we are yet to optimize and monitize our website, no few than 4000 to 5000 readers still visit our website to read stories per day. We have come to build a feat in the media space with a dream of going international.

“Congress is the true voice of the oppressed Niger Delta people and others in the world. One of our objectives is to create a speaking space for the oppressed minorities in the world. We have equally seen the need to write our balkanize stories by ourselves often times. Ours are more accurate than third party narrations. We understand more of our problems and challenges and we can narrate them in full and better when we write our pains by ourselves. These and others were driving forces for the establishment of Congress newspaper.

“However, these dreams need your support, patronage and encouragement to achieve. One thing I want to appeal to you honourable men and women seated here is: do not despise our little beginning. A drop of water can make an ocean, and a tree can make a forest with time. Man becomes a champion after many failed attempts. Every paper we are celebrating today–Vanguard, The Nation, Sun, Tribune, Guardian, AIT, TVC, Channel Tv and many more- has a story of a little start. But today with the support of friends, well-wishers and well-meaning patriots, they are being celebrated today. We strongly believe that you will stand by this vision. Rome was not build in a day. With you, we will succeed. We are not on the media space for competition, but we are in it to build a dependable brand, which will create a speaking space for the oppressed people in the world.

“Once, again, we welcome you to this epoch making event. We are glad of your presence here, you have made us proud. It is our prayer that these tides be sustained.
May God bless you, keep you and see you through in all your wishes. May he equally guide you and take you home safely at the end of this event in Jesus’ name. Amen

“Thanks and God bless you!.”