The Chairman Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos State Council, Dr Qasim Akinreti has issued a congratulatory message to the CEO and publisher of Premium Times, who is one of four winners of the 2020 International Press Freedom Award.
Dr Akinreti stated in the message that “I humbly rejoice with my brother, senior colleague and media owner, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher Premiumtimes Online, for winning the – 2020 International Press Freedom Award”.
“Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, has shown and demonstrated the strength of character, industry and versatility of a Nigerian Journalist”.
“I appreciate this award at this most auspicious time”.
“Thanks Dapo Olorunyomi. The Lagos NUJ council is proud of you. Congratulations” Dr Qasim Akinreti averred.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) announced that Olorunyomi is one of four winners of its 2020 International Press Freedom Award.
Noting that earlier in his career, Olorunyomi reported “fearlessly” on General Sani Abacha’s dictatorship, the CPJ said he had “helped lay the foundation for the high-quality, adversarial journalism for which Nigeria is known today.”
“He was arrested twice before having to go into hiding in 1995,” the CPJ noted, “and more recently he was arrested alongside a colleague in 2017 when police raided the Premium Times’ office on allegations of defamation….
“Olorunyomi, who has dedicated his life to holding the powerful to account, is a fierce advocate for press freedom and is referred to by some as the ‘godfather’ of online journalism in Nigeria,” the CPJ added.
“In 1996, CPJ and Amnesty International helped organize his escape into exile in the United States,” CPJ said in the award announcement. “The next year, he spoke at a CPJ roundtable about the detention of his wife, journalist, Ladi Olorunyomi,” detailing the threats to press freedom in Nigeria.
Chairman , NUJ Lagos state Council.
