By Stephen Oladele
Memorable it will remain, the 2026 Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) in Kwara State as the event offered members of the chapel the opportunity to improve their health through physical exercise and also get them and other members of the public exposed to the opportunities in the livestock sector for financial empowerment.
The Week though meant to be marked in a low-key manner ended up being colourfully celebrated as dignateries from within and outside journalism profession attended the programme with pouring of encomium on the members of the chapel.
The 2-day event celebrated recently kicked started on the with a fitness exercise for members of the chapel at the George Innih Stadium in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital where the members both the young and elderly ones and male and female were led through numerous exercises by a fitness expert at the end of which members testified to being more physically fit and gaining more alertness.
The fitness exercise was immediately followed by a table tennis completion at the stadium. The participants were chairman or vice chairman of each chapel of the NUJ in the state. The chairmen or vice chairmen who turned up for the competition included those of the Correspondents’, NTA, Ilorin, Kwara TV, Sobi FM, Federal Information, State Information and UNILORIN FM.
After a keen contest, Ibrahim Alege, the Vice Chairman of the Correspondents’ chapel emerged the winner. He won the competition after defeating Kayode Adeoti of the Sobi FM 2-0 at the final. While Adeoti took the second position, Wahab Bibire of the NTA emerged third.
The winner and the two runners-up went home with cash prizes while the other participants were not left out as they also received consolidated cash prizes with all of them commending the Correspondents’ chapel for organising the competition to promote unity among the chapels in the state.
The ground finale of the ceremony was held at the Shalom event centre at the G.R.A. quarters in Ilorin where a key note address was given on livestock sector of the economy by the Kwara State Cmissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs Oloruntoyosi Thomas.
Thomas whose address was entitled : “Livestock Development in a Changing Economy: Innovation, Opportunities and The Role of Strategic Communication in National Growth.” advised youths in the country to go into dairy farm to get themselves economically empowered and to help change the narrative about importation of milk to the nation.
The commissioner while lamenting that the country currently spend $1.5b annually on milk imports due to low local production of the product said the narrative can be changed if youths embrace dairy farming.
She described livestock development as one of the most strategic sectors capable of transforming Nigeria’s economy, creating jobs and reducing dependence on imports
The commissioner said the sector was being repositioned from traditional animal husbandry into a modern commercial industry through deliberate policies and strategic investments by government.
She said that the president Bola Tinubu’s administration has given focus to improvement of livestock production and urged the youths to take the opportunities offered by the government’s programme to be lucratively engaged in the production.
Thomas said this would reduce rate of unemployment among youths and also boost economy of the country.
She commended the state governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, for initiatives of his administration on agriculture which include the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES) and the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ).
Thomas said the SAPZ project is “designed to provide critical infrastructure including roads, power supply, cold storage facilities, veterinary clinics, warehouses, abattoirs and artificial insemination centres to attract investors and position Kwara as a leading livestock processing hub in Nigeria.”
She said the state was targeting increased dairy production through improved cattle breeds and partnerships with major dairy companies including Danone and FrieslandCampina.
The commissioner advised youths, women and livestock farmers to leverage on the government-supported programmes and producer associations to access finance, training and market opportunities, noting that the livestock value chain holds enormous opportunities for wealth creation and employment generation.
Earlier, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Biola Azeez, enjoined journalists to remain committed to truth, accuracy and public service despite the growing challenges of misinformation and digital disruption.
Azeez described the annual Press Week as a period of reflection and recommitment to the ethical ideals of journalism, stressing that the media remains critical to democracy and informed public decision-making.
He commended his colleagues for maintaining professionalism in covering governance, security, health, education and community development issues across the state despite difficult working conditions.
In a goodwill message delivered at the occasion, the Principal Consultant of Synergy Impact Consultants Ltd, David Babalola, described journalists as critical actors in nation building through balanced and objective reporting.
According to him, journalists do more than report events, as they shape public opinion, promote accountability and preserve truth in society.
Babalola commended the Correspondents’ Chapel for strengthening public awareness and sustaining democratic values through responsible journalism, while reaffirming his organisation’s commitment to continued partnership with the media.
Also, speaking, the Amir of Ilorin branch of The Companion, Abdulmussawir Alli-Oluwafuyi, while describing journalists as special species in the face of abound insecurity, said: “truth is not only bitter, but also dangerous. I often salute you people’s courage even in the face of intimidation.”
Represented by Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulqaudri, the Amir said: “the little and much freedom we have witnessed in Nigeria is to your credit.”
The commissioner for communications, Bola Olukoju said the Correspondents’ annual Press Week has been a preferred platform for intellectual and professional engagements, commending the actors for their steadfastness and great partnership with the state government.
Also speaking at the grand finale,
the Emir of Ilorin and chairman of the Kwara State Council of Traditional Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari urged unity and fraternity among Journalists in the state while also tasking other chapels to emulate the Correspondents’ chapel in focus and direction of purpose.
The monarch who was represented by his spokesperson, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, noted that he had enjoyed good relationship with the media since 1995 he became asumed the throne noting: “you people always reported the palace in positive, I say a very big thank you. You have made the palace the most reported in the country.
“The Emir also asked me to also encourage and declared to tou tonight that you the media especially the Correspondents have also made the Emir the most positively reported Emir in Nigeria.
“Emir’s relationship with the media since he was enthroned has been wonderful, the Emir is proud to be identified with you especially, the Correspondents’ chapel,” Arowona relayed the message of the traditional ruler
The monarch, however, charged journalists to use their profession and callings to positively rebrand and promote national harmonies and coexistence in the country and Kwara in particular.
The grand finale also witnessed posthumous award of excellence by the chapel to its two deceased members who were a former chairman of the chapel, Mr Layi Olanrewaju of The Sun newspaper and Mr Saka Laaro of the News Direct.
