Vibrant female reporter Gift Barry-Oba wins development journalist award
A reporter with OgunWatch online news platform, Gift Barry-Ola has added value to her journalism career as she won the Most Outstanding Developmental Journalism Practitioner of the year award in Ogun State.
Penpushing reports that became a shining example to her colleagues at the colourful ceremony which was the 32nd anniversary of Prestige Newspapers held at the Press Centre, Iwe-Iroyin House located in Oke-Ilewo area of Abeokuta
The known vibrant female reporter was presented the award by former Head of Service of Ogun State Princess Iyabo Odulate in the presence of number of media practitioners, civil servants and politicians among others
Penpushing further reports that the awardee is a graduate of Mass Communication from the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, while record has it that some of her recent reports focused on menace of child labour on cocoa farms as well breeding prostitution among young ladies in Ogun State.
The Prestige Newspaper is owned by a veteran journalist, Dada Olanipekun, while in similar vein, Bunmi Adigun of the Ogun State Television (OGTV) another proactive journalist won the Best Investigative Reporter of the Year (Broadcast).
Penpushing also reports that, the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN),Ogun State Chapter Micheal Azeez-Ogunsiji won Best Sport Organizer of the Year, and Seun Boye was adjudged Public Relations Woman of the Year.
The Publicity Secretary of the All-Progressives Congress (APC)Ogun State Chapter, Ambassador Tunde Oladunjoye was awarded as the most Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year, while Consolidated chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) won the most Outstanding Chapel of the Year.
Penpushing reports that the former Head of Service in her remarks applauded the management of Prestige Newspaper for the resilience and sustaining its pride in journalism over three decades of existence.
The former number one civil servant in the state, however, challenged other media outlets across the country to exhibit professionalism and integrity known with Prestige Newspapers, affirming that it was no news that the organization has become household name in the media industry.
Penpushing further reports that the former Director of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), and General Manager of Sweet FM radio station in Abeokuta, Sir Eddy Aina in his lecture titled “The Role of Community Media In Nation Building”, noted that the media is not contributing enough to the development of the country.
The veteran journalist, a one-time Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State Council and doubles as Editorial Board member of Penpushing Media pointed out that media need to rise up to the challenges of responsible reportage.
‘We as elites and media, we are not doing enough in building this Nation. Nations are built when people have the spirit of give and take. Nations are built where justice is addressed, Nations are build when there is a conscious effort to build that Nation”, he said
Penpushing also reports that Aina speaking on media organisations lacking funding, blamed the nation’s licencing system for the dearth of funding for media houses, while the spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also a veteran journalist charged the media houses to reiterate their duties and see their job as a tool for the unity of the Nation.
‘What the media needs to do is to continue its basic obligation and expectation, education, information, entertainment and enlightenment. We will continue to talk about what brings us together than what put us apart. Our colleagues should know that the media is very powerful. Don’t just assumed that what you are writing especially in these ages at the corner of your room it will have so many implications’, he stated.
Penpushing reports that Publisher of Prestige Newspaper, Dada Olanipekun, in his welcome speech narrated his journey and sustainability in the chosen career, and equally encouraged the junior in the noble profession to use ideas as their source of sustainability instead of receiving peanuts, also known as ‘brown envelopes’, in exchange for their services.
‘The journey has been tough and has turned me to somebody who has passion for this Journalism business, who believes in it and who has been able to identified. If you are a professionally trained person, you will want to practice and you won’t deviate from the ethical aspect of your profession, Olanipekun emphasised.
‘Honestly, I feel proud and I i feel good that God has been wonderful to me in terms of sustainability of the Newspaper. Papers are dying and many things are wrong by either the publishers or reporters’, he stated.
‘It is our social responsibility to root for the citizens. They have nobody because they go up and down, they will come for you. The media must look at the pain people are going through and be able to identify the pain of the masses because the media too is within the masses’.
‘We are human beings too and we must make sure that the interest of the masses is our priority. You are practicing and you are not bothering about human beings or communities but you are only bothering about the government, I’m afraid because those in government will leave and become citizens too and they will be running after you.”
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