…Honours 6 Nigerian Icons
As part of its Social Corporate Responsibility, CSR, the management of the Nigeria’s foremost Public Relations publication, ‘PR Primus Magazine,’ has offered scholarship to four indigent students to support their educational pursuit.
This was just as the company, in conjunction with the Ogun State chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, honoured six icons of public relations in appreciation of their numerous contributions to the development of the country.
Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, presented the scholarship package to beneficiaries on Wednesday in Abeokuta, during the 2023 ‘Your Image Awards’/Public Lecture.
The benefitting students are: John Adesina and Abibat Hamzat of Egba Comprehensive High School, Asero, Abeokuta, who received the late Engr. Lanre Bisiriyu scholarship; and Yusuf Edun Olashile and Nimotah Ogunlaja, HND1 and ND1students respectively of the Mass Communication Department of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, who benefitted from the late Prof Lai Oso Mass Communication Scholar scholarship.
Governor Abiodun lauded the initiative of the organization for complimenting the effort of his administration in creating conducive learning environment in public schools
Represented by the Ogun State Head of Service, HoS, Mr Kola Fagbohun, Governor Abiodun promised that the state government would continue to support such gesture aimed at encouraging the students to do well in their academic activities.
Chairman of the event, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, His Royal Highness, Oba (Professor) Saka Matemilola, also praised the organizers for including such scholarship package, pledging to support the programme.
The monarch described the scholarship package as a very good PR tools to identify with the people in the area of education, which he said should be supported by other corporate organizations and wealthy Nigerians.
The Managing Director of PR Primus Magazine, Mr. Akin Okudero, explained that the need to assist the less privileged and give them equal opportunities to qualitative education in the society, necessitated the introduction of such scholarship package which is in the range of N100,000 and above to each of the beneficiaries.
Okudero, a Fellow of NIPR, assured the beneficiaries that their respective tuition fees would be paid directly to their schools through the scholarship package.
He called on public-spirited individuals and corporate organizations to support the sustenance of the programme to enable more indigent students to benefit from it.
The event also witnessed the presentation of awards to seven iconic Nigerians, who have distinguished themselves in their various professions and callings, including Nigeria’s football legend, former Captain of the then Green Eagles, educationist and owner of Eagle 7 FM Radio, Abeokuta, Chief Segun Odegbami, who was honoured with a ‘Lifetime Award’ for his accomplishments.
Others bestowed with awards are the Towulade of Akinale Kingdom, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, who received the ‘PR Icon’ award and former President of African Public Relations Association, Chief Yomi Badejo-Okusanya, who bagged the ‘PR Beacon’ award, while the Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs, International Breweries Plc, Mrs. Temitope Oguntokun, received the ‘PR Professional of the Year,’ and the Managing Director of Sweet FM, Abeokuta, Mr. Eddie Aina, was rewarded with the ‘Role Model’ award.
In a related development, the Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporation and Government Owned Companies, SSASCGOC, was recognized with the ‘Outstanding and Visionary Association in Cutting Edge Corporate Governance’ award.
Highlight of the event was the launching of the second special edition of the PR Primus Magazine.
PR Primus Magazine MD also presented certificates of appreciation to the resource persons, among who were: Oba Ogunleye; Dr. Oketokun; former NIPR state chairman, Mr. Femi Dokunmun; Mr. David Aderemi, who appeared on PR Primus programme on Ogun State Television.
He also presented awards and certificate to those who supported the survival of the television programme, including: Mr. Dare Folarin, Mr Bimpe Adedara and the General Manager of OGTV, Mr. Tunde Kazeem
The event was a gathering of who is who in Public Relations practice in the country, including Chief (Dr) Fassy Yusuf, Rector of DS Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ewekoro, Dr. Akeem Goke Rauf, Head of Mass Communication Department of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Dr. Togunwa, the Ogun State Chairman of NIPR, Mrs Seun Boye, President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, represented by Chief Yomi Badejo -Okusanya and academics in the field of Public Relations amongst others.
