The Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, right; and the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Ifabiyi Olatunji, at the public hearing of the Assembly on the bill to convert the state-owned Owena Press Limited to Ondo State Government Printing and Publishing Corporation… on Thursday, February 26, 2026
- Assembly holds public hearing on bill to rename media outfit Ondo State Government Printing and Publishing Corporation
By Banji Ayoola
At last, the long-held dream of the staff and successive managements to convert the Ondo State Government-owned Owena Press Limited, publishers of The Hope newspapers, to a corporation materialised on Thursday into the first major legal step towards its actualisation.
The state’s House of Assembly held a public hearing on an executive bill seeking to convert Owena Press Limited into the Ondo State Government Printing and Publishing Corporation.
In attendance at the special session, which united the state’s legislative body, the executive, journalists, labour, and other stakeholders on a common. cause – incorporation of Owena Press -, were representatives of the Commissioner for Information, Mr Idowu Ajanaku, who is a veteran journalist; and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, a long-standing friend of the media since his practicing days.
The Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Owena Press Limited, Mr. Kayode Fasua, led a team of the company’s Management and Staff to the hearing.
Also, the executives, and many members of the state’s council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, led by its Chairman, Prince Leke Adegbite, attended the sitting.
There were also other stakeholders including members of the House Committee on Information, Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations, and Government Owned Companies executives.
While declaring the hearing open, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, described the bill as long overdue, expressing optimism that the move would improve staff welfare, apart from creating new opportunities for economic growth across the state.
He said the planned incorporation of the state-owned newspapers publishing and printing company aimed at repositioning the organisation into a modern, and legally empowered institution capable of delivering efficient printing and publishing services.
Noting that Owena Press has since its establishment, served as a strategic communication platform for the state through prompt public information dissemination, documentation of government activities and promotion of civic engagement.
Besides, he said that the planned incirporation would strengthen the organisation’s financial sustainability through expanded commercial operations; improve information management; enhance the security of official publications; and ensure proper archival preservation of state records.
He said the assembly wished to ensure that the proposed conversion reflects an inclusive reform process rather than a unilateral government decision.
Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Hon. Ifabiyi Olatunji, said in his welcome address that the public hearing showed the Assembly’s commitment to participatory law-making.
According to him, converting Owena Press into a corporation would reposition the state’s printing and publishing outfit for greater efficiency, sustainability and relevance in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Also, he said that stakeholders’ contributions would guide the Assembly in producing a law that strengthens government communication, modernises services and boosts revenue generation.
Generally, participants at the hearing expressed support for the proposed transformation, describing it as a critical step toward strengthening the state’s information infrastructure.
In his vote of thanks after the session, the Clerk of the House, Barrister Jayeola Benjamin, described the hearing as a historic turning point for the organisation.
He commended the Speaker and committee members for their commitment to the process.
Also, he urged participants to make detailed contributions during subsequent technical sessions to ensure a robust legal framework for the proposed corporation.
When cornered by journalists after the session, Owena Press Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Mr Kayode Fasua, thanked Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa for formally initiating the legal process to actualise the planned incorporation.
According to him, the planned incorporation of the printing and publishing outfit would address longstanding operational challenges, including double taxation; and reposition the organisation for regional expansion.
Besides, he said this would improve staff welfare as it would enable them to enjoy pension benefits.
Fasua recalled that the company was established in 1989 by the military regime of the then Navy Captain Olabode Ibiyinka Geoege to promote the state’s interests and disseminate information, a duty which the company has performed robustly.
Also, in his goodwill message, the NUJ Chairman in the state, Prince Leke Adegbite, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Assembly leadership for responding to longstanding appeals to revamp the organisation.
He noted that since the establishment of the outfit in 1989, no previous administration had taken concrete steps toward restructuring it.
Adegbite expressed hope for speedy passage of the bill after necessary technical inputs.
The NUJ Chairman later issued a statement, titled, “The Hope Newspaper: To God Be The Glory’
Adegbite said, in the statement:
“Today, I led the Ondo State NUJ executives to attend a public hearing organised by the Ondo State House of Assembly on a bill to convert Owena Press Limited to the Ondo State Government Owena Printing Press & Publishing Corporation.
It was a rewarding outing and a freedom for the staff of the media outfit. I am proud of our union’s uncommon efforts under our leadership.
We appreciate Mr Governor, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa for sponsoring an executive bill to that effect. The Assembly has promised accelerated passage of the bill into law.
We also appreciate the state lawmakers under the Speaker, the House Committee on Information members; the State Attorney General, the State Information Commissioner and the Governor’s CPS @101941099147268 for their valuable inputs.
Let me also congratulate the entire staff of The Hope Newspaper under the Chairman/Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Kayode Fasua for the milestone. Indeed history is about to be made in our State.”
