By Daud Olatunji
It was a day of honour and compensation   for  the publisher of The Vanguard newspapers, Chief Sam Amuka-Pemu , the founding chairman of The Punch newspapers, late Chief Olubunmi Aboderin and some media icons including late ace broadcaster,  Peter Okodua for their innumerable contributions to journalism.

They  were  honoured  with the prestigious Rockcity awards which  was instituted by Rockcity Foundation in conjunction with Rockcity 101.9FM, the first independent radio station in Ogun State, owned by a cerebral journalist, Dr Niran Malaolu.

plaudits for amuka: Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, Vanguard Newspaper’s GM/Editor-In-Chief (right) receiving an award on behalf of Mr Sam Amuka, Vanguard”s Publisher from Hon. Justice Demola Bakare (retd) at the Rockcity FM 101.9 awards ceremony held at DLKE Events Centre, along Abiola way, Leme, Abeokuta. Photo by Wunmi Akinola.

Thirteen other prominent media icons  got the award  for their contributions to the development of their professions. Though some were posthumous.

Those who  bagged the Rockcity awards were veteran journalists, former managing director of the defunct, Triumph newspaper, Haroun Adamu, Muyiwa Adetiba, chief executive officer, Channels Television, John Momoh, ace broadcasters, Frank Olize, Julie Coker, Sienne Allwell-Brown, Dr Segun Aderiye, Hauwa Baba-Ahmed and advertising guru, Biodun Shobanjo.

They were all issued with Plaques of recognition at the well attended  second edition in the series of what the initiator called “the annual celebration of media icons.”

For the posthumous  awards, ace broadcasters , Peter Okodua, Yinka Craig and the  former managing director, Africa Independent Television, Ladi Lawal a well as former   editor of The Punch, Nurudeen Balogun(NAT Balogun).

The event full of glamour and glitz had in attendance a royal father, Olubara of Ibara, Oba Jacob Omolade, speaker Ogun State House of Assembly, Suraj Adekunbi, General Manager, Vanguard newspapers, Gbenga Adefuye,
ace broadcaster, Ambrose Somide, representative of the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Alhaji Bola Adeyemi, National president and  Nigerian Union of Journalists, Waheed Odusile among others.

While disclosing the rationale behind the awards, the owner of the station in his opening  remarks, Dr Malaolu said the Rockcity awards was instituted to celebrate the media practitioners, most especially those who had made remarkable contribution to the development of the industry and the society as a whole.

According to him, the country had never lacked good media people but the snag is that they were neither celebrated by government nor by people in their profession.

He said, “The reason we are doing this is not far-fetched. In Nigeria, we have never lacked good media people but we have not learnt to celebrate them.

“In Nigeria, we celebrate those who despoil the nation. Those we are celebrating in the 2015 Rockcity Awards, which is the second edition,   are icons of the media, in broadcast, print and advertising.”

Speaking on how the awardees were picked, Malaolu said people voted online for them, and those among them who scored more than 100 per cent were selected.

He explained that voting period ran from January to June this year.

He said the awards scope would be widened to accommodate those journalists “who are on the beat currently contributing to the development of the profession and the society as a whole.”

The Vanguard Publisher while receiving the award through the General Manager  expressed gratitude for the honour bestowed on him.

Adefuye who explained how chief Amuka-Pemu felt over the award,  said,  the publisher of the Vanguard was grateful over the honour. Let

According to him, Mr Sam is happy for Rick City and pray for the owner everyday. He feels fulfilled and asked me to thank you very much.

“On behalf of Vanguard,  we thank you”, Adefaye said