Congress TV/Newspaper, a media platform established in 2021 by its Publisher/Chief Executive Officer, Comrade Ozobo Austin, held its 5th Anniversary at the TM Palace Hotel in Effurun, Delta State, on Thursday, July 16, 2026, with the theme: "The Role of Media in Governance" and was attended by stakeholders from across the Niger Delta region. Below are 10 key points worthy of note as culled from the welcome address delivered by its Publisher/CEO. Excerpts:

1. PURPOSE: According to the fast growing media organisation's Boss, the 5th Anniversary is not just "a celebration of resilience, courage, vision, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to truth" but "It is also a moment to reflect on our journey, appreciate everyone who has believed in our dream, and renew our commitment to serving humanity through responsible journalism."

2. THE VISION BEHIND CONGRESS: Comrade Ozobo informed his audience on the drive behind the establishment of Congress when he said, "We recognized that many communities, particularly within the Niger Delta, lacked adequate representation in mainstream media. That realization inspired us to create a platform where the voices of ordinary people and bulkanised Niger Delta would be heard."

3. IMPACTS: For Comrade Ozobo, "What began as a modest digital newspaper has, by God's grace, evolved into a respected multimedia platform comprising Congress Newspaper and Congress TV, reaching audiences across Nigeria and beyond," he announced, stating further that "Today, our reports influence public discourse, our investigations stimulate action, and our stories continue to shine light on issues that matter to our people."

4. ACHIEVEMENTS: On the gains of the Congress TV/Newspaper over half a decade of its exist, the Publisher/CEO said, "Over the past five years, we have covered major national and regional events, exposed societal challenges, promoted peace initiatives, highlighted developmental issues, celebrated excellence, encouraged youth participation, amplified community voices, and consistently advocated for good governance, environmental justice, and sustainable development in the Niger Delta. Our newsroom has remained committed to professional ethics despite operating in an increasingly complex media environment."

5. FOREMOST CHALLENGES: The activist turned publisher informed his audience on some major challenges he highlighted thus, "Like many independent media organizations, we have faced financial constraints, rising operational costs, inadequate technological infrastructure, security concerns, legal threats, misinformation, cyber attacks, and the ever-present challenge of sustaining quality journalism in the digital age. There were moments when continuing seemed almost impossible. Yet every obstacle strengthened our determination," he confessed.

6. PRESS FREEDOM: For Comrade Ozobo "Achieving genuine press freedom remains a challenge in many parts of the world due to intimidation, harassment, censorship, arbitrary arrests, violence against journalists, restrictive laws, political interference, economic pressures, and the spread of misinformation," he said, but noted further that, "To attain and sustain true press freedom, governments must uphold constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression, strengthen legal protections for journalists, and ensure that attacks on media professionals are thoroughly investigated and prosecuted."

7. COLLECTIVE COMMITMENT: Comrade Ozobo called for collective commitment to guarantee press freedom when he said, "Media organizations must also uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accuracy, ethics, and responsibility, while citizens, civil society, and the international community should continue to defend the independence of the press. Only through collective commitment can a free, responsible, and independent media continue to fulfil its vital role in promoting democracy, justice, and sustainable development."

8. FUTURE OF CONGRESS: Looking ahead, the media executive said, "The future of journalism belongs to innovation, technology, credibility, and public trust. Congress TV/Newspaper is determined to embrace digital transformation, expand investigative journalism, strengthen multimedia broadcasting, empower young journalists, deepen community reporting, and continue serving as a dependable voice for the Niger Delta and Nigeria."

9. PLEDGE: Determined to position the Congress TV/Newspaper, he pledged that, "As we celebrate five years of excellence, commitment, courage, and service, we recommit ourselves to fearless journalism, ethical reporting, and nation-building. We shall continue to hold leaders accountable, give voice to the voiceless, defend democratic values, and promote peace, unity, justice, and development."

10. APPRECIATION: "To every member of our editorial board, correspondents, reporters, camera crew, photographers, technical staff, administrative personnel, volunteers, contributors, advertisers, sponsors, and countless supporters who have walked this journey with us, I express my heartfelt appreciation. Your dedication, professionalism, sacrifices, and belief in our mission have brought us to this remarkable milestone. I also sincerely thank our readers, viewers, subscribers, advertisers, and development partners. Your trust remains our greatest asset. Every click, every newspaper purchased, every shared story, every advertisement placed, and every word of encouragement has contributed to our growth," he tendered his gratitude.