The need to create an institution that would rally the various ethnic groups into building the platform for unity and development of the people inspired the choice of the name The Pointer when decision was taken to set up a newspaper for Delta State after the old Bendel was carved into two -Delta and Edo – on

August 27, 1991.

“The Pointer was chosen as the name for the newspaper to be a vehicle for driving the creation of the atmosphere that will engender unity, peaceful co-existence cohesion required to make Delta State achieve the accelerated development the people craved,” Rt. Hon. Funkekeme Solomon revealed during the 32nd anniversary to mark the establishment of the state-owned newspaper.

Solomon, the Senior Policy Adviser to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, was a member of the group assembled by Colonel Bassey Asuquo, military governor of the newly created Delta State to midwife the birth of state newspaper as The Observer owned by the then Bendel State had been ceded to Edo State.

“When Delta State was created, there was a lot of controversy, tension, ethnic suspicion and disunity among the groups at the time. It was such that the emergence of Delta State was seen as a temporary event that will be shortly remedied.

“So we had to adopt a name that will inspire unity and togetherness in the Delta State and deescalate the negative atmosphere that seemed to pervade the state at the time. We adopted The Pointer to drive the state towards a new direction that will engender unity and development.

“Over the years, The Pointer has not fulfilled that dream, but has become an institution that has brought pride to the state. It has been consistently published everyday from the weekly paper when it debuted 32 years ago,” Solomon stated, noting that The Observer inherited by Edo State is hardly seen on the newsstands.

He commended the succession of general managers who have been piloting the newspaper alongside the staff for their diligence and dedication.

Solomon also commended Mr. Charles Aniagwu, Commissioner for Works and Public Information, for upgrading the facilities in the premises. He thanked Mrs. Rosemary Nwaebuni, managing director of Delta Printing and Publishing Company, for sustaining the dream of the founders and her predecessors.

Solomon who is also the Delta State coordinator of Renewed Hope Ambassadors was presented an award for his pioneering role in the birthing of The Pointer newspaper. Other persons and staff were also honoured.