TUESDAY May 6, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng
Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has extended warm felicitations to celebrated journalist and media executive Oludare Babarinsa as he clocks 70, describing him as a towering figure in Nigeria’s media landscape whose career has been marked by courage, integrity, and an unyielding commitment to national development.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, May 6, by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu praised Babarinsa, the Chairman and Managing Director of Gaskiya Media Limited, for a life dedicated to nation-building through fearless journalism and lucid commentary.
“President Tinubu salutes the Chairman/Managing Director of Gaskiya Media for attaining the milestone, which has been marked by decades of dedication and sacrifice to nation-building,” the statement read.
Babarinsa’s journalism journey, which began in 1981 at the Daily Times as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, has spanned some of the country’s most influential newsrooms, including Concord Newspapers, Newswatch, and Tell Magazine, where he served for 15 years as Executive Director.
The President noted that through these platforms, Babarinsa’s passion for journalism evolved into a form of activism that championed democratic ideals and press freedom.
Recalling the challenging era of military dictatorship, President Tinubu hailed Babarinsa’s role among a brave cohort of media professionals who resisted authoritarian repression and helped pave the way for Nigeria’s return to civilian rule.
“President Tinubu further notes Babarinsa’s fearlessness and integrity during the era of military rule, when he, alongside other courageous media professionals, stood firm in the struggle for the enthronement of democracy and press freedom,” Onanuga stated.
Beyond his professional achievements, the President acknowledged Babarinsa’s enduring efforts toward the political and economic integration of the Yoruba people, as well as his significant contributions as a journalist-historian in preserving Nigeria’s sociopolitical memory.
The President also commended Babarinsa’s leadership within the Nigerian Guild of Editors and his continued mentorship of young media practitioners, encouraging a new generation to embrace the core journalistic values of truth, accuracy, and fairness.
“As Babarinsa joins the ranks of septuagenarians. President Tinubu prays for his continued well-being, good health, and many more years of impactful service to Nigeria”, the statement said.
