By Rauf Oyewole
The Bauchi State Government and other shareholders have commenced plans to revive its moribund Printing and Publishing company –Trumpeter and Kakaki newspapers with a sum of N1billion loan.
It has been more than 20 years since the organisation stopped operations.
While speaking with journalists in Bauchi, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Hon. Shehu Usman Shehu, announced this after the company’s 5th Annual General Meeting held Thursday at its office in Bauchi.
Shehu, also the Chairman, Board of Directors of the Company recommended that the company's share capital be increased from N30 million to N250 million to support the refurbishment of equipment and working capital needs.
According to him, the N1bn loan comes with a 9 percent interest rate to procure modern digital printing equipment capable of delivering high-quality print services to attract premium clients nationwide.
Shehu stated that the company intends to retain its former workforce while also recruiting new staff to enhance productivity.
The Commissioner stayed The Trumpeter and Kakaki and other publications would resume production before the end of 2025, including an online presence to keep pace with modern trends.
The board said "The company is viable and has the potential to become a major source of revenue for its shareholders. The major challenge it faced was instability caused largely by governmental actions or inactions."
While acknowledging that newspaper production is a social service, the board stressed the importance of having a state-owned newspaper to serve as a communication bridge between the government and the people.
"There is a strong need to raise awareness among the people of Bauchi and mobilise them toward full participation in government programmes. A state-owned newspaper is best positioned to serve that purpose," he said.
He added that The Trumpeter would serve as a platform for projecting the views, achievements, and challenges of the people of Bauchi State to the wider public, both nationally and internationally.
"To support this initiative, the Board is requesting the Bauchi State Government to issue a standing directive mandating all ministries, departments, agencies (MDAs), and local governments to publish quarterly two-page progress reports in the papers at subsidised rates," the board said.
The board also urged MDAs to subscribe to at least 15 copies each of the two newspapers weekly and to patronise the company’s commercial printing services.
Hon. Shehu explained that the publicity arrangement would greatly benefit the government by increasing public awareness of its policies and programmes through an authoritative and consistent platform.
Current shareholders include Alh. Yerima Giade, Alh. Barau Ningi, Alh. Ibrahim Marafa, Alh. Hammadu Abubakar, Mal. Sama'ila Diga, Mal. Sadik Awak, Alh. Babayo Dambam, Alh. Ali Gombe, Alh. Musa Liman, Alh. Ahmed Iliyasu, Alh. Yakubu I. Hamza, Alh. Sabo Abdulkadir, Media Need (Nig) Ltd, the Bauchi State Government, and 15 Local Government Areas in the state.
0 Comments