Obaigbena To Receive DAME Lifetime Award

The chairman of the ThisDay/Arise Media Group, Mr Nduka Obaigbena, is set to receive the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award at the 32nd edition of the annual Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) on Sunday in Lagos.

In the letter of notification signed by DAME Secretariat, Mr Lanre Idowu, he said the organisers cited his advocacy and commitment to a free, strong, and enterprising media, his unwavering defence of free expression and of the media, and his uncommon genius as qualities that recommend him for the award.

The letter reads in part, “As an entrepreneur, you have provided jobs for numerous people in the media industry. As a professional, you have trained many leaders in the media.”

Obaigbena is a recipient of the national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and the highest journalistic honour of the Fellowship of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE).

More so, the organisers said two other senior journalists, former managing director and editor-in-chief of the Guardian Newspapers Ltd, Messrs Emeka Izeze and former managing director and editor-in-chief of Sun Publishing Ltd, Mike Awoyinfa, will also receive the DAME honorary fellowships for sustained positive contributions in the media.

It said the duo had been line editors, title editors, and columnists before attaining the professional recognition of the fellowship of the Guild of Editors.

“Fifteen media houses will, however, vie for honours at the awards ceremony, established in 1991 to enhance professionalism in the media by rewarding outstanding talent and enterprise. Prizes will be given in such areas of media work as reporting, commentary, and design.

“Aside from honouring individuals and organisations with career-boosting recognitions, the awards promote a culture of appreciation through which genuine achievers are honoured, and also provide media scholars and professionals, policy formulators, and regulators with the welcome annual feedback on the state of media practice,” it added.

The organisers added that in all, 52 nominations have been made in various categories from which will emerge the overall winners.