Sanwo-olu, Edun Extol Dr Adebutu’s Rare Philanthropy, Media Support

By Cami Ezenwa

Photos by Gbemile Oluwatosin

The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu as well as the minister for finance, Mr Wale Edun, have  praised the philanthropic astuteness of Dr Kesington Adebutu, which they say cut across the different strata of the Nigerian society.

They made the commendation yesterday at the commissioning of the Kesington Adebutu Media Resource Centre/Auditorium, at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) Ogba, Lagos.

The governor who spoke through his Commissioner for Information, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, thanked Dr Adebutu for his philanthropic gestures generally and for being futuristic about the media by electing to put up such an edifice.

He also expressed fear about self-styled journalists, whom he said were now striking fear in the citizenry, because of media access.

Particularising on those who called “microphone terrorists”, he said some of them were taking advantage of their access to gadgets and systems and never following laid down standards of practice:

Stating that such approaches were at variance with professional practice, he added:

Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council, Chief Segun Osoba speaking at the event

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun giving his address

Vanguard publisher and foremost journalist, Uncle Sam Amuka, centre flanked immediate right, by NiJ provost, Mr Gbenga Adefaye’ immediate left, by former Provost, Dr Elizabeth Ikem, far right, member of the Governing Council, Mr Feyi Smith and far left by former Commissioner in Lagos State Steve Ayorinde.

Distinguished personalities on the front row, including first left, Mr Gbenga Omotosho, who represented the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu,

“I would like to appeal to all of us here today, those of us who are students, those of us who are teachers, those of us who are consumers of journalism products, that we should take it as a very sacred duty not allow reporting to die”,

The governor said the ready references to Baba Osoba and his likes was because they adhered to professionalism in their time, urging contemporary practitioners to emulate such .

Also delivering a goodwill message, the minister, Mr Edun congratulated the NIJ community for witnessing such an event, and also thanked the donour for the gesture.

He said Baba Ijebu’s support to the infrastructure side of journalism, is a no less important support to media practice, but that it would no doubt help in advancing the course of  professionalism.

Earlier, the chairman of the Governing Council of the NIJ and former governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, had gone down memory lane detailing how the Kesington Adebutu Media Resource Centre/Auditoriumcame about.

He said Dr Adebutu was magnanimous with NIJ having initially resolved never to accept any fellowship awards from any quarters again.

He said it was now a dilemma when upon becoming NIJ Governing Council Chairman years later, the council pleaded with him to approach Baba Ijebu (as Dr Adebutu is otherwise known) so that the school could bestow on him a fellowship.

“How do I now go back to him, with such a request after hearing him a year earlier that he was not going to accept any fellowship”‘, Chief Osoba rhetorically queried, adding however that he had to go afterall.

“I told him, yes, but with your extensive connections and reputation, you should have a newspaper but I said, well, you are over 85, having a newspaper now is too late, but you must now be involved in the media”.

Osoba said that was how he began to broach the idea, letting Dr Adebutu realise its overall imperatives.

“And he told  me that because of his respect for the Nigerian media, he would accept, against an earlier decision that he was not going to accept any fellowship anymore.

“It is because of the respect for us in the media that he agreed to accept a fellowship of the NIJ”, the former governor narrated.

Chief Osoba was however quick to clarify:

“Usually, fellowship is not awarded for any price, no;  you are recognised for your contribution to society  and Baba Ijebu was the first fellow of the  NIJ to be recognised by the international Press institute so, the honor we gave him was internationally acknowledged that day

“After the fellowship, he now promised that he would do something for us”.