The Ndokwa Media Professionals Forum (NMPF) has applauded Ndokwa Vanguard Newspaper for its steadfast dedication to community journalism, describing the publication’s 20th anniversary as a significant milestone in amplifying the voice of the Ndokwa people.
Speaking during the anniversary celebration, Chairman of NMPF, Mr. Bartholomew Ozah, commended the publisher for sustaining the newspaper for two decades despite the many challenges of the media industry. He described the feat as a testament to resilience, sacrifice, and professionalism.
“When you pick up a newspaper, you may think it’s just paper, but it goes far beyond that. There’s a lot of hard work, processing, and professionalism involved before what you see as the final product,” Ozah said.
He praised the publisher’s vision of creating a platform for Ndokwa people to share their voices and concerns but lamented that the community has yet to fully embrace the publication as its collective mouthpiece.
“I wish our political class, our leaders, and our people would see Ndokwa Vanguard as their own voice. The press can only reflect the community it serves. What the people give, the media refines, analyzes, and projects to the world,” he added.
The NMPF chairman urged community leaders and citizens to engage more actively with the media, emphasizing its critical role in advocacy and development.
“The media can fight battles that ordinary people cannot. As Thomas Jefferson once said, he would prefer newspapers without government to government without newspapers because he understood the power of the press. The press speaks for you, agitates for you, and influences government decisions,” he stated.
Addressing the rise of social media, Ozah cautioned against equating online commentary with journalism. “Not everyone who posts online is a journalist. To be recognized as a professional journalist, one must undergo formal training, at least to the level of an OND in Mass Communication or Journalism. That’s what makes one a professional, not just the ability to post on Facebook,” he clarified.
He called on the Ndokwa people to take greater ownership of Ndokwa Vanguard, describing it as a vital tool for projecting the community’s interests. “If this kind of event were happening elsewhere, political and community leaders would seize the opportunity to speak and engage. We must learn to do the same,” he said.
Mr. Ozah congratulated the publisher for his commitment and endurance saying, “On behalf of the Ndokwa Media Professionals Forum, I say congratulations. May your ink never dry, and may Ndokwa Vanguard continue to grow from strength to strength.”
He urged the Ndokwa nation to rally behind the newspaper as a key instrument for advocacy and representation.
