Umoren assumes duties as The Evangelist Managing Editor

The Evangelist
Tuesday, September 20, 2022

By Helen Jackson

A former production manager of the Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation, AKNC, and publishers of The Pioneer titles, Mr Idorenyin Umoren, has assumed duties as Associate Publisher/Managing Editor of The Evangelist Newspaper.
Mr Umoren who retired from the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service in December 2020 holds a PG Diploma in Journalism, B Sc degree in Computer Science, Diploma in Mathematics & Computer Science and a WASC.
From Nsit Ibom LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Umoren, a Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP), a mediapreneur, tested administrator, public affairs, technology and security analyst was born December 12, 1960. He joined the Akwa Ibom State Civil Service on March 28, 1988 as a senior graphic artist in the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Information.
He was immediately posted to the newly incorporated Akwa Ibom Newspaper Corporation (AKNC) as one of the pioneer staff where he singlehandedly designed, pasted and produced the first edition (Vol. 1, No.1) of the Government-owned, Pioneer newspaper, which was on sale on April 11, 1988, and subsequent editions thereafter.
Umoren, has at different times been the Principal Graphic Artist, Head of Computer, Assistant Chief Printing Officer, Deputy Production Manager, Production Editor, Acting Production Manager and Production Manager of The Pioneer newspaper.
This unassuming gentleman with an indomitable and indefatigable spirit attended the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja and the University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria and Community Secondary School, now Nsit People’s Grammar School, Afaha Offiong in Nsit Ibom LGA.
Umoren also attended many primary schools due to the fact that he used to move with his mother who was a primary school teacher then. He finally completed at Egwanga Methodist Primary School, Opobo in the then South Eastern State of Nigeria.
Umoren who is courageous with brains and guts, having the courage to take risks and good decisions is also composite of assorted virtues: humility, kindness, diligence, simplicity and hard work.
The new Managing Editor, who is a foremost cartoonist, is a recipient of Letter of Honour/Appreciation dated November 22, 1989, from Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN ), now late, for his cartoon published in The Pioneer newspaper of September 25, 1989 to free him (Gani) from “the nefarious and invidious clutches of Decree No.2” of the then Military regime.
Most importantly, as a strategist, he fought to get the State Government to equip the Corporation with appropriate and adequate machines, when he was the acting production manager (2007 to 2013). This resulted in the procurement of state-of-the-art Suprasetter Computer-to-Plate (CTP) and Goss Community web offset press, which was commissioned on May 28, 2015 by the then Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
He is a member of Computer Society of Nigeria (CSN), a recipient of Certificate of Honour from the Federation of UNESCO Clubs of Nigeria (FUCN) as Ambassador and Fellow of Computer Appreciation Programme in 1998 in recognition of his excellent and positive contributions towards UNESCO ideals and commitment to the task of building up a crop of Dynamic, Creative, Resourceful and Responsible generation.
Ambassador Umoren is also a Fellow of Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, FCAI; and has attended a training course on Project Formulation, Feasibility Studies and Appraisal sponsored by the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Aid Management Programme of Akwa Ibom State in 1998.
In spite of his work, Umoren creates time for his hobbies which include music, football, humanitarian services, listening to news, reading and writing.
In all, it could be safely assumed that Umoren is one who pays attention to details in his work and he is married to a beautiful wife, Mandu, and both are blessed with three children.