Kudos and crackers came for TheNiche yesterday when the new kid on the newsstands was formally presented to the public to compete for excellence, with confidence expressed by readers and watchers about its success, having tasted its offering for four months.
Anya (middle) and others cutting the cake to launch TheNiche.
Guests took turns to commend the uniqueness of the newspaper, which debuted on April 27 as Nigeria’s Sunday exclusive
They praised its rich, incisive content, as well as depth, presentation, and design, and even urged TheNiche to go daily in order to extend the template to more readers.
Guests
The presentation, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, was chaired by former Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Director General, Anya O. Anya.
Others who attended included Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, (represented by Secretary to the State Government, Mkpa A. Mkpa); Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim (represented by Sam Nwaobasi); All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman, Victor Umeh.
Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (represented by Media Adviser, Hakeem Bello); House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha (represented by House member, Abike Dabiri); and former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari (represented by Mutasllab Olufemi).
Mainstreet Bannk Executive Director, Ano Anyanwu; Ford Foundation West Africa representative, Innocent Chukwuma; Independent Newspapers Managing Director, Ted Iwere; Sun Newspaper Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Femi Adesina; and Gbenga Adeyinka (master of ceremony), among others.
Encouraging words
Anya said: “TheNiche, it is fair to say, stands apart from any Nigerian newspaper today in the clarity of its printing, the sharp definition of its photography and the lucidity and readability of its writing.
“If, as our late compatriot, Chinua Achebe once reminded us, ‘it is yet morning on creation day.’ And if we remember the old saying that the tenor of the morning may proclaim the texture of the day, we have cause for great expectations.
“For TheNiche, as it stands today, is easily the best newspaper on offer in a very competitive and fast evolving industry given the complexity and pace of modern technology.
“You find the standard very high, and I hope you will keep challenging yourselves to maintain the standard that you set.”
Mkpa noted standout poise of TheNiche. “From preliminary observation, TheNiche is the best newspaper presently in the country in terms of content, depth, quality and the packaging.
“It is the wish of the governor to see the newspaper go daily very quickly so as to offer Nigerian reading public its extraordinary offering. TheNiche has created a niche for itself,” he maintained.
Umeh said the editorial team led by Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Ikechukwu Amaechi, comprises core media professionals, and from their educational write ups, it is clear they are committed to nation building.
“TheNiche is a very quality newspaper. Its journalists are thoroughbred professionals. These are people I have known over the years. I do hope that the paper will go daily very soon,” he counselled.
Recognition of role of press
Anyim also acknowledged TheNiche as a quality newspaper. He said with the crop of journalists on TheNiche and the quality articles, he knows it means well for the country.
The press has helped to win back democracy in Nigeria and sustained it, he added.
Amaechi explained that TheNiche was established to bring a difference to the newspaper business.
“Many people argue that the newspaper industry is saturated and therefore, we should not try. But only those who dare can conquer. We decided to challenge the cynicism that has become the most potent threat to the media industry in Nigeria, particularly the print media,” he said.
“Though we have not triumphed yet, the fact that we are here is a proof that we have conquered the fear of failure. In any case, not doing anything is a classical definition of failure.
“Why Sunday a newspaper? The answer is simple. Most Sunday newspapers in Nigeria are mere extensions of their daily titles. There is little distinction. This void is what we in TheNiche seeks to fill.
“In doing this, we will try to present stories that are well investigated and cover all sides objectively. We will be thorough and shall gain the public trust. We can only achieve this if exclusivity is our watch word. And we so pledge.
“We so pledge because we are aware that a great newspaper is characterised by integrity, accuracy, responsibility and leadership.”
Anya appeals for attitude change
Anya, whose lecture was titled, “The challenge of believing”, lamented the cynicism Nigerians have about their country.
He appealed to the press to help change the negative attitude, saying: “When one surveys the lie of the national landscape – political, social, economic and normative – we may be forgiven if we confidently proclaim that our nation is presently passing through very difficult times.
“But given the national tendency to overdramatise, and even exaggerate the untowards, one might be tempted to ask if that were the whole truth.
“For if truth be told, there is no other nation today whose citizens deride her and see speak ever so often in such negative terms of their nation as Nigerians do of Nigeria.
“We are always competing (even within the leadership) in our telling of the most derogatory and unwholesome tales of our nation. We have all contributed to a new definition of the meaning of patriotism through our negativity.
“We encourage others to deride our nation.”
