- Osoba, Amuka, Duyile, others honour ex-governor
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday said residents of the state will forever remain grateful to former Governor Lateef Jakande for his landmark achievements in the state.
The governor spoke at the Lateef Jakande Annual Memorial Lecture, with the theme: Alhaji Lateef Jakande: The Man, His Journalism, His Politics, organised by the Nigerian Guilds of Editors (NGE).
Speakers at the event extolled the virtues of the late governor who recorded many landmark achievements in journalism and politics.
Other speakers at the event included a former Editor-in-Chief of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of Nigerian Tribune titles, Prince Felix Adenaike, who was represented by a former Chief Press Secretary to the late governor, Otunba Bayo Osiyemi; journalism teacher, Dr. Dayo Duyile; former journalist and ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu; and NGE President Eze Anaba.
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Dignitaries at the event included Jakande’s widow, Alhaja Abimbola; former Managing Director of Daily Times and ex-Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; former The Guardian Editor Lade Bonuola; ex-Daily Times Managing Director Tola Adeniyi; ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s former spokesman Garba Shehu and former Vanguard Editor Gbenga Adefaye.
Sanwo-Olu said: “Jakande did not only live long to the ripe age of 91, but his life was a reflection of humanity at its abundance with several stories of positive impacts…
“We wished he could live forever. We must give unreserved appreciation to God for blessing us with him and for also giving him the grace to live a life that touched and impacted lives.
“My administration and the good people of the state will forever remember Alhaji Lateef Jakande for his good deeds to the people of the state.”
In his keynote address, Adenaike described the late Jakande as a pioneer of plans for his many firsts.
He traced the late governor’s contact with journalism to the period when he left King’s College in Lagos after his brush with some Europeans for the Ilesha Grammar School in Osun State, where he edited the school’s magazine.
“It was at Ilesha Grammar School that he caught his teeth in journalism. First, he started from the Daily Express before moving to the Tribune where he rose to become the Managing Director. He remained in that capacity until 1978 when he quit and contested for the Lagos State governorship election.
“He set phenomenal records in administration as governor. Governors from other states visited Lagos to see what they had read in the papers. His exploits in government were unequalled. He came to Lagos and he conquered,” Adenaike said.
Nwachukwu described the event as the beginning of recognitions and honours for a man he said had done so much for journalism in Nigeria.
He recalled working with the late Jakande at Daily Service before he joined the military.
In his welcome address, Anaba said: “His (Jakande’s) footprints are everywhere. His shadow looms large over the media industry. He was an incredible talent, whether as a journalist or as a politician. He had a response to everything…
“He told the stories of the powerless and held the powerful to account. He founded the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and brought the International Press Institute (IPI) to Nigeria,” he said.
The NGE boss praised the late journalism icon also called Baba Kekere for being regarded as the heir apparent to the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
One of the late Jakande’s sons, Seyi, urged political leaders and other public office holders to emulate the virtues of transparency and integrity which his father was well known for.
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