Ondo State Commissioner for Finance Mr. Wale Akinterinwa has described the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) award for the Best-Commissioner-of-the-Year(2023) bestowed on him as a testimony to his performance in office.
He stated this while fielding questions from journalists after he was decorated by NUJ on Friday during the Dinner & Award nite programme of the Ondo State Council of NUJ in Akure, Ondo State capital.
Akinterinwa, a seasoned financial expert, said journalists in the state decided to honour him having discovered his giant strides under the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
He said his work spoke for him which informed the decision of journalists in the state to honour him with the prestigious award.
Dr.(Mrs.) Damilola Oshin, a school proprietress, was also decorated for assisting indigent students with scholarship awards in the state.
Effort of the state Head of Service, Pastor Kayode Ogundele in ensuring backlog of pensions of retirees at Owena Press(Hope Newspapers) are paid among others, earned him the Award of Excellence as Distinguished Public Administrator of the year (2023).
Also honoured by NUJ is the Vice Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, besides the Proprietress, Prince Samuel Ijiti and member of the House of Representatives, representing ile oluji/ OkeIgbo/Odigbo federal constituency, Mr Festus Adefiranye.
Akinterinwa, who reacted on behalf of all the awardees, said: “It is humbling to find myself and I believe other awardees as well being honoured by such reputable group of people as the Nigeria Union of Journalists.
“At the same time, I want to believe that this is one honour that we will not forget in a hurry because we all know what the NUJ represents and for them to have found us worthy of this honour in our different fields of endeavour, it is a big surprise.
“I, for one, didn’t know that they were observing what I was doing. In fact, the truth, and they can testify to it, that I shy away from the media. I try to avoid talking to them, because, like a friend of mine always says, that the media can make or mar you.
“I am cautious, not out of fear but out of being misquoted. So, I try to shy away but I genuinely try to let my work speak for me, without necessarily doing it to attract any favour or attention”.
“So, I want to thank everyone of you, the members and then executive members of NUJ, who have found us worthy of this honour and I want to dedicate this award to no other person than the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, CON, who I believe, gave me along with other members of his cabinet, the platform to display our talents under his leadership.
“He’s a leader that I know that always listens to what you have to say. He’s not a man who forces his own view on you and I say it with all confidence and sincerity that when you offer an idea that he thinks after thinking through, is superior, he will gladly align with you”.
“I think, it’s because of this that when you hear that our commissioners are best in this country, it is because we were given a platform to showcase ourselves”.
“So, I thank NUJ very much for this opportunity and on behalf of other awardees, I want to say great thank you to NUJ, right from the National President, to the Ondo State Council, Chairman and my brother, Prince Leke Adegbite and to all the NUJ members.”
In his address, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Information, Yeye Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, commended journalists in the state for doing their job in line with the ethics of the profession.
He urged all the awardees not to relent in their individual endeavours and services to humanity.
NUJ President, Dr. Chris Isiguzo, represented by the B-Zone Vice President of NUJ, Comrade Ronke Samo, described journalists as the bedrock of any community, expressing his displeasure about how are being treated by the society.
In his address, Chairman of Ondo State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Prince Leke Adegbite said awarded people were selected on merit and enjoined them not disappoint but to do more for the society.
He, therefore, appealed to the political class to put the interest of Ondo State first in all their dealings especially as “we prepare for the 2024 governorship election, while intervention by Elders and rule of law should be followed in resolving the current political logjam in the state.”
Professional awards were also won by journalists in the state including Dr. Felix Ale Journalist of the Year (Print) won by Bolu-Olu Esho of Daily Independent, Oba Obamuwagun Grassroots Reporter of the year won by Babatope Okeowo(New Telegraph) and Adeboye Ado of Sunshine Truth.
Dr. Dayo Duyile Political Reporter of the year was won by Adewale Momoh of The Guardian and Precious Oluwole of Federated Chapel among others.