TheCable

The government of Kogi has directed Graphic, the state-owned newspaper, to begin a four-page magazine in indigenous languages of Ebira, Igala, Yoruba and Hausa.

Addressing the management and staff of the Kogi State Newspaper Corporation at its office complex in Lokoja, the state capital, on Monday, Kingsley Fanwo, commissioner for information and communications, said the first edition of the indigenous publication should be out next week.

He said the state is interested in protecting its indigenous languages.

“As a people, as the centre of the nation and as the source of Nigeria, we cannot afford the erosion of our culture. Our generation-next must understand our languages and be proud of them,” he said.

“To this end, we urge the Management of The Graphic to commence the publication of a four-page pullout from next week, with each page dedicated to each of our main languages in the state.

“Apart from mulching our culture from the scorch of modernity; we owe the Governor who has given us the best Office Complex for any state-owned newspaper in Nigeria, the best of our efforts to move our information sector forward.”

He thanked the management and staff of the corporation for standing firmly behind his drive to make Graphic the best in Nigeria, saying, “without your great support, we wont be where we are today”.

Dayo Thomas, the managing director of the corporation, and James Oyewole, the editor, assured the commissioner of the readiness of the corporation to ensure a befitting magazine in line with the policy of the state government on “unity for prosperity”.