Daily Independent (Lagos)
Funmi Falobi
20 November 2008
Lagos — Readers and admirers, among them Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, on Wednesday joined Zenith and Intercontinental Banks to salute Independent Newspapers for winning big at the Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA) for 2008.
Last week in Kano, Daily Independent grabbed the Babatunde Jose Prize for Newspaper of the Year Award for 2008, creating a record for doing so twice in two years, after the first take in 2006.
Daily Independent Editor, Ikechukwu Amaechi, came home tall with the Dele Giwa Prize for the Editor of the Year - alongside his colleagues, Leke Moses, who picked the Nnamdi Azikiwe Prize for Cartoonist of the Year, and Shola Alabadan, who was awarded the IGI Prize for Insurance Reporter of the Year.
Fashola wrote a letter to Amaechi, noting "the fact that the flagship of the Independent Newspapers, Daily Independent, under your Editorship, also won the Newspaper of the Year and (three) other awards shows that your achievement was no fluke. I commend your professionalism, the handling of news in the larger national interest, and all the fine attributes which won you the awards to all.
"While deservedly savouring the glory of your professional accomplishment, I urge you to remember that the competition for the top can only get tougher, therefore demanding more of you. On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, please accept my warm congratulations."
Fashola added that Nigeria stands at a very opportune moment to realise its potentials and, as always, the media has a pivotal role to play going forward.
Zenith Bank Head of Corporate Communication, Timeyin Ejoor, said he received the news with delight.
"The Dele Giwa Prize for the best Editor and the Newspaper of the Year conferred on Daily Independent are confirmation of your professional competence and commitment to the highest level of journalistic standard.
"I believe strongly that this honour and the other awards to the Independent Newspapers would usher in a new dawn. I pray that the Almighty God will continue to guide and give you the wisdom to succeed in all your endeavours," Ejoor stated.
To the Intercontinental Bank Group Chief Executive, Erastus Akingbola, the kudos show the newspapers' impressive strides. In a letter to Amaechi, he wrote: "On behalf of the board, management and staff of Intercontinental Bank, I congratulate you on winning the Dele Giwa Prize for the Editor of the Year.
"This award is a well deserved reward for your newspapers' immeasurable contributions to the upliftment of journalism in Nigeria in particular, your maturity and professionalism in handling the very many tricky issues that flow from our peculiar society.
"I trust that you will continue to sustain the tempo of performance which gave you the mark of honour.
"Intercontinental Bank will continue to support you and your newspaper in the best way we can. Accept our heartfelt congratulations."
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