The Editor-in-Chief of The Story Publishing House, publishers of the The Story cum Chief Press Secretary to the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), in the March 18th 2023 election, Kenneth Orusi, has been bestowed with the Media Merit Excellence Awards by the Nigeria Radar Magazine.
The event took place on Thursday 21st March 2024, at the Secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), otherwise known as Labour House, in Asaba, the State capital.
Orusi, who is presently serving his first term as Chairman, Indigenous Correspondents’ Chapel (ICC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council bagged the “Best Constructive Journalist” and “Special Leadership Recognition” Awards as a media practitioner with 14 years experience and Unionist.
One of the awards was presented by the Chairman of the occasion while the other was presented by the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Udeme Bassey Eshiet.
The event was organized by Comrade Tony C. Okwunebe (aka) A1, Publisher/CEO, Nigeria Radar Magazine, to honour journalists in the State who successive governments have failed to recognize despite their efforts at propagating the programmes and policies of government
The award categories include Print Media Individual Awards, Print Media Awards, Electronic Media Awards, Online Media Awards, Special Leadership Recognition, Special Friends/Mentors Awards and Most Inspiring Personalities Award.
In his remarks, Comrade Tony C. Okwunebe (aka) A1, Publisher/CEO, Nigeria Radar Magazine, disclosed that, recipients of these awards were selected by a 5-man Committee members who were given the assignment in September 2023 to monitor journalists in the state, especially Asaba the Delta State capital.
He stated that the theme for this year’s event is “Politics, Politicians and the challenges of the Journalists in sensational journalism towards nation building”.
He stressed that the topic was carefully chosen to enable us understand the impact of sensational journalism/reportage as well as it’s effects on the masses, especially in this era of politics and politicians who would stop at nothing to use the journalist to achieve some personal selfish interests.
His words: “It is my humble pleasure to welcome everyone seated here to this very special event designed to celebrate Journalists in Delta State through the media merit excellence award organized by the management and staff of Nigeria Radar Magazine. I thank God Almighty for making today a reality.
“In governance, be it Democracy or Military, there are four specific arms: the Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary and the Media referred to as the fourth estate of the realm or better still, the watch dog.
“Unfortunately, this arm of Government in all areas, be it Federal State or Local Government, has been neglected yet without the media there is nothing done by all other arms of Government that would have been seen or heard.
“In Delta State created since 1991, successive Governments have come and gone with none deeming it necessary to celebrate the Journalists.
“We have always been there for all arms of Government to ensure that the governed get to know the policies and programmes of Government and it’s mantra through our reports.
“We have also been there for the masses, bringing back their plights to the government and to enable the Government reach out to the people.
“This, we have done to the best of our abilities year in year out. We have ensured that our reportage never created friction and uproar between the Government and the people or between the various arms of Government.
“We have done our duties so professionally that even the Government attests to this and as such we deserve commendations from the government”.
“The recipients may not necessarily be the very best but they did their best within the period under review to be selected. It does not also mean that others are not doing their best but in every contest there must be a winner. We are using this ceremony to encourage ourselves to take whatever we are doing seriously. Those found worthy in this year’s award, I say congratulations.
“The Veteran Journalists Award was created to celebrate our veterans who worked hard for the peace and unity we enjoy in Delta NUJ, while the Special Friends/Mentors Awards are for those friends/mentors who guided me during my early days in the media world. Everyone of them played one specific role or the other in my journey to making me who I am today.
“And this is my own little way of appreciating the long lasted friendship and mentorship. I say a big THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE and for all you did back then and now. I remain forever grateful to you. The inspiring Personalities Award are persons I will look at and I’ll say, Yes, I still get hope. I can also be a role model to others”, he said.