Senators representing Osun State have pledged to support the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, with a bus and maintenance support as the council marks its 35th anniversary and 2026 Press Week.
The pledges were made on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, during the lecture and award ceremony held at the NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, as part of the week-long celebration.
Senator Olubiyi Fadeyi, representing Osun Central Senatorial District, pledged to donate a bus to the council to ease the movement of journalists in the state.
Senator Lere Oyewumi, representing Osun West Senatorial District, who was honoured with a Merit Award during the opening ceremony, pledged to support the maintenance of the bus and the council’s secretariat.
The senators commended the NUJ for its role in promoting professionalism and holding government accountable, and urged journalists to continue to uphold the ethics of the profession.
The Chairman of the NUJ in the state, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, expressed appreciation to the senators and other award recipients for their support, saying the pledges would strengthen the council’s operations.
Meanwhile, the Award of Recognition ceremony was held on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, where Otunba Bestman Jumbo-Nze was honoured with an award in Philanthropy and Grassroots Mobilization.
Jumbo-Nze, who was represented at the event, was recognised for his commendable feats in Lagos State and across the South West, particularly through his leadership of the Pan-Nigeria socio-political group TeamNigeria4Change.
The honour recognises a track record of community interventions spanning more than 15 years. Under Jumbo-Nze’s leadership, TeamNigeria4Change has distributed food items to vulnerable households in Lagos during Christmas, Sallah and other festive periods, and launched the One Tank One Community initiative to provide free fuel to commercial transport operators.
“We cannot continue to complain about fuel price increases without doing something,” Jumbo-Nze said during the fuel outreach. “Transportation is the lifeblood of the common man. When a Keke rider spends N15,000 to N17,000 daily on fuel, that cost is transferred to every market woman, student and worker. This is our small way of cushioning the effect and keeping the wheels of our communities moving.”
The group has also organised youth development summits, market outreach programmes and voter education campaigns, including the Vote Don’t Fight campaign against election violence.
Jumbo-Nze is a marketing communications expert and publisher of Eko mi Eko e Newspaper. He holds the traditional titles of Otun Fiwagboye of Agudaland, Ogba, Lagos, and Otun Atunluse of Ibogun in Owu Kingdom, Ogun State. He hails from Bonny in Rivers State and is a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress.
His previous recognitions include the Prestige Excellence Award as Most Resourceful and Innovative Grassroot Political Mobiliser of the Year in 2023 and the Defender of Democracy Award in the same year.
Other award recipients honoured on Thursday included the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun State, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, who received the Labour Leader of the Year Award, the Chief Security Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Barrister Samuel Ojo, the Head of Service, Elder Samuel Ayanleye Aina, and the Elerinmo of Erinmo-Ijesa, Oba Michael Odunayo Ajayi Arowotawaya II.
The council said the awards were designed to recognise individuals whose contributions to their fields have made positive impacts on society and demonstrated commitment to service, leadership and development.
