Dr. Dennis Otuaro, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and sole Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), has congratulated the newly elected leadership of the Ijaw Publishers Forum (IPF), led by Comrade Ozobo Austin, urging them to lead with confidence and vision.
Delivering his message through Mr. Prebor Presley, Coordinator of the PAP Delta/Edo State office, Dr. Otuaro commended the IPF for its consistent efforts in narrating the Ijaw and Niger Delta story from a rights-based perspective.
He stressed that strengthening indigenous media platforms like IPF should be a collective priority, given their critical role in shaping public discourse and advocating for the region’s development.
Dr. Otuaro’s message is strategic and significantly timely, given that it highlights the urgent need for stronger voices to champion the rights and interests of the Ijaw people and the wider Niger Delta region.
The PAP helmsman further urged the new leadership to build on the successes of their predecessors and remain steadfast in the organization’s goals.
The IPF has long been at the forefront of highlighting issues affecting the region, including environmental degradation, economic marginalization, and human rights challenges.
Speaking on the IPF’s roadmap, President Ozobo Austin outlined plans for the next two years, which include establishing a permanent secretariat, setting up a printing press, and launching Ijaw indigenous radio and television stations. He called on all Ijaw sons and daughters to rally behind the forum’s mission to foster peace, unity, and sustainable development across the Niger Delta.
