Aro News celebrates, marks Silver Jubilee in style
Shortly after he arrived in Nigeria from his either second or third overseas trip this year, the Chairman, Board of Directors of Aro NewsPublications Ltd, Mazi Emma Kanu Ivi, FCA, Ugwu Aro, called me for a lengthy discussion. It has always been his practice to make such calls to get full details about events that happened during his absence that required a follow up action, but this particular one became more interesting when the discussion gradually dovetailed to the background and issues that led to the birth of Aro News in mid-90s. The obviously excited Ogeneukwu, who usually stammers a bit when emotionally charged, could not hide his joy as he intoned: “Azubike, you see why I insisted that they should not allow this dream project of yours to die prematurely, and some of those characters thought that KanuIvi stood to gain materially from it.“No; not at all, because I saw it clearly from the onset as something that is capable of becoming a very big umbrella, catering to the interests of Umu Aro globally.”
Just as an engine waiting to be ignited, his statements caught fire in my head and sent me down memory lane, as thoughts about our histories filled my mind. How could one believe that this baby is already 25 today? Arochukwu Kingdom was immersed in multiple crisis in the mid-80s and 90s that made a vibrant communication media a necessity. Thus, a few Umu Aro made a commitment to corporate social responsibility via community-based mass communication projects. That decision led to the birth of Aro News, and today, the brandcomprises three organs – Aro News Newspaper, Aro News Book Series and Aro News Online (the website). It has become one of the major institutions by which the kingdom is globally identified and recognized. Turning 25 is quite significant and it’s usually celebrated to mark a-quarter-of-a-century.
Aro News Book Series is poised to spearhead this event by refreshing some past volumes and publishing a special edition – Perspectives on Aro History and Civilization: The Splendour of a Great Past Vol. 4.Currently in its 3 rd edition, each volume was published to mark a major event in the kingdom. Alwaysa collector’s item, it has remained the most current and authoritative source of data on Aro history and civilization,understandably being a first-hand account on Aro Kingdom written by Aro as different from histories by ‘outsiders’ and pseudo-historians. Research-based articles in 10 publications of the newspaper between December, 1997 and December, 2000 (Vol. 1, 2 and 3) are found in Vol. 1 of the book series while Vol. 2 comprises of nine publications between January, 2001 and December, 2003 (3 editions each of Vol. 4, 5 and 6 of the newspaper. Volume 3 of the book series contains articles from nine
editions of the newspaper, published between January, 2004 and December, 2006. There were a few mid-quarter editions before the long break due to several reasons. The planned Silver Jubilee edition, i.e. Vol. 4, shall have articles that were published between 2007 and 2022 and it promises to be huge and interesting. The newspaper itself has been waxing strong and maintaining its trade-mark lead as the most robust, reliable and consistent publication ever privately initiated in the annals of Arochukwu Kingdom in recorded history.
With corporate offices in Lagos and Arochukwu, it has provided a few people employment and economic sustenance apart from a veritable platform to publicize news and events of interest to the kingdom. Taking Aro causes to local and international arena, pushing vigorously to correct the misrepresentations of its past by some scholars and pseudo-historians in addition to spear-heading a development agenda, have been its fort in the last quarter of a century. On its own part, the aronewsonline team, currently being powered by over a dozen Aro youths who operate
from multiple global locations, are taking the notch higher to deploy its networks across print, electronic and social media to avail Umu Aro at home and in the diaspora opportunity to make the news of their events, products and services available to kith and kin across the globe.
Having the largest community of the Aro in its network, Okeigbo Square – its latest addition – presents the biggest market for Umu Aro to sell ideas and promote activities at very concessionary prices. Seated on the home page of the website, it shares info across various networks, thus giving clients multiple benefits in awareness and visibility. Our team correctly anticipated the rising impact of technology and also understood that the world needed to hear the news about us beyond what outsiders have done, so stepped out in faith even when we appeared to be ill-equipped to
launch a global network. It has been quite amazing and gratifying serving the community in that capacity, and we appreciate the numerous accolades from a grateful kingdom.
Turning 25 sounds very sweet so, my team and I, which for the record purpose, includes several renowned Aro elites, would want to share this joy with the entire Aro nation.
Indeed, when I look back and recall the decisions we took and the challenges we surmounted, which enabled our dream to survive and become a big umbrella today, where many people are playing different roles for the sake of a greater Aro nation, my sense of fulfilment becomes enhanced. A very appreciative community makes the whole exercise seem more like a fun rather than hard work. In this wise, I credit the personal attention which the late Aro monarch gave to issues pertaining to our group as individuals and team. During the memorial of my late parents in
January, 2004, he cancelled three prior appointments by OkpankpoAro to honour me with his entire cabinet. Again, during the several episodes of litigations with people who felt maligned by our reports, he appointed notable Aro elites to mediate and when he sensed that my public service career was threatened, he instructed that NzukoAro Home Branch Publicity Secretary should take over my court appearance. This is not to mention the various accolades, including the highest in the kingdom. So, my joy knows no bounds. As we celebrate silver jubilee anniversary, we look forward to the golden edition with great hope. This is not to say that we are oblivious of the fact that crisis would surely come up, as it is characteristics of every human system.
The assessment of the past 25 years, aside from its many achievements, also had a fair share of its challenges. This includes the several legal issues we encountered that took lots of money and efforts, the departure of key people in our team over time, the misunderstanding over ownership that arose between us and NzukoArochukwu, etc. Yet, I do not see any as regrets as such because such must be expected in every human endeavour. My worry, currently, is about the situation whereby our primary objective at inception, which has been largely achieved, is being threatened by new realities. At the outset, we recognized the fact that knowledge is freedom, and also power without which a man stumbles, a community falters and a people perish.
So, we set a target for ourselves that to the extent that what the medium will preach will add value to the body of knowledge that would direct our community towards the path of greatness; and to the extent that it would remain a beacon of light in darkness, which will inspire our people that the future harbores greater and nobler attainments, to that extent, we would have largely succeeded in our mission. Those were the standard by which we want our readers to judge us and the peaceful atmosphere that pervaded throughout the over-two decades of the reign of HRM, MaziOgbonnayaOkoro, EzeAro of Arochukwu was convincing enough that a harmonious existence, which the medium campaigned vigorously, was largely achieved.
However, more than two years since the demise of the monarch and without success in getting a successor, and with feelers of princes threatening court action to resolve regal succession issues, I am certainly worried that the foundation we laid is not yet sufficiently institutionalized. This kind of environment made our outing inevitable at
the time we debuted. So, in the weeks, months and years ahead, we shall strive to ensure that the organs remain as vibrant as ever and break new grounds towards their institutionalization. Our governing intention remains to see that Aro News brand, which belongs to Umu Aro, is institutionalized such that it can smoothly operate with or without the involvement of particular individuals as its alter ego.
To this extent, I will keep saluting the courage, vision and entrepreneurialninsight of the Mazi Ivi-led NzukoAroExco on the very strategic privatization and commercialization initiative it took in 2009 with my consent. History will, no doubt, accord them due credit. Aro and Aro alone, stands to gain everything. We are definitely on the threshold of making history.
Now, opportunities exist for interested Umu Aro to support the youths who are now at the forefront of this endeavour via skill acquisition. Our webmaster, Onyemobi Anyiwo, and his team run ICT training for our group and
affiliates regularly. Every time that you give to this cause, you’re continuing our mission at inception, which is to tell the world who we are rather than to sustain our story as told by some pseudo historians.With your patronage
today, via adverts, newspaper and book purchases or donation towards the ICT skill development for the youths, we will continue to make Arochukwu a great abode, one step at a time. As founder and pioneer Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, I feel greatly honoured to pilot this cause for a greater Arochukwu Kingdom. Happy silver jubilee celebration, as I look forward to seeing you personally at the formal ceremony during the Christmas season in Arochukwu.
Cheers.
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