By Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Oláwálé Dáwódù~
Abuja, Nigeria – July 23, 2025 — The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Chapter, on Tuesday honoured a veteran journalist and media trailblazer for her outstanding contribution to the journalism profession. The recognition was presented at the NUJ Press Week Public Lecture held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
In an emotional response to the honour, the awardee reflected on her lifelong journey in journalism, expressing deep gratitude to the NUJ FCT leadership.
“I am indeed grateful to the Comrade Grace Ike-led EXCO for this great honour,” she said. “I have received many accolades and awards over the years, but this is my most prized, because it comes from my professional body.”
Recounting her early days in the profession, she said, “I was still in my teens when I was elected Publicity Secretary of the NUJ BTV (now EBS) Benin Chapel, with the late and great John Orume as Chairman. I never imagined that almost 40 years later, a young Amazon’s vitality would drag me back into unionism and think me worthy of this great honour.”
Known fondly in the media as the ‘Queen of Journalism‘ or the ‘Queen of the Tabloids‘, she did not shy away from the sacrifices that came with her devotion to the craft.
“Journalism is a profession I gave my all…tears, sweat, and blood. I didn’t have much of a youth because journalism made me grow up overnight.
I worked night and day, sometimes for three straight days without rest, driven only by the hunger for that cover story. Our fingers would go numb from writing, and we often couldn’t tell the difference between night and day.”
Reflecting on the transformation of the industry, she noted, “We’ve gone from the tedious days of literal cut and paste to the era of Artificial Intelligence. Honestly, I thank God, Baba in Heaven, El Roi, for keeping me alive to witness these awesome changes and giant leaps in journalism.”
Despite the trials and limited financial incentives, she emphasized that the passion for journalism and divine grace sustained her.
“Journalism is by no means ‘moin moin’, not a piece of cake. It is driven by passion, not financial gain. Yet, we thrive because God is involved. I gave it my all. I’m still giving it my best,” she concluded, her voice tinged with both pride and gratitude.
The NUJ Press Week Lecture drew notable figures from across Nigeria’s media and public affairs landscape, celebrating excellence and resilience in the journalism profession.
