The founding publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect, Late Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, has been honoured with a posthumous award for his contributions to the energy sector at the maiden edition of the Energy Times award ceremony in Lagos.
The late Ibiyemi was bestowed with the award of most versatile journalist in the energy sector for his sterling contributions to the development of the sector.
Dr Ibiyemi, before he passed on in July last year, was a member of the Nigerian Gas Association, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Rotary Club, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC), member of Ife Development Board, Board Chairman of Olode Grammar School, amongst a host of others.
He was also notably a member of the technical drafting committee that drafted the Petroleum Industry Bill now the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) being the only journalist on the committee.
Dr Diran Fawibe, the Chairman of International Energy Services Limited (IESL) and Chairman of the occasion, described the Late Dr Ibiyemi as one of the few journalists who were knowledgeable about the sector and actively pursued the growth of the sector through his tabloid, NewsDirect.
Fawibe noted that he used to buy NewsDirect every day due to the rich quality content and reportage it supplied daily on the energy sector.
Receiving the award on behalf of the family, the Publisher/Executive Director of Nigerian NewsDirect, Mr Mathew Ibiyemi, commended the management of Energy Times for recognising the impacts Dr Ibiyemi made on the energy sector in Nigeria.
Mr Ibiyemi noted that the award was emotional for him, explaining that though his late dad was no longer with the family presently, his impacts continued to make him remembered globally.
Similarly, the Deputy Managing Director of Falcon Corporation, Mrs Audrey Ozigbo, in an emotional moment who also bagged an award of Amazon of Gas development dedicated her award to the late Dr Ibiyemi and two of his colleagues who stood by her company at the early stages of her company's growth.
The hall was filled with many industry stakeholders who were also eager to share their encounters and the impact the late Dr Samuel Ibiyemi had on their lives and businesses.
