ONDO CPS PRINCE EBENEZER ADENIYAN'S WIDOW'S MITE FOR WIDOWS IN MEDIA By Iyiola Oluborode

Read Time:3 Minute, 53 Second

ONDO CPS PRINCE EBENEZER ADENIYAN’S WIDOW’S MITE FOR WIDOWS IN MEDIA By Iyiola Oluborode

…A reflection of personality of an astute professional with consciousness of posterity as a generous, kind-hearted, calm , focused, forward-looking, charismatic, accommodating and God-fearing pride of Akure Kingdom

He has been a versatile journalist with special focus on his immediate and … environment with much interest in carrying out his profession in conducts that attracts others and even non-professionals.

He was a roving reporter with Owena Press Limited and was always doing great as I recollect an assignment where the taxi drivers had a showdown with the police authorities in Akure with special focus on the popular “A” Division where the angry drivers led by their then Chairman, Jacob Adebo popularly known as ‘Idajo’ laid siege on the station.

This writer as a service provider was also caught in the midst of the crisis just as the then prolific young journalist and now the Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan had to report for The Hope Newspapers.

Our paths also crossed again in the process of carrying out our assignments on the Press Crew of the then cerebral and outstanding former Governor Olusegun Agagu of blessed memory.

He had a column titled “Government House Diary” which was basically to reflect the events held at the Government House.

This Akure Prince had been doing his job but one piece attracted the governor where he gave an account of side attractions of what transpired after a Community Engagement Programme tagged “People’s Parliament”.

It was in Ondo Kingdom and as usual, people had to be entertained.

And to ‘Eben’, it was an opportunity to write as usual.

“I saw drivers, press men, security men and others taking as many bottles as they could…”

The piece did not go well with the authorities as the page was eventually rested.

This is to underline the professionalism in this Akure-born journalist’s blood.

Moving forward, he had played prominent roles in shaping some newspaper platforms and by the time he was to set up his own outfit, it was a seamless outing and it became a darling of key players in the state and even beyond.

He had attempted to serve his people at the house of assembly but couldn’t achieve that.

And when he had the opportunity to serve his people and the government of Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa as Chief Press Secretary, it was a great opportunity for Eben as fondly called by admirers to create platforms through which he could reach out to his immediate constituency as well as others close to him.

Apart from reaching out to different groups within the media profession, this writer is aware that veterans are not even excluded.

It is on record that Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan had donated items which include power backup facilities, air conditioning systems, television sets and other electronics to numerous Newsrooms in the state.

One other area and highly emotional aspect of the Chief Press Secretary’s contribution to humanity is extension of kindness to widows in the media profession.

Just last Tuesday, the Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan presented the second edition of educational support fund for children of late journalists and female journalists who are widows in the State.

While the first edition in April had ten beneficiaries, a total of eleven beneficiaries in the second edition are to get N50,000 each as academic support for the first term of the new academic session.

Presenting a cheque of N550,000 to the Chairperson of the Ondo State Council of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Tola Gbadamosi, Prince Adeniyan said the gesture was borne out of the love Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has for media practitioners in the State.

In her response, the NAWOJ chairperson commended Governor Aiyedatiwa and the CPS for the continued support for media organisations and practitioners in the State.

With the various interventions that have been spearheaded by this Akure-born and multiple award-winning reporter, editor, publisher and media guru in the corridor of power, a great degree of encouragement is required to enable him do more.

He has not only added more values to the office of the Chief Press Secretary but has also displayed a high spirit of loyalty to his boss just like he did as Special Assistant to Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic, Prince Ademola Adegoroye.

For me as a friend, brother and colleague, I am proud to be associated with you and will always support your moves as you have never let your colleagues or the media profession down.

Iyiola Oluborode writes from Oba Ile.