Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Blueprint Newspapers Limited, Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi, has been bestowed with the Milestone Recognition Media Icons in Nigeria award by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Malagi, who holds the traditional title of Kakaaki Nupe, received the prestigious award together with other personalities on Thursday night at a grand ceremony held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.
Other recipients of the award included the NUJ National President, Chief Chris Isiguzo, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Usman AIkali Baba, Chief Segun Osoba, Chairman of Vanguard Newspapers, Prince Sam Amuka Pemu, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, and Chairman of Thisday Group of Newspapers, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, and President of Daar Communication, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
Other recipients were Chairman of Channels Television, Mr John Momoh, Bayo Onanuga; Chairman and CEO of Media Trust, Malam Kabiru Yusuf, Buki Ponle, Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs in Kano state, Comrade Muhammad Garba, Emma Agu, Olufunke Fadugba, Yemi Kolapo and John Ajayi.
President of the NUJ, Chief Chris Isiguzo, said the award was given to Malagi in recognition of his assiduous work in promoting journalism over the years, affirming that he and other awardees have worked to promote press freedom, which is one of the key drivers of democracy globally.
He said the fight by the icon of press freedom fuels the country’s democracy by ensuring transparency, accountability, rule of law and promotes citizenship participation in public and political discourse.
Isiguzo added: “It unleashes bottled energies, creates synergies and deepens democracy by promoting inclusion of all in an atmosphere of freedom, peace and progress in the desired direction.
“The people we are recognising today have shown great tenacity in this respect and we commend them for this. It should be noted that the importance of press freedom to good governance, deepening of democracy and nation-building cannot therefore be overemphasised.
“However, as good as the ideals of press freedom are, many journalists in Nigeria continue to face harassment, threats, physical injuries, imprisonment, and even death in the course of discharging their legitimate duties.
“The courage and sacrifices of these journalists are being celebrated today through the maiden edition of Milestone Recognition of Media Icons. We therefore wish to promote this as a routine event.
“This recognition is being organised to celebrate and honour some of these legends and to motivate other journalists, promote quality journalism, press freedom, and good governance in Nigeria.”
Chairman of the occasion and former governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, charged the NUJ to check the proliferation of online media which he said is tainting the image of the profession.
Osoba urged the NUJ to open a website where it registers all practising journalists in Nigeria.
Malagi, the Blueprint publisher, is a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
A politician who contested the gubernatorial election in Niger State on the platform of the APC this year, he was accompanied to the award ceremony by a group of friends and well-wishers that included a former Deputy Governor of his home state of Niger and former Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Ahmed Musa Ibeto; the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger State, Honourable Haliru Zakari, and a former member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Ibrahim Ebbo.
Others were the Managing Director of Muye Consulting Firm and insurance brokerage guru, Alhaji Abdulmalik Abubakar Muye, the Permanent Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Barrister Bala Marka, Niger State APC 2023 gubernatorial aspirant, Alhaji Aliyu Idris Rugga and the state APC Secretary, Khaleel Ibrahim Aliyu.
The rest are former Chairman of Magama Local Government Area in Niger State, Honourable AIhassan Ibeto, the state APC Treasurer, Dr. Idris Mohammed Gbangba, the state party Youth Leader, Comrade Abdullahi Suleiman, Chairman elect, Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State, Honourable Isah Kutigi, APC stalwart and business tycoon, Honourable Theo Mamman, Alhaji Umar Mohammed Wara and a member of the APC in Niger State, Honourable Ndagi Lavun.
