15th Anniversary Celebration: Tears Of Joy As National Network Publisher Shares Testimony

It was all tears of  joy and fond memories of the past as Publisher, Editorial Board members and Staff of National Network  newspaper expressed their gratitude to God through thanksgiving at The Church of God(Seventh Day) located at Eagle Island Port Harcourt ,Rivers State over the weekend  in acknowledgment  of God’s faithfulness and love for fifteen years of uninterrupted publication.

The Publisher of National Network, Pastor Jerry Needam, who spoke on behalf of his team said ‘we decided to thank God today because without God, the anniversary would not be a success’.

The publisher explained that the newspaper started with seeking God first by seeking the blessing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in its quest to celebrate the fifteen years anniversary. He said “the CAN chairman, Most Senior Special Apostle Stanley Dimkpa had then pronounced that it will be well and it was well at the end of the day”.

The Publisher asserted that it would be an error if the team had declined to give thanks to God after what He had done in fifteen years of uninterrupted publication.

He also thanked Bro Felix A. Obuah,   the Sole Administrator of Rivers State Waste Management Agency (RIWAMA) for the show of love towards him and the National Networks Newspaper all these years. He equally thanked the Editor in Chief/General Manager of the publication Chris Konkwo and the entire staff for their support.

Meanwhile, some of the dignitaries at the thanksgiving expressed their views about the anniversary celebration of the tabloid.

In his speech, Pastor Nkem Nwaribe (J.P) former, Special Adviser to the Rivers State Governor, said “I thank God for being precious to Pastor Needam and his entire family of the newspaper”.

“It has been fifteen years of challenges, but God strengthened the publisher and his team to triumph despite the challenges.”

On his part, the National President of Christ Army Church Professionals, Ven. Goodluck Owubokiri (J.P) said “we are celebrating one of us and for us to be here, it shows God is with us”.

In his own contribution, Elder (Arc) A.L Eebee (J.P) said, “Pastor Jerry’s choice to be on God side is what is manifesting today”.

Hon. Friday Nkie on his part said, “National Network is an inspirational newspaper that has united the people of Niger Delta, we are party blind as far as National Network is concerned”.

Also commenting, Elder Friday Yiimah said, “indeed God has been faithful to Pastor Jerry and his team in these years.”

Dr. Barigbon Gbara Nsereka chairman, Editorial Board National Network newspaper said that “the newspaper cannot thank God enough for the successes recorded in the past fifteen years of publication”.

The chairman of  CAN, Most Special Apostle Stanley Dimkpa, thanked God for the peace and success recorded in the anniversary programme of  the tabloid. He also thanked the publisher of the newspaper for taking exemplary feat in unifying the body of Christ which is worthy of emulation. He “said instead of the publisher going to his church to bless him on the planned anniversary celebration when he started the journey, “he and his team came to CAN first”. The CAN chairman stated that God will accomplish his word in the life of the newspaper.

Most Special Apostle Dimkpa also emphasized the need for Christians to be united and in one accord in order to end the seeming acrimony and dichotomy in the body of Christ.

In his speech, Mr. Ike Wigodo, the state Secretary of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) thanked National Network publisher for being regular and prompt in payment of workers’ salary. He also thanked the Editorial staff for being professional in the discharge of their duties.

Earlier, the resident Pastor of   The Church of God (Seventh Day), Douglas Iyama in his sermon stressed the need for Christians to be thankful to God.  Pastor Iyama who x-rayed the lifestyle of David in the Bible said “God never abandon people who praise him”. He commended National Network team for choosing to give thanks to God.

Pastor Mrs Promise Jerry Needam, wife of the publisher of National Network, while giving her special number described Bro. Felix Obuah as a father who took her family in when unknown persons went on rampage with an intention to harm the family.

People from all walks of life graced the occasion as the venue of the thanksgiving was filled to capacity.