Chairman of Zinox Group, Mr Leo Stan Ekeh has called on the Igbo to see the future in a brighter, knowledge-driven society buoyed by wider access to information and changing dynamics in the nature of media consumption, culminating in the lowering of barriers for wealth creation and sustenance in the 21^st century.

At the official unveiling of the Lagos office of the Horn Newspapers, a print medium originally based in Owerri, Imo State, Ekeh, who was the Chairman on the occasion, noted that contemporary society was moving at a very fast pace mediated by growing access to information and the advent of emerging technologies, including robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, The Internet of Things, 3D printing and autonomous vehicles, among others – developments that provide exciting new opportunities for individuals and societies.

While heaping praises on the publishers of the Horn Newspapers for the bold steps in expanding their sphere of operations to Lagos, Ekeh urged the Igbo to continually seek to compete on legacy-building initiatives instead of the usual emphasis and competition on cash.

He stated: “This is the new definition of wealth in the 21^st century as I have always maintained that real wealth whispers while money shouts. The world is moving at a very fast pace and there is no longer space for the promotion of narrow-minded, parochial interests. Today, anyone who refuses to wake up to the realities of the rapid evolution and changes being brought about new and emerging technologies stands a risk of being left behind.

“I must commend Bright Njoku (the publisher) and other members of his team for the courage and vision to expand to Lagos. Without a sense of doubt, Lagos holds pride of place as the hub of Nigeria’s media industry in addition to its status as an economic power-house. In view of its cosmopolitan nature, you stand a better chance of reaching a wider, more diverse global audience from this location.

“We must all support the Horn Newspapers in their bid to excel, especially Nigerians of Igbo extraction. We must see this medium as our own and give it the necessary support to grow.”

Ekeh, who advised the management of the medium to leverage on the indispensability of digital publishing to take the Horn Newspapers to a global audience, cited the example of other mainstream national dailies which have strengthened their online versions in order to ensure that they remain relevant to new and existing readers.

The event witnessed the official unveiling of the July edition of the Horn Newspaper by Ekeh.

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