For seven weeks between April and June 4, 2016, the entire workforce of Oriwu Sun Newspaper, using the language of the military was firing from all cylinders as they prepared for the 31st anniversary of the paper slated for Sunday June 5, 2016.
Since Governor Akinwunmi Ambode chose the date suitable for him to grace this anniversary as requested by the Board of Oriwu Sun newspaper, every hand was on deck at the Ikorodu office of Oriwu Sun to meet all expectations.
The board, management and staff of the community newspaper faced the uphill task of producing an anniversary edition, the 88 page supplement for Governor Ambode’s first year in office and other activities to celebrate Oriwu Sun at 31.
For a grassroots paper which has lasted for three decades plus, the original plan was to celebrate the 30th Anniversary last year. But the anniversary period fell during the highly volatile 2015 general elections. Since the newspaper proposed the participation of the incoming Governor of the State in the celebration, the Oriwu Sun management decided to defer the event till 2016 to enable Governor Ambode to settle down in office.
Getting Governor Ambode to give his nod to this anniversary was not easy. A lot of letters, SMS, e-mails personal visits, lobbying and all forms of persuasions took place. When he eventually granted Oriwu Sun request and directed the Information Commissioner, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and his Special Adviser on Communities and Communications, Hon Kehinde Bamigbetan to work out details with the publisher of Oriwu Sun, the anniversary machinery was put on high gear.
The programme, the planning committee for this event had drawn for 2015 was reviewed. Among the former plans dropped were a beauty contest to reenact our formative years when we held about six annual edition and a seminar.
The celebration had kicked off with the 65th birthday thanksgiving for the Publisher, Alhaji (Chief) Monzor Olowosago which took place at NASFAT mosque, Akasolori on Sunday April 24, 2016.
At the thanksgiving where the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef gave a powerful lecture, over N2million was raised by Chief Monzor Olowosago and his guests which was ploughed entirely into the coffers of the mosque.
Thereafter, preparation for the main anniversary gathered momentum. The editorial and production teams confronted the 88 page special supplement on Ambode’s one year in office and the main anniversary edition of Oriwu Sun numbering over 150 pages.
The publisher led the logistic team booking the venue for the anniversary, decorations, provision of materials, security, technical equipment, service personnel, catering, invitation cards, funding etc.
Another team focused on production of a documentary film on 31 years of this grassroots publication which delved into the genesis of the organization, the present and the future.
The liaison team working with government officials and the mass mobilization of expected guests and dignitaries as well as publicity of the event also swung into action.
All minute details were taken care of including music, cultural dances, comedians, master of ceremony, sound and lighting details, etc. Everyone worked to a fever point such that at the 11th hour, on Saturday June 4, the Assistant News Editor, Wale Kolawole, driver of the organization three other staffers had almost broken down in health, each nursing severe fever because of stress.
As the publisher, his deputy Mr. Chuma Adichie, the Editor, Hadji (Chief) Kazim Ganiu-Sanni, the News Editor, Muftau Jimoh, and others went to Ikorodu Musical Village to inspect the final preparations and readiness of the venue they met a pleasant surprise.
The Proprietor/Chief Executive of this magnificent, multi-million naira events, center, was inside the massive pacific hall of the village alone mopping the floor.
This great entrepreneur, Engr. O.W. Olokunola, in all humility, without knowing that the team from Oriwu Sun was coming was alone putting finishing touches to the cleaning, decorations and table/seat arrangements in the hall for the event.
Our team could not believe our eyes especially as we saw some of his workers within the premises, yet this man of excellence and good taste did not want to take anything for granted. He told us with all modesty that it is his routine to double check to make sure no customer complains about shoddy preparation/readiness of the venue.
For us, it was a good omen and a sign that all will go well with the anniversary the following day.
It was a lesson to all the twelve (12) of us from Oriwu Sun on that inspection tour that hard work never kills and there is nothing as motivating as seeing a leader being in front and showing example. When that happens, who is that subordinate who will not key in.
A group meeting of all the players/staff of Oriwu Sun had taken place twenty four (24) hours earlier when final rehearsals and instructions were handed out to everyone assigned to a responsibility. We had prayed for good weather which God gave us on that fateful Sunday.
We had gotten the feedback from Alausa that Governor Ambode who made every effort to be physically present at this event and had given us all encouragements had travelled out of the country on an emergency official assignment. We were notified that he will send a representative.
It was a glorious Sunday. As early as 9.00am all the key players in the preparations had assembled at the Venue – those in charge of the drinks, the ushers, the security personnel, the technical team, the caterers etc.
The pacific hall was at its glamourous best. Everywhere was dressed in Red and white colours, the logo of Oriwu Sun. Plans had been made for six hundred (600) guests all to be seated in round tables beautifully decorated.
The stage was like a royal banquet platform with, chandelier light, exotic decorations and an alluring atmosphere.
The hall was segmented on the floor into four parts with red carpet. Outside the hall, close to the main entrance, a red carpet interview corner was bubbling. A big banner of Oriwu Sun anniversary was hung at the background as very important guests arrived and were interviewed by a crew of radio, TV and newspaper reporters.
At the two main entrances to the hall, about six bouncers stood like colossus, screening the guests and enforcing strictly the mandate given to them to turn back anyone without a formal invitation card. Their no-nonsense posture was intimidating as they performed this duty with stone faces.
The event was slated to kick off by noon, but because it was a Sunday and Christian must come back from church services while muslim faithful especially the NASFAT brethren must attend their Sunday prayers, the hall began to receive guests as from 12:30p.m. The car parks were swelling up with exotic cars. From all parts of the state, dignitaries arrived. They included commissioners, traditional rulers, high and low chiefs, members of Monzor’s clubs notably Oriwu Club, Eko Club, Peacock, etc, advertisers and representatives of the media.
By 2:00p.m, more than 500 guests had been seated including families and friends of Oriwu Sun staff.
His Majesty, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Fatai Ajibade Bakare-Agoro (Ranodu of Imota) Oba Richard Ogunsanya of Ibeshe were among the early arrivals. The Special Adviser to Governor Ambode on Community Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan led about six commissioners and Chief of Staff to the Governor and other top government functionaries at the event.
Hon. Jimi Benson, Hon. S.O.B. Agunbiade and other state and national assembly officers were also present (see Roll call of dignitaries).
The Publisher of the Factor Magazine, Hon. Japhet Odusanya and former secretary of Ikorodu local government Area. Mr. Japhet Odunsanya, moderated the celebration. As a politician a journalist and a son of the soil, he knew the right words to use to hail anyone. He knew virtually all the dignitaries present and how to praise them and lift up their spirits. Business Executive, Mr. Fola Tinubu represented the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Owolabi Shitta with a powerful prayer by a Christian cleric and brief remark by the chairman of the event the address of the chairman of Board of Directors, Oriwu Sun, Wing Comdr Adebukunola Dawodu (Rtd) was read.
Wing Comdr Adebukunola Dawodu, who travelled out of the country was represented by Mr. Bayo Dawodu Olowosago, a brilliant University lecturer in United Kingdom (see box).
Amidst music, cultural performance, comedy and other side attractions, more eminent personalities arrived and were acknowledged. They include Aremo Adeniyi Ogunsanya, Col Reuben Nwonkor former Deputy chairman of NDLEA, Chief Paul Uhegbu Eze Igbo Ikorodu, Chief John Okafor (Olori Igbo Ijede), Chief Jacob Akpa among others.
Another high point of the occasion was the thirty (30) minute documentary film on Oriwu Sun which was so richly and powerfully captured and presented via a projector on a screen.
As the guests were entertained with a luncheon and side attractions, the visioneer of Oriwu Sun, Chief Monzor Olowosago presented his speech in Yoruba. Being an orator and a humorist, he made people laugh as he told his story of the 31years journey of this community paper he pioneered narrating the difficult years and the supportive roles of advertisers especially the various administrations in Lagos State. According to him they were the real people being celebrated at this anniversary alongside our readers.
For a community paper regarded as the most authentic, most successful, most widely read in the country, Monzor buttressed the achievements of Oriwu Sun as a source of information, education and entertainment, an agenda setter, a public opinion molder, and a mass mobilizer of people and communities around for development.
He buttressed the documentary film which highlighted the (ombudsman) middle man’s role of Oriwu Sun between the tiers of government and the grassroots people and its role in promoting development of this division.
As a medium now on the internet, having its blog, serving as a training ground all year for journalism students from institutions in Nigeria and abroad, a research center being consulted by scholars and a socially responsive organization to society and the environment of its operations, Oriwu Sun according to Monzor and the documentary film is ready to embrace a greater and brighter future hence this milestone anniversary is worth celebrating.
Opportunities were given for a few speeches by the guests at the event. All speakers praised the progress made by Oriwu Sun and the impact it has made in this catchment area. (See opinion polls box).
Trust Monzor who does not believe in half measures. He loaded the venue with exotic wine, assorted menu and treats. As guests dined and wined, two special persons were honoured. They are the two vendors who have marketed Oriwu Sun Newspaper in rain and sunshine for the thirty one (31) years of its existence. The two loyal and faithful vendors are Alhaja Toyin Sanni and Raimi Shonaike.
Outside the event center, another set of people was being served too. They included the drivers and aides of the dignitaries inside the hall, security personnel, including drummers and praise singers as well as those who were not allowed inside the hall for one reason or the other but hung around. They too waited for food and drinks hence all the caterers commissioned for this anniversary, the waiters, the servers in the wine store keepers, all had herculean tassk and a cumbersome day.
The last major event of the day was the cutting of the anniversary cake by the publisher of Oriwu Sun and the top dignitaries present. He later posed for photographs with the staff including the First lady, Chief (Mrs.) Biodun Olowosago, wife of the publisher who was highly recognized that day.
As the day wore off and both twilight and dusk set in, the mighty pacific hall began to deplete. Many had had their fill, with good luncheon, good dosage of drinks and entertainment. It was time to leave and time to take stock.
This reporter began to take mental notes to do some calculations, some costing, some guess estimates of this event recalling the millions to produce the two papers for the anniversary, the cost of the hall (about half a million) the food and drinks, in millions, the cost of decorations, documentary film, personnel, logistics, award and prizes etc.
They summed to about N6million and I said to myself, for a community paper that has come this long way uninterrupted in publishing, in achievements and in success, this amount is worth spending to celebrate what God has done for us.
