The Independent Print-Media Publishers Association of Nigeria, IPPAN, has installed
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom as its Grand Patron.
The investiture ceremony took place on Sunday at the Chapel of Grace, Benue Peoples House Makurdi, during a thanksgiving service organized in honour of the Governor to mark the end of the week long activities of the association.
National President of IPPAN and publisher of The Pavilion newspapers, Mr. Babs Usigbe, who decorated the Governor said Ortom has facilitated the reunion of IPPAN as one body and had contributed a lot to the welfare of members.
Mr. Usigbe pledged continued support of his members to the Ortom’s government through sensitization and publication of government activities, programmes and policies and solicited support of the government to enable the association establish a printing press.
Speaking at the thanksgiving service which preceded a lecture presentation in honour of three deceased members of IPPAN, Gov. Ottom appreciated IPPAN for the honour just as he announced a scholarship package to 13 children of the deceased members to university level.
He prayed God to console the bereaved families, particularly their widows and to also grant their departed breadwinners eternal rest. Ortom who noted that widows go through a lot of pain urged families, frirnds and wellwishers to support them in the absence of their husbands.
Gov. Ortom who reaffirmed his faith in God, said he remains committed to His service as anything he asks in His name, he gets, adding that “by strength shall no man prevail but by the mercy of God. As the scripture says, man can receive nothing if he is not given from above.”
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Ortom urged Benue people to believe in the powers of God saying they should join him in building the state as he has dislodged witches and wizards fighting his administration.
“Have faith in God that He will turn around the fortunes of our state. Witches and wizards have no powers over us and those who are fighting me and my government are fighting themselves.
Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Titus Uba, Head of Service, Mrs. Veronica Onyeke and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mike Gusa, in their separate messages, acknowledged the humility of the Governor and pledged to support him to continue to deliver dividends of democracy to Benue people.
They attributed Ortom’s successes as a Governor to God as demonstrated in his uncommon and selfless service to humanity.
“Standing firm on the protection of lives and property of his subjects at all times have endeared him to leaders across the globe” Gusa said.
Preaching during the service, Evang. Michael Ewache, of the Glory of His Majesty, said God has the exclusive powers to choose who rules at a particular point in time.
“If God has made a choice, everyone needs to follow because no one has the power to object the choice of God. If you want to succeed in life put God first in everything you do here on Earth”, he said.
Highlights of the IPPAN event was a Memorial lecture in honour of their late members; Mr. Samson Sambe, Ray Num and Orpurugh Kyaagba, with the theme: Print Media Surviving Digitization, Social Media and Economic Recession” delivered by a Professor of Mass Communication John Sambe.
