The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has congratulated veteran Nigerian media practitioners recently conferred with national honours by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in recognition of their contributions to democracy and nation-building.
Among the recipients are Oladele Alake, former editor of the defunct National Concord and current Minister of Solid Minerals; Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, anchor of the popular TVC programme Journalists’ Hangout; Sam Omatseye, columnist and Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Nation Newspapers; Sir Ademola Osinubi, former Managing Director of The Punch; and lawyer and public affairs analyst, Richard Akinnola.
Others honoured during President Tinubu’s Democracy Day broadcast include Dr. Tunji Bello, former editor of Weekend Concord and National Concord and current Executive Chairman of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), as well as Louis Odion, columnist and Executive Commissioner (Operations) of the FCCPC.
Obasa, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Research, Media and Documentation, Adeshina Oyetayo, commended President Tinubu for recognising the pivotal role journalists played in defending democracy, often at great personal risk during critical periods in the nation’s history.
He described the honours as a fitting tribute to media professionals who stood firmly behind the June 12 pro-democracy movement and resisted military rule, saying “They were the voices of courage and conscience. Their pens and platforms helped shape public discourse and defend the will of the people during the June 12 struggle and beyond”.
The Speaker further noted that Nigeria’s democratic journey would not have been possible without the sacrifices of media practitioners, many of whom faced intimidation and hardship in the line of duty. He stressed that their contributions remain worthy of national appreciation and recognition.
Obasa also praised the media’s enduring role in nation-building, describing the honourees as symbols of professionalism, integrity, and patriotism.
He urged both the award recipients and younger journalists to uphold the highest ethical standards, adding that Nigeria must continue to promote press freedom alongside responsibility in the collective effort to build a stronger and more united nation.
