President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has honoured 11 notable Nigerian journalists who have paid dearly for the sustenance of the democracy the nation enjoys today.
Revealing their names, Tinubu noted that the journalists are among those who have made sacrifices in the past, “braving all the odds and the guns to ensure we have a regime of democracy in our country.”
Among the honoured journalists are: Bayo Onanuga (CON), a veteran journalist and founder of TheNews magazine. He was appointed Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria by former President Muhammadu Buhari. Prior to that, he served as CEO and Managing Director of PM News and TheNEWS magazine. He is currently the Senior Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu.
Kunle Ajibade (OON) – Executive Editor of TheNews magazine and PM News, and author of two books. He was jailed for life by the late General Sani Abacha.
Kunle Ajibade (CON)
Bagauda Kaltho (OON), A Senior Correspondent in Kaduna State for the Independent Communication Network Limited (ICNL), publisher of TheNews magazine and PM News. He mysteriously disappeared during the reign of General Sani Abacha. It was later announced that he died in a bomb blast at the Durbar Hotel in Kaduna State.
Bagauda Kaltho (CON)
Nosa Igiebor (OON), Co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of the independent news magazine TELL.
Nosa Igiebor (OON)
Dapo Olorunyomi (OON), Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, an online Nigerian newspaper. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development.
Dapo Olorunyomi (CON)
Dare Babarinsa (CON), Began his journalism career as a staff writer at Drum magazine in 1982. He was the National Assembly correspondent for Concord newspapers between 1982 and 1983, and later served as Chief Correspondent in 1983. He was a pioneer staff of Newswatch in 1984..
Dare Babarinsa (CON)
Odia Ofeimun (CON), Former editor at ICNL, Nigerian poet, polemicist, and author of numerous poetry volumes and political essays. He has also edited two major anthologies of Nigerian poetry.
Odia Ofeimun (CON)
Seye Kehinde (OON), Former reporter at Newswatch and Herald in 1988. He worked as a senior correspondent for Insider Confidential newsletter in 1989, head of the International Desk in 1990, and senior writer at Tribune in 1991. He also worked at African Concord as a staff writer, African Guardian as an assistant editor, and TheNews as a senior editor. He later became chief editor at Tempo magazine before founding City People Magazine in 1995.
Seye Kehinde (CON)
Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu (CON), A respected journalist, columnist, and publisher. He founded Vanguard, one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, and co-founded The Punch newspaper.
Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu (CON)
Hon. Labaran Maku (OON), A journalist who served as reporter, political editor, and member of the editorial board of two national newspapers. He also rose to the position of Deputy Editor-in-Chief during his journalism career.
Hon Labara Maku (CON)
Professor Olatunji Dare (CON), A renowned communication scholar, author, satirist, and columnist. He is a former Chairman of The Guardian Editorial Board.
Prof Olatunji Dare (CON)
