Vanguard newspaper, once again, blazed the trail in online journalism in Nigeria, when it won the award for the Best Online newspaper of the Year at the maiden edition of the City People Social Media Awards.

The colourful event held yesterday at Westown Hotels, Ikeja, Lagos, had publishers, bloggers, social media influencers, computer and mobile technology firms, banks and other corporate organisations in attendance.

Vanguard defeated other nominees, including The PUNCH and The Sun, to win the coveted award.

Speaking while receiving the award presented by Ovation Publisher, Chief Dele Momodu, Vanguard Online Editor, John Abayomi said, “the fear that the newspaper industry is endangered because of social media is unfounded as newspapers have demonstrated foresight in early adoption of social media, and are today leading the internet /social media revolution in the country.”

Vanguard Online Editor, John Abayomi receiving the award

In his opening remarks, Publisher City People Magazine, Mr. Seye Kehinde, said City People is pleased to honour organisations and individuals who have contributed to the growth of social media in the country, adding that the 20-year-old magazine is privileged to be part of this exciting new media that is now part of our everyday life.

Other winners at the award ceremony are ; Zenith Bank, Social Media Friendly Bank of the Year; Dangote Group, Best Use of Social Media for Cause Awareness;

Femi Fani-Kayode as Social Media Most Engaging Politician of the Year, while  Page Omni won in the Best Online Tech Media category.

Others are ; Dele Momodu, Social Media Journalist of the Year, just as, Leo Stan Ekeh, was honored as ICT Support Provider To Growth of Social Media.

Delivering his keynote address, Ovation publisher, Chief Dele Momodu, said that any plan to gag social media will fail, adding that Nigerians are resilient and will not succumb to such threat.

Speaking on the topic “The Power of Social Media, ” Momodu said Nigerians survived the move by erstwhile dictator, Gen Sani Abacha, to gag its citizens, hence, any attempt by government of the day to ban social media will fail.

He said “Any attempt to gag us will fail. It will never happen. Abacha tried it and  he failed. Any attempt by any government to stop social media will fail. It is not about protests in the streets, or security agents going after you. Some of us fled this country during Abacha. I was involved with Freedom Radio, sometimes we had to broadcast using the phone. But with the social media, from your room, you can talk to millions of people and no one can stop you.”