Blessing Olaifa, Abuja
FORMER Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, and the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, have expressed concern about the loss of huge revenue that the postal system could have contributed to the economy through the Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST).
They called for measures that would enable the service surmount its challenges so that it can play its role in the economy and maintain its historical relevance to the nation.
Gowon’s message was contained in an endorsement he wrote in a Compendium on Nigeria’s Postage Stamps 1914-2020, while Dr. Pantami spoke at the weekend during the launch of the Compendium at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Conference Centre, Kado, Abuja.
The event, which was hosted by the Postmaster General of NIPOST, Dr. Ismail Adewusi, was part of activities for celebrating the World Post Day.
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Gowon said: “I write to commend the Federal Ministry of Communications, working through the management of the Nigerian Postal Service and its partners for taking the bold step of initiating and completing the publication of this landmark compendium of Nigeria’s postage stamps (1914-2014).
“This initiative is best appreciated when one considers that, worldwide, technology has virtually imperiled philately. In Nigeria, the problem has further been compounded by the relegation of the teaching of history in schools to the background.
“Today, we have a situation in which many of our young adults have never stepped inside a post office, much less know what they do there. The few that have seen postage stamps in books or films do not have any ideas of how they are affixed to letters or documents.
“The combination of these challenges is the loss of huge revenue that the postal system could have contributed to the economy. The publication of the compendium of Nigeria’s postage stamps (1914-2014) is a step at education in aid of development.
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