By Elizabeth Oyeniwa
The Ondo State House of Assembly has assured the management of Owena Press Limited, publishers of The Hope titles, of its readiness to collaborate in repositioning the state-owned media outfit for greater efficiency.
The House Committee on Information, led by its Chairman, Hon Olatunji Ifabiyi, made the pledge during a familiarisation visit to the company’s headquarters in Akure, where the management, led by Chairman/CEO Mr.Kayode Fasua, briefed lawmakers on the activities and challenges facing the organisation.
The committee explained that the visit was aimed at acquainting members with the management of Owena Press following recent changes in its leadership.
Commending Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for appointing Fasua as chairman, the lawmakers described him as a “round peg in a round hole” given his journalism
background.
The lawmakers, including the Majority Leader of the House and Vice Chairman of the Committee, Hon Chief Olatunji Oshati, stressed the need to put proper structures in place if Owena Press is to compete favourably with established media houses in the country.
They noted that while the aspiration of expanding the reach of The Hope across the Southwest and eventually to national prominence was laudable, the necessary foundation must first be laid.
“That is why the committee is in line with you on legislative backing. When the executive concludes all necessary arrangements and brings them to the House, we are ready to collaborate and give the necessary support,” they assured.
The committee acknowledged the financial burden of running a media organisation, describing it as one of the most expensive sectors because of its role in shaping public perception and projecting government activities.
They observed that the rise of digital platforms had increased competition in the media space, stressing the importance of equipping Owena Press to remain relevant.
Members commended the chairman and his team for the improvements recorded since he assumed leadership of the state-owned media outfit.
They recalled that in previous engagements with the organisation, suggestions such as introducing entertainment-focused content and exploring online platforms had been made to boost readership. They encouraged Fasua to continue leveraging his connections and experience to attract more support for the newspaper.
The lawmakers also assured the management of their readiness to support necessary legislative adjustments that would transform Owena Press into a stronger media organisation capable of expansion.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman/CEO of Owena Press Limited, Mr. Kayode Fasua, sought the support of the Ondo State House of Assembly Committee on Information in upgrading the state-owned media outfit into a government corporation.
He described the visit as long overdue but timely, as it provided an opportunity for lawmakers to assess the challenges confronting the organisation.
Fasua, who was appointed in October 2024 by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, recalled that he began his journalism career with Owena Press in 1996, making his return as chairman an emotional one. He commended the workforce as committed and professional but noted that they had been constrained by poor welfare, obsolete equipment, and systemic inadequacies.
According to him, Owena Press, established in December 1989, started with Owena News before expanding to The Hope and later Weekend Hope. At its peak, the organisation published daily, but economic challenges forced it to reduce production to once weekly before his arrival.
Since assuming office, Fasua said he had revived two titles — The Hope (Mondays) and Weekend Hope (Fridays) — both in print, while strengthening digital operations with daily online front pages shared across social media platforms. He noted that over 50,000 readers now access the newspaper globally every day.
Despite these strides, Fasua emphasised the need for government assistance to sustain progress and position Owena Press as a leading regional and, eventually, national newspaper. He disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa had advised the company to first consolidate its presence across the Southwest before aspiring to national reach.
He highlighted several pressing needs, including:Conversion of Owena Press into a government corporation to ensure staff pension and gratuity benefits,replacement of archaic printing press machines with modern equipment,
merger with the moribund Ondo State Printing and Publishing Corporation to harness available facilities,
provision of functional vehicles and improved work tools, especially modern computers, among others.
“Our first demand is that Owena Press should be made a corporation so we can function effectively and generate more revenue for government,” Fasua stressed.
He revealed that the proposal for conversion into a corporation had already been forwarded to the Attorney General’s office,but would eventually require legislative backing. He therefore appealed to the lawmakers to treat the matter as urgent and use their good offices to push it through the Assembly.
Fasua further suggested that Owena Press be saddled with the responsibility of printing all government correspondences, calendars, exercise books, textbooks, and other materials to generate sustainable revenue.
He expressed optimism that with the lawmakers’ support, Owena Press could be repositioned as a vibrant, revenue-generating media and printing hub for Ondo State.
The Editor of the organisation, Mr. Akin Adubuola, while thanking the committee for the visit, expressed confidence that their support would fast-track the company’s development.
The Committee were later taken round to inspect facilities in the organization.
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