It was a glorious day for Ikorodu and her two sons who have pioneered community newspaper publication for over three decades.
As the nation celebrated the hero of June 12 elections, Chief MKO Abiola at Abuja Lagos albeit posthumously with the highest award in the land (GCFR), the publishers of Oriwu Sun and Ikorodu Newspapers, Chief Monzor Olowosago and Chief Ganny Awobajo were also being honoured with prestigious awards in Lagos the same democracy day for their most outstanding contribution to community journalism.
For Chief Monzor Olowosago, a product of Abiola’s media empire and a good son of that late politician cum business man, it was an exceptional moment of accomplishment as publishers, editors, media executives, reporters, broadcasters and managers of the print and electronic media as well as public relation and Advertising gurus gathered at Isaac John street, Ikeja GRA on that day to honour Governor Akinwunmi’ Ambode, the present Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan, the Special Adviser to Governor Ambode on Communication and Community Affair, Mr. Hakeem Sulaimon and the two publishers from Ikorodu, Monzor and Gani.
For more than three hours between 6p.m and 9p.m in the prestigious Adam and Eve at Isaac John GRA, Ikeja the media constituency showed off their strength. There was no dull moment as media practitioners from the main stream and social media converged for this award ceremony more than 200 journalists of various cadres and media were present at the event to honour Monzor, Awobajo who have successfully published their community newspaper for more than thirty three (33) years. Today, there are over forty (40) community newspaper in Lagos and beyond.
Eight journalists who founded the organization that packaged this event had decided to honour Governor Ambode, the past Special Adviser on communications and Communities Affairs (now Information Commissioners Mr. Bamgbetan and his successor, Mr. Hakeem alongside the two most outstanding community newspaper publishers in Ikorodu, Chief Olowosago and Chief Awobajo.
Governor Ambode was honoured for recognizing the important of community newspapers in state development and his indepth use of the community press to publicize the activities of his administration and supporting the community media in the state with adverts.
Through his Special Advisers in this area, seminars were organised for the community newspapers, as well as periodical meetings with their Publishers and editors.
Mr. Bamgbetan who began this process as directed by the Governor later handed over the baton to his successor Mr. Hakeemm Sulaimon, when he became the Information Commissioner.
A lecture titled: “2019 Election: Galvanising Public Participation through Community Media,” was delivered at this ceremony by a guru in marketing and journalism, Akogun Gani Kayode Balogun, who traced the history of community media down to Oriwu Sun Newspaper and its Publisher, Monzor who has become a reference personality in the community’s history grassroots media. He spoke on the relevance of local media and how one could start off a grassroots publication.
After the beautiful lecture, it was time for citations of the awardees. Governor Ambode was represented by his Special Adviser, Mr. Hakeem Sulaimon.
The awardees later gave their individual appreciations to the organisers of the event (APCOM) for deeming it fit to honour them.
Chief Monzor Olowosago was particularly elated by the honour having come from his constituency (the community press). He described the event as one of his happiest moments on the job.
He recalled that when he started Oriwu Sun, he never dreamt it will attain this age of thirty three (33) and thanked God for making this possible. He also poured encomium to past governors of the state for the support they gave his paper and gave special tributes to Governor Ambode whom he said has done so much to support local newspapers morally and financially through adverts. We have never received this quantum of recognition and backing as we have got from Ambode’s government.
It is this support that has made Oriwu Sun to steadily produce between 120 and 180 pages all colour each edition.
After the five hour ceremony, it was now time for dance, photos, refreshments etc.
