Media Can’t Run Away From Societal Development Duty – Brown

As Nigerians groan under the yoke of economic hardship and poor governance, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Amaopusenibo Bobo Brown, has said the media had a duty now more than ever before to better the society in which it operates.
Brown spoke last Saturday at the first reunion of former directors, management and staff of Sunray Publications Limited in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Sunray Publications Limited, which published the first full colour newspapers in Nigeria, also and ran a high quality graphics and printing company in Port Harcourt between 1992 and 1998.
It also adopted developmental journalism as its objective and maintained high ethical standards for its journalists. Sunray investigative stories and cartoons won awards consistently. Confronted by serious boardroom politics, political interference and marketing challenges, it was forced to close shop in 1998.
Brown, who was the Managing Director of Garden City Sunray, publishers of Daily Sunray, Weekly Sunray and Weekend Sunray, said when Sunray started publishing in 1992, living conditions of the ordinary citizens were poor but the people could still find food to eat.
“But today, people can be hungry for days. These things were not there in 1992. That is the country that needs our vision. Let’s muster our collective energies to bring social justice to Nigeria,” he said.
He praised the tenacity of former staff of Sunray, most of who have made their marks in different fields after they left the company. That alone, he said, is a testimony to the fact that the visioners of the Sunray gathered some of the best hands to work for the vision.
Some of the speakers at the reunion were Prof. Eme Ekekwe, who was the Chairman of the Editorial Board of Sunray newspapers, and Dame Ngozi Pearse, who was the Personnel Manager.
The Chairman of the planning committee, Dr. Gloria Ijeoma Aso, thanked members of the Sunray Family for the support they gave to the committee to make the reunion a success.
A special musical performance was made by the four children of Mr. Canice Ezirim and Mrs. Ikwo Ezirim, who met at Sunray and got married a few years after they left.
Among those that attended the reunion were Chief Ernest Chinwo, the General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The Tide Newspapers, his predecessor, Mr. Celestine Ogolo, Chief Lawson Hayford, former General Manager of Bayelsa Radio, Mr. Ifeatu Agbu of the NDDC and former Editor of Daily Sunray, Prof. Hart Awa of the University of Port Harcourt, Senibo Alafuro Peterside, a former Circulation Manager of Sunray, Mrs. Ipirinye Pepple, Deputy Director, Establishments in Rivers State Government, Retired Rev. Canon Soye Young-Itiye, Mr. Femi Adejuwon, a consultant to Nigerian Breweries and Pst. Chudi Eke-Ejelam of the Deeper Life Bible Church.
Others were Rev. Dr. Kathie Ekpeyong Ukpai of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Godfrey Ofuani, a chartered accountant and Dr. Ken-Fash Ayibaemi, a prominent alternative dispute resolution specialist.