By Torobong Ekpo
Bent on setting a gigantic pace in the journalism profession, the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Local Media, Mr. Uko Umoh, has officially launched his brainchild, The Nigerian Pulse Newspaper, in the capital city of Cross River State, Calabar.
The event, which took place on March 16, 2016, at the prestigious Newspapers Distribution Office along Bassey Duke Street in Calabar, had in attendance Media gurus, public office holders and the Publisher of the tabloid, Mr. Umoh.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the event, the Special Assistant, who doubles as the publisher of the newspaper, said the outfit has been properly registered with the Cross River Chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalist, noting that Nigerian Pulse is one of the tabloids that made up the Correspondents Chapel of the NUJ in Cross River State.
While expressing determination to abide by the ethics of the profession, Mr. Umoh said its Cross River State correspondents, Comrade Adegdenro Hakeem and Mr. Daniel Agbo, were seasoned journalists with clear track records.
He commended the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, immediate past Commissioner for Works, Mr. Don Etim, the State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, and the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Obong Paul Ekpo, for standing by him during the formative stage of the newspaper as well as giving him an enabling platform to thrive.
“I want to seize this opportunity to thank my benefactors, who in trying time, were always there for me. The Senate Minority Leader, Chief Godswill Akpabio, my boss, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, the former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Don Etim, the Commerce and Industry commissioner, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem, my brother, the State PDP Chairman, Obong Paul Ekpo, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, SSA to the governor on Due Process, Mr. Ufot Ebong, the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Ephraim Inyang, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akan Okon among other respected people. I want to assure Cross River State that Nigerian Pulse will abide by the ethics governing journalism profession. Before second quarter of the year, we will hit other parts of the country. All I can assure you is that, Nigerian Pulse has come to stay in Cross River State, to God be the glory” he prayed.
He revealed that the newspaper will soon go daily and assured readers of quality, balanced, objectivity and thought provoking reportage.
“Today, we are publishing three times in a week, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sunday. However, in no distance time, Nigerian Pulse will be on the street daily with though provoking news items.” He claimed.
A clearer picture of Uko Umoh, popularly called Uko Biafra, indicates that, he has groomed not less than, 15 Publishers, within his seven years of venturing into newspaper publication venture.
Nigerian Pulse changed its nomenclature late Last year, from Community Pulse Newspapers.
Prior to his appointment, he was the State Chairman of League of Newspapers Publishers, a platform which houses all the registered local tabloids in the state.
Nigerian Pulse National headquarter is situated at Number 15 Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo.
