Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award on Media Empowerment by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) during its 70th anniversary celebration held in Abuja.
The award was presented at a ceremony and book launch on Saturday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, recognizing Bello’s contributions to the growth of journalism and the welfare of media practitioners, particularly during his time in office.
Senator Smart Adeyemi, a former NUJ President and ex-lawmaker who represented Kogi West in the 9th National Assembly, received the award on behalf of the former governor.
According to NUJ President and his deputy, Mrs. Abimbola Oyetunde, who jointly signed Bello’s nomination letter, the honour acknowledged his consistent support for journalists in Kogi State and his initiatives to enhance the profession nationally.
One such initiative is the GYB Annual Workshop for Correspondents and Editors, an event organized during Bello’s tenure that provided capacity-building opportunities for over 200 journalists per edition across Nigeria.
These sessions focused on developmental journalism and writing skills enhancement, and included essay competitions adjudicated by top media executives and journalism scholars, with winners receiving cash and other prizes.
In his acceptance remarks delivered through Senator Adeyemi, Yahaya Bello expressed appreciation to the NUJ for the recognition, reaffirming his ongoing commitment to supporting journalists and media development.
The former governor also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic policies, describing them as impactful and yielding positive results.
He further declared that Kogi State, under Governor Usman Ododo, remained firmly aligned with the President’s agenda and would deliver 100 percent support in the 2027 general elections, leaving no room for opposition in the state.
The milestone event attracted prominent figures from various sectors.
Among those in attendance were the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who represented President Tinubu; former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba; and Mr. Sunday Dare, former Minister of Youth and Sports, now serving as Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to the President.
Governors from several states—including Kano, Gombe, Ondo, Oyo, Bauchi, Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa—were also represented, with some sending their deputies to the occasion.
