Vivante Media Enterprises Limited honours Ray Ekpu, chief executive officer of Newswatch Communications Limited and many prominent Nigerians for their contributions to make Nigeria better than they met it

October 24, was another day of glory for Ray Ekpu, chief executive officer, CEO, of Newswatch Communications Limited, when he received another award for his contributions to journalism. Ekpu, one of Nigeria’s most celebrated journalists, and winner of many national and international awards, was this time honoured by the Vivante Media Enterprises Limited, in the category of Journalism Greats. The honour was conferred on him for his monumental contributions to the development of the profession in this part of the world and the globe as a whole.

At an elaborate ceremony held at the Expo Hall of   Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos  which drew top personalities like Bamanga Tukur and Segun Osoba, former governors of the defunct Gongola  and Ogun states, respectively,  as well as   Christopher Kolade, former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Pat Utomi, a professor of business studies and chairman of the group, said the Nigerian journalism guru was also  being honoured for being a nation builder. He said Ekpu has also been a   shinning light and model to many in the profession where he has made great strides.

The Newswatch CEO was described as “an accomplished watchdog or at best, a real bull dog of the Nigerian press. He was the Editor, the Nigerian Chronicle (1974-80); Editor, Sunday Times and Business Times (1980-84); chairman Editorial Board, the National Concord (1982-84); and deputy CEO and later CEO of Newswatch from 1985 to date.”

Also honoured with Ekpu in the Journalism Greats category was Bilikisu Yusuf. She was the only female journalist recognised that night. Yusuf had, over the years, received more than 10 awards for “distinguished service and contribution to the development of women, media and youth.”

Incidentally, Ekpu was not present to receive the award because he was away in Geneva, Switzerland to receive another international award for Newswatch Communications Limited. It was an award for excellence in journalism from the Business Initiative Direction based in Geneva, Switzerland. Danusa Ocholi, an editorial staff of Newswatch, who received the plaque of the award on behalf of his chief executive delivered Ekpu's apology for being unable to be present at the occasion and thanked the organisers for the recognition accorded his boss.

It was also a night of celebration for other distinguished journalists, businessmen, captains of industries and sportsmen and others who were equally honoured at the occasion.

In the Media Legends' category; Sam Amuka, publisher of The Vanguard Newspapers Ltd; Haroun Adamu, a veteran journalist with decades of experience; Gbolade Ogunsanwo another veteran in the profession and Segun Osoba, were all honoured for their contributions to the development of the profession and the nation as a whole.

Media industry titans like Raymond Dokpesi of Daar Communications; John Momoh of Channels Television; Ben Murray Bruce of Silverbird Group and Nduka Obaigbena, the founding editor-in-chief and chairman of This Day Newspapers, were equally recognised and honoured by the group.

Some fallen journalists were honoured post-humously. The list of those recognised included Babatunde Jose regarded as the father of modern journalism in Nigeria; Chris Okolie, the late publisher of The President and later Newbreed magazine; and Yinka Craig, the celebrated broadcaster who worked with NTA but died recently.

There were also post-humous legends awards that night. In that category were Chima Ubani, a human rights activist and Oliver de Coque, the ogene music maestro.

The nation’s leading entrepreneurs were equally recognised. Among them were David Dafinone, a patriarch of an accounting family; Oba Otudeko, a great banker; Bamanga Tukur; Umaru Mutallab, chairman of First Bank of Nigeria; Joseph Sanusi, former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and  Pascal Dozie chairman of MTN Nigeria.

In the “Tycoons of the Moment” category, Mike Adenuga, Aliko Dangote, Cecilia Ibru, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Jim Ovia and Femi Otedola, were all honoured for their various contributions to the development of the nation’s economy while Tony Elumelu, Rabiu Ishiaku, Oscar Udoji, Folu Ayeni  and Leon Stan Ekeh were equally celebrated in  the class of the “Emergent Titans.”

Spiritual leaders like Anthony Okogie, a cardinal; Enoch Adeboye, general overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God and the Sultan of Sokoto were celebrated in the “Inspiring Spiritual Leaders” category.

Those that have lived for the cause of the downtrodden were not left out. They fell into the “Social Enterprise Champions” category. They included Olisa Agbakoba, Ayo Obe, Dele George, Gani Fawehinmi, and Bilikisu Mangoro. Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Akin Mabogunje and Umaru Shehu all professors were honoured in the Academia category.

The country’s sports heroes were equally celebrated. Segun Odegbami, the pivot of Nigeria’s success at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations; Nwankwo Kanu, Nigeria’s most decorated international player; Chioma Ajunwa, the first winner of Olympic gold medal for Nigeria; and Mary Onyali-Omagbemi, winner of many laurels for Nigeria in athletics, were honoured under the “Sports Titans” category.

Utomi, whose media outfit organised the night, said unlike the trend in Nigeria where “unfortunately the tendency has been always to focus on people who seek and hold political power,” he and his associates decided to select and celebrate the nation builders in various spheres of national life. He added: “We decided to celebrate the nation builders, the entrepreneurs, the leaders of fame, those who contributed to make Nigeria a better place than it was.”

The evening was not only an all award event. The “Patito's Gang,” a television production from the media group was marking its eighth anniversary, while an all-coloured gloss magazine, Viva, was also launched that night.

The magazine, which intended to showcase the promises of Nigeria and the country’s tourism potentials, was unveiled by three titans representing the three major tribes of Nigeria - Segun Osoba, Pascal Dozie, and Bamanga Tukur  – for Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, respectively.