The chairman of the Media Trust Limited – Publisher of Daily Trust Newspaper titles, Malam Kabiru Yusuf on Tuesday received the Senior Journalist of Nigeria Award from the Ogun and Oyo States league of veteran journalists.
The award was part of the 160 years anniversary of journalism in Nigeria which was celebrated by veteran journalists from the two states.
Presenting the award to the General Manager (South) of the Media Trust Limited, Mr. Ademola Oladosu, Professor Adeyemi Aderibigbe described the contributions of Malam Kabiru as unquantifiable, saying media remains the oldest profession in Nigeria.
Other awardees are: a former governor of Lagos state, Alhaji Lateef Jakande; a former president of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Malam Ismaila Isa; a former governor of Ogun state, Aremo Olusegun Osoba; the publisher of the Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka-Pemu, and a former minister of Information, Chief Tony Momoh.
They also include a publisher, Alade Odunewu; a former president of Nigeria Guild of Editors and presidential spokesman, Shehu Garba; the founder of the Punch Newspapers, Chief Olu Aboderin; one of the wives of the acclaimed winner of June 12, 1993 election, Dr. Doyin Abiola; the daughter of the publisher of Nigerian Tribune, Dr. Olaokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu; a former chairman of the Daily Times, Babatunde Jose and the gospel singer and founder of Fresh FM radio station, Dr. Yinka Ayefele.
Speaking on the credibility of the awardees, the chairman, league of veteran journalists in Oyo State, Banji Ogundele said the veterans considered their contributions to the development of journalism in the country before honouring them with the awards.
Speaking at the event, the Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who traced the history of print journalism in Nigeria, urged media owners to ensure journalists are well remunerated.
Also speaking at the event, the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji, commended the media in Nigeria for their role in ensuring that news get to the people with little efforts.
He said there is no way the history of journalism in Africa will be told without mentioning Ibadan land because the first television station in Africa and the only surviving oldest national daily newspaper, Nigerian Tribune started in Ibadan.
Receiving the award on behalf of the chairman of Media Trust Limited, Oladosu commended the organizers for considering the chairman for the award and noticing his contributions to the development of journalism in the country.
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