Why Abuja’s Pioneer Newspaper Bureau Chief, Akerele Should Be Immortalised – Olaosebikan

A public relations expert and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kehinde Olaosebikan, has called on the federal government to recognise and immortalise professionals with exceptional contributions to the making of the Federal Capital Territory, citing the first newspaper bureau chief in Abuja, Olu Akerele as an example.

He said this would make them to be more patriotic and take national development with greater commitment.

As a takeoff, Olaosebikan asked the government to name the National Press Centre at the Radio House, Abuja after Lisa Olu Akerele, the first newspaper Bureau Chief in FCT, who turned 70 on Thursday.

According to him, Olu Akerele was a great journalist and writer who used his reports, writings,  and social activities to attract both social and capital investments to Abuja during the infancy of the territory.

He described Olu Akerele, as one of the builders of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Olaosebikan, a former bureau chief of Vanguard in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday,  entitled; “Celebrating Olu Akerele, Media Icon and Builder of Abuja @ 70,” posited that it was high time the country honoured such professionals with exceptional contributions to the making of Abuja.

He argued that while the founders and other administrators of the territory were being variously honoured, professionals who took active parts in the development of the city are being neglected.

The tribute reads: “Today, Abuja Nigeria’s seat of power ranks among the most functional and beautiful capital cities in Africa and the world.

“Effects of the current massive development being carried out by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government would make anyone feel proud of the city.

With sprawling roads and lovely structures dotting the city, it is, indeed, a beauty to behold.

” The sceneries from Abuja Airport or any of its entry points in Zuba, Mararaba, etc. to the city centre are simply breathtaking.

“Kudos should eternally be given to the three great Nigerian leaders who made it a reality. First is Justice Akinola Aguda, who led the panel which recommended the relocation of the nation’s capital from Lagos to Abuja.

“Second is the late former Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed, who promulgated the decree establishing Abuja into law on February 3, 1976, 10 days before he was brutally assassinated.

“And lastly, the self-acclaimed evil genius, General Ibrahim Babangida, who eventually moved the capital of Nigeria to Abuja on 12th December 1991.

“History will forever remember them for giving us this lovely capital city. After the promulgation, the Federal Government has been appointing ministers and administrators charged with the development of the 8,000 square kilometres territory.

“From the first minister,  Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, to the immediate-past minister, Muhammed Bello, they were all duly recognised and honoured for their contributions to the growth of Abuja. They have roads and other national monuments named after them.

“However, beyond the founders and ministers, there were also great professionals whose presence and activities contributed immensely to the success of the seat of power.

“There were engineers, architects, land surveyors, quantity surveyors, builders, journalists, lawyers, teachers, technicians, artisans, etc. who made Abuja what it is today.

“Many of these professionals went out of their way to voluntarily offer and implement great ideas and projects that made things work in Abuja. “They believed in Abuja and genuinely worked for its success pro bono.

 I can name many of these patriots; but permit me to limit this piece to my field, journalism, where

Olu Akerele, the Lisa of Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, stood out in contributing profoundly to the development of Abuja.”

He went ahead to state the contributions of Akerele to the overall media development of Abuja.

“In the history of FCT, Olu Akerele opened the first well-established newspaper bureau in the heart of the city, as the head of Concord Newspapers owned by the late Chief MKO Abiola, the business mogul, great philanthropist and most loved democrat.

“He (Akerele) also made history as the first journalist in Nigeria to be designated as a Bureau Chief. And as they say, the occupant of an office determines the strength of the office; Olu Akerele not only ran the bureau effectively but also exuded panache and power as the Bureau Chief of Concord Newspapers from 1986 to 1993,” he said.

He, therefore, appealed to the Tinubu-led administration to honour Akerele as one of the early impact makers on the FCT.

“Happy 70th birthday to Lisa Olu Akerele, a good man, accomplished journalist, uncommon patriot and builder of Abuja,” he said.

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