..December 5th, 1995, the National Link Newspaper hit the news stands for the first time
Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) National Link Chapel will on Saturday December 10th mark 27 years of the existence of it’s newspaper and 15th year anniversary as a chapel.
The event which will be held at the Helton Leisure Awka will be under the chairmanship of NUJ Anambra council chairman Odugwu Emeka Odogwu with Prof. Stella Okunna, Dr. Henry Duru and Dr. Chira Obiara as the guest speakers and NUJ President Deacon Chris Isiguzo as the chief host.
The anniversary/gala night awards which is themed “Role of the media in modern society” has sentator Ifeanyi Ubah at the special guest and editor in chief National Link Newspaper, Comrade Chinyelude Tempest Udeze, as the host.
Speaking to ANN, Udeze said “National Link Newspaper started operations in 1995 in Nnewi in a room office. The idea was conceived in October 1995. I started gathering ideas, making consultations, learning from those that started before me. I also started looking out for staff. The first editor of National Link Newspaper was Bright Ohaneche from Enugu State, a veteran. Two of us with office secretary, Miss Calista from Ukpor who joined as office clerk, we started planning the newspaper. It was analog based. We were doing cut and paste mode of production to get the newspaper published. God blessed our vision, December 5th, 1995, the National Link newspaper hit the newstand. It was a thing of great joy!
“We started with a 16 paged tabloid in black and white. And we continued. We did not mind the fact that then a lot of newspapers were already competing for space on the news stand. The likes of Concord, New Nigeria, Nigerian Times, Daily star, and a host of others. It was passion that sustained me. At a time, it was difficult to put food on the table for my family and this did not go down well with them.
“We moved from producing 200 copies to. 5000 copies until the advent of social media that toppled the norm and we stilled keyed in with our online version www.nationalinkinfo.com as well its counterparts on all the social media handles.
” We have continued to produce the leaders of NUJ in the state. In the last dispensation, we produced the Chairman and secretary of the NUJ; Sir Emma Ifesinachi and Comrade Emma Udeagha, a record unequalled in the history of the union. The current southeast vice president of NUJ is still a member of the Chapel; Sir Emma Ifesinachi. The current Chairman of NUJ Anambra State Dr Emeka Odogwu was was also discovered in National Link Newspapers.
