By Yemi Olajutemu

Ado Ekiti

People of rank and file gathered on Wednesday at the Deji Ayelabowo Hall, Ilokun Ado Ekiti to celebrate the maiden edition of Press Week of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists NUJ of the Broadcasting Service of EKiti State BSES chapel.

The highlight of the weeklong activity was the lecture and presentation of awards to few critically selected individuals whose positive impacts were felt in community development and humanitarian service in and outside Ekiti State and Nigeria as a whole.

The lecture, delivered by the Vice Chancellor , Federal University of Oye Ekiti, FOUYE, was  centred on the need for Media to lead the Agenda setting through programmes like debates ahead of the 2023 Presidential election.

The FUOYE Vc Professor Abayomi Fasina and Professor Jeremiah Omotola x-rayed the theme of the lecture and expressed worry over economic power of individuals in the country, weakening the purchasing power of Nigerians as well as the level of insecurity in the nation.

He charged Journalists to embrace transparency and truthfulness in their news reportage adding that media should be accessible to all political parties.

The State Council Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mr Rotimi Ojomoyela and the Council’s Secretary, Mr Kayode Babatuyi also applauded the BSES Chapel with a call to Journalists to embrace self development saying there was the need for them to take over the social media as Bloggers for professionalism. They expressed satisfaction at the choice of the awardees whose names were screened at various stages.

The award recipients at the event, the Ekiti State Head of Service, Mr Bamidele Agbede, the Spokesperson, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, a Stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Dele Philips and Bowale Adepoju acknowledged BSES NUJ for the honour bestowed on them.

The award recipients who donated hugely to the purchase of bus and construction of Press centre for the Union pledge to continue doing their best to impact the human race positively.

Mr Bowale Adepoju, who is a US -based business icon from Ipoti Ekiti, dealing in technologies across the world, was represented by the Monarch of his town as well as Chiefs from different Quarters in Ipoti Ekiti.

They described the award bestowed on their son as well deserving, saying that Mr Bowale Adepoju had done the community proud and Ekiti STATE as whole through his various humanitarian and philatropic gestures. According to them, the young Entrepreneur and Founder Poju Technology Dallas USA and CEO, Poju Hotels and Event Centre Akure Ondo State had during his days as a students Union leader, distinguished himself as a vibrant and trustworthy leader for his counterparts.

The General Manager of the Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State, Mr Olurotimi Popoola described the event as outstanding, calling on the awardees to keep justifying the confidence they have built overtime to make them worthy of such a prestigious honour.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaja Habibat Adubiaro,  the Seniir Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr Femi Aduloju and others emphasized the need for Journalists to embrace factual information.The Obaleo of Erinmope, Oba Sunday Aikuirawo and the Olupoti, Oba Oladipupo Kolade marvelled at the initiative saying that such giant stride must be sustained.Other award recipients at the event, the Ekiti State Head of Service, Mr Bamidele Agbede, the Spokesperson, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, a Stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Dele Philips.

The award recipients who donated hugely to the purchase of bus and construction of Press centre for the Union pledge to continue doing their best to impact the human race positively.

TheChairman, NUJ BSES Chapel, Mr Kelechi David and the  Press Day Committee, Chairperson Mrs Kemi Akin-Oluwadare  thanked the awardees for their support saying that the Journalistic community will continue to engage anddl promote their activities within and beyond the Shores of the state and the country.