Ogun NUJ to Mark 50th Anniversary With Week-Long Activities

Ogun NUJ to Mark 50th Anniversary With Week-Long Activities

  

The Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a week-long programme featuring a lecture, press freedom walk, community outreach and awards ceremony.

The activities, scheduled for October 26 to November 1, 2026, will also feature the launch of Iwe Irohin Online and the foundation-laying of a 750-capacity hall donated by the senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola.

 

The council’s chairman, Akinwale Olanrewaju, disclosed this on Sunday at a press conference held at the Iwe-Irohin Press Centre, Abeokuta.

Olanrewaju said the celebration, themed “Truth, Trust and the Press – Protecting Democratic Choice and Rebuilding Public Confidence in Journalism”, was designed to reflect on the union’s contributions to journalism, press freedom and democracy over the past five decades.

He identified the Golden Jubilee Anniversary Lecture as the major highlight of the celebration, saying it would hold on Thursday, October 29, at the Iwe-Irohin Centre, Abeokuta.

The lecture will be delivered by the first female Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, as the keynote speaker.

The chairman added that the event would feature a panel session involving the former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reuben Abati; a former Ogun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Yusuf Olaniyonu; and legal practitioner, Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN).

Other panellists are a former Ogun NUJ chairman, Femi Shodunke, and the state Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni.

Olanrewaju described Ogun State as the cradle of journalism in Nigeria, noting that the state had remained significant in the struggle for press freedom and the sustenance of democracy.

He said other activities lined up for the anniversary included a Walk for Press Freedom, NAWOJ Day, a free music concert, community outreach to Opeji, thanksgiving services and an awards ceremony.

According to him, the awards ceremony will hold on October 31 at the Telemedicine Hall of the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, while the celebration will end with a thanksgiving service at the Victory Life Bible Church on November 1.

Earlier, the chairman of the anniversary planning committee, Emmanuel Oke, said the programme was designed to combine professional discussions with sports, entertainment, community service and recognition of individuals who had contributed to journalism and nation-building.

Oke urged journalists, stakeholders and members of the public to participate in the celebration marking the council’s 50 years of existence.