By Andrew Agbese
Just yesterday, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State caught many unaware with a deft move that resonates with the majority of the people of the state.
While celebrating the 50th anniversary of the state, the Governor named some important monuments after persons deemed as deserving of honour for their contributions to the development of the state.
Prominent among those so honoured are General Murtala Muhammad who created the state via a decree in 1976 and celebrated media icon, Dan Agbese, who passed on in November.
The Governor renamed the Benue Printing and Publishing Corporation, BPPC, the Dan Agbese Printing and Publishing Corporation, DAPPC, as a mark of recognition for the honour he’d brought to the state.
As a trailblazing journalist, associating Chief Agbese with anything to do with the media is well understood, but thereโs a part that goes beyond his known contribution to the industry in general that may have motivated the Benue State Government to look in the direction of the BPPC.
Established during the administration of Gov Aper Aku (1979-1983), the BPPC publishes The Voice newspaper and its other titles.
History has it that on assuming office as governor, Aku, who must have seen the advantages of owning a state publishing company from his observation of how the Nigeria Standard projected the image of the Joseph Gomwalk administration under the defunct Benue Plateau State, decided that his state needed to have one too.
As a former editor of Nigeria Standard, Mr. Agbese (as he then was) with his rich experience in the industry and his position as special adviser to Aku came in as the natural choice of a consultant to develop the framework for the establishment of the company.
Much work went into the planning and design and other details required which laid the ground work for the take-off of the company which later rolled out what later became known as The Nigeria Voice newspaper in 1982.
The project was so dear to Gov Aku that he invited then president, Shehu Shagari who personally inaugurated the corporation.
Governor Alia, known for his attention to details must have known about the nexus between Chief Agbese and the BPPC hence the decision to immortalize him with that particular monument.
The honour was not just on account of his accomplishment as a seasoned journalist and astute media administrator having been editor of the Nigeria Standard newspaper; General Manager Radio Benue; editor of the New Nigerian and one of the co-founders of Newswatch magazine.
It is heartwarming that among the Aku legacies, the BPPC is one of the few that have endured till date.
This is not mere happenstance. It is because of the kind of vision that wove the template for the commencement of operation with a supporting enduring structure from Day One.
As a former employee, I can attest to the fact that the company has been standing on a solid foundation, what with all the infrastructure fitted to make for smooth and successful production.
It had, as far back as the 80s, an offset printing press with capacity for plating and running of impressions; heavy duty paper cutting machines, all the graphic and design paraphernalia neatly rolling out folded copies for circulation.
Mr Ochapa Ogenyi, who was appointed general manager of the company during the Gov Moses Adasu administration, on the first day of assuming office went round and after inspecting the facilities on ground marveled at how a state-owned publishing outfit could be so equipped saying the company has no reason to fail.
The fact remains that those that drew the blueprint had the foresight to make it thrive beyond their time.
Governor Alia has by this gesture, has shown that he is a leader that does his homework well before taking decisions.
What makes naming the company after the Awan’Otun of Agila even more significant is not just that it preserves his name but that it evokes a nearly forgotten part of his life story.
Yes Father!