The spokesperson to the Arole Oduduwa and Ooni of iFe,His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojajaa II, Comrade Moses Olafare, and the Iyalaje Oodua, Princess (Dr.) Toyin Kolade, received awards of excellence from the Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, on Thursday.
While Comrade Olafare bagged the ‘Best Yoruba Indigenous, Traditional and Cultural Media Man of the Year’, the Iyalaje Oodua was awarded as the ‘Most Industrious Woman in Yorubaland’ by the union.
In his opening remark at the awards ceremony, the chairman of the council, Comrade Rotimi Ojomoyela, described the awardees as worthy personalities, who have contributed immensely to the successful practice of journalism in Nigeria.
He said, “Tonight is not for long speeches, I just want to thank you for all you have been doing and I wish to implore you not to relent in making Nigeria a better place for all through your support for journalism.”
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Addressing newsmen after the event, the Ooni’s spokesman, who was represented by his Personal Assistant, described journalists, particularly those belonging to the Ekiti State council, like their counterparts nationwide, as “partners in progress” in his duty to promote the prestigious Yoruba culture.
Olafare said, “They have offered us their platforms in print, broadcast and the internet. On behalf of the Arole Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, the House of Oduduwa is very pleased and we shall continue to hold the men of the noble pen profession in a very high esteem.”
Represented by the Saabe of Otun-Ekiti, Chief Kehinde Atolagbe, the Iyalaje Oodua equally expressed her heartfelt joy, describing journalists as indispensable stakeholders required in nation building.
Princess Kolade said, “All I have to say is to urge our lovely comrades (journalists) to keep up with the good work, even in the face of oppression and hostile environments, because we all look up to them. I am so happy for this recognition and I say a very big thanks.”
