The late founding publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect Newspapers, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, has been honoured with a posthumous award for his contributions to the energy sector.
Ibiyemi was bestowed with the award of the most versatile journalist in the energy sector for his sterling contributions to the development of the industry at the maiden edition of the Energy Times award ceremony in Lagos.
Before his demise, Ibiyemi was a notabe member of the technical committee which drafted the Petroleum Industry Bill now Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) being the only journalist on the committee.
Described by the former executive secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) as a champion of local content, Dr. Ibiyemi utilised his platform to advocate for the development of Nigeria’s local content and created fora to adumbrate on policies that will change the trajectory of Nigeria’s Oil and gas industry.
Commending Ibiyemi, Dr Diran Fawibe, the chairman of International Energy Services Limited (IESL) and chairman of the occasion described the deceased as one of the few journalists who were really knowledgeable about the sector and actively pursued the growth of the sector through his tabloid, NewsDirect.
Fawibe said he used to buy NewsDirect everyday due to the rich quality content and reportage it supplied on a daily basis in the energy sector.
Receiving the award on behalf of the family, the publisher/executive director of Nigerian NewsDirect, Mr. Mathew Ibiyemi, commended the management of Energy Times for recognising the impacts Ibiyemi made on the energy sector in Nigeria.
Mathew Ibiyemi said the award was emotional for him explaining that though his late dad was no longer with the family presently his impacts continue to make him remembered globally.
