Veteran journalists on Tuesday poured encomiums on Mr Jola Ogunlusi, the pioneer National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, who turned 90 in September.
The veterans gave the accolades at a special birthday lecture in honour of Ogunlusi, who attained 90 years on Sept. 25 at an event was organised by Lagos State League of Veteran Journalists in Ikeja.
The lecture had the theme: “Pa Jola Ogunlusi: Life of a Journalist After Retirement”.
A former Governor of Ogun, Chief Olusegun Osoba, lauded Ogunlusi for making huge impacts on journalism for decades. Osoba was the Chairman of the occasion.
“He helped to stabilise the profession in his time when Nigeria Union of Journalists was in factions.
“He contributed successfully to the point where the NUJ came to be one again,” he said.
The former governor urged younger journalists to emulate the older ones on dedication and focus.
Osoba said: “You have advantages of exposure, sources of information, but you lack the dedication we had.
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“We were dedicated and believed in the profession; we worked harder than you,” Osoba told younger journalists.
The Chairman of NUJ, Lagos State Council, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, described Ogunlusi as journalist per excellence.
He urged younger journalists to emulate him.
“Ogunlusi weathered the storm even when NUJ was in disarray in the 1970s.
“That is the kind of man he was; we are celebrating him today; he is still here hale and hearty and bubbling with life, “ he said.
Ajayi, who said journalism was changing and becoming digitalised, urged younger journalists to change with the trend.
He said: “I am sure in the next one or two years, whoever is not Information and Communication Technology, ICT, compliant will be left behind.
“Also, in the next 10 years, the jobs of 10 people in the newsroom will be done by one person through Artificial Intelligence.
“We have to keep abreast of ICT developments to beat bloggers because most are ICT-compliant and fast with the news,” he added.
Ogunlusi expressed gratitude for the honour, and urged younger journalists to strive to ensure the profession would continue to thrive.
He also urged politicians and leaders to improve the situation of Nigeria.
“I have played my own part as I could, but I still believe I can add to the development of this country,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ogunlusi also served as a member of the National Communication Policy Committee.
He also served as the Secretary of the Nigeria Press Organisation and member of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism Board.
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