President Muhammadu Buhari has advised the co-founder and publisher of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi, to recommit himself to all that are noble, fair and just in journalism.
The President’s advice was contained in a statement today, July 18 by his spokesman, Femi Adesina as he joined in celebrating Dapo’s nomination as one of the four awardees for year 2020 International Press Freedom Award, by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
President Buhari acknowledged that Dapo’s nomination for the prestigious award attested to his many decades of commitment to the ideals of journalism and freedom of the Press.
“Democracy and a free Press are kindred spirits, and that is what we have committed to as a government. It is, therefore, gratifying to hear of this award to one of our own.”
President Buhari emphasized the need for Dapo to use the occasion of the award to recommit himself to all that is noble, fair and just in journalism, adding that a responsible media is part of the building blocks of a country.
The President reiterated that a free and responsible Press remains an abiding commitment of the Nigerian government, and urges the media to adhere to the finest tenets of the noble profession at all times.
Olorunyomi wins the CPJ award along with three other journalists from Bangladesh, Iran and Russia.
