By Josephine Oguntoyinbo
Stakeholders, including lawmakers, government officials, media professionals and labour leaders, among others, have given resounding support to the bill aiming to reposition Owens Press Limited, publishers of THE HOPE, WEEKEND THE HOPE and HOPE Magazine.
The massive support was displayed at the public hearing organised by the Ondo State House of Assembly on Thursday on a bill seeking to convert Owena Press Limited into the Ondo State Printing and Publishing Corporation.
The public hearing, held at the Assembly Complex, brought together lawmakers, government officials, media professionals, labour leaders and other stakeholders.
Declaring the public hearing open, the Speaker, Rt.Hon. (Chief) Olamide Oladiji, said the exercise was designed to ensure that the proposed conversion reflects an inclusive reform process rather than a unilateral government decision.
Oladiji noted that Owena Press has long served as a strategic communication platform for the state through public information dissemination, documentation of government activities and promotion of civic engagement.
The Speaker said that the bill aimed to reposition the organisation into a modern and legally empowered institution, capable of delivering efficient printing and publishing services.
Oladiji further explained that the initiative would strengthen financial sustainability through expanded commercial operations, improved information management, enhance the security of official publications and ensure proper archival preservation of state records.
He described the bill as long overdue, expressing optimism that it would improve staff welfare while creating new opportunities for economic growth across the state.
Earlier, while welcoming stakeholders to the public hearing, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Ifabiyi Olatunji, said the public hearing underscored the Assembly’s commitment to participatory law-making.
He stated that converting Owena Press into a corporation would reposition the state’s printing and publishing outfit for greater efficiency, sustainability and relevance in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
He insisted that the stakeholders’ contributions would guide the Assembly in producing a law that strengthens government communication, modernises services and boosts revenue generation.
Speaking with journalists, the Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Owena Press Limited, Prince Kayode Fasua, expressed gratitude to the Governor of Ondo State, Dr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for initiating the reform.
Fasua recalled that the company was established in 1989 under the military administration of retired Commodore Olabode George, to promote the state’s interests and disseminate information.
He said the conversion would address longstanding operational challenges, including double taxation, while enabling staff to enjoy pension benefits and position the organisation for regional expansion.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Clerk of the House, Barrister Jayeola Benjamin, described the hearing as a historic turning point for the organisation and lauded the Speaker and committee members for their commitment to the process.
He urged participants to make detailed contributions during subsequent technical sessions to ensure a robust legal framework for the proposed corporation.
In a goodwill message, the Chairman of the Ondo States Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Prince Leke Adegbite, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Assembly leadership for responding to longstanding appeals to reform the organisation.
He noted that since the establishment of the outfit in 1989, no previous administration had taken decisive steps toward restructuring it, expressing hope for the speedy passage of the bill after necessary technical inputs.
Stakeholders at the hearing included members of the House Committee on Information, representatives of the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Justice, the NUJ executives, executives of the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies, as well as management and staff of Owena Press Limited, among others.
Participants generally expressed support for the proposed transformation, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening the state’s information infrastructure.