By Ayodele Popoola

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As  part of this  efforts to appreciate God, veteran journalists in Ondo State under the auspices of Ondo State Leagues of Veteran Journalists on Wednesday celebrated their annual end of the year party amidst excitement.

The event  held at the NUJ Press Centre, Alagbaka was a reunion of old media men which had in attendance  members of the league and younger journalists, including the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Prince Leke Adegite

The event, which featured health talk, sharing of  banters, wining and dancing was specifically geared towards members’ familiarisation in a more relaxed and  joyful mood presented an opportunity also  for them to unwind with families and friends.

The league Chairman, Asiwaju Banji Kuroloja, in his opening remarks, stated that the league holds the event yearly as a means to thank God for the lives of members and their families.

Kuroloja, a former Editor of Nigerian Tribune noted that it was important to celebrate the people who have sacrificed a lot to keep the league  going to enable them  take decision about journalism, themselves and Nigeria as a whole.

He encouraged members to be steadfast continue to love one another regardless of their age and the position they hold for friendly relationship and to strengthen the bond  among them.

“I am happy, wherever I see people that love one another, share nothing but love, there will be happiness in such place, ” he added.

In his talk, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Ondo State Ministry of Health, Dr Tayo Oni urged the veterans to ensure that adequate attention is  given to their wellbeing and physical health.

Oni emphasised that the thought of the elders now as old citizens should be how to improve their physical health.

He said, ” ageing is not a disease, the aim of graceful ageing is to lower the rate of diseases related activities as much as possible.

He advised the veterans to keep themselves active and be determined to always develop mental and physical ability that could  keep them relevant in the society and to also maintain their association with their contemporaries.

“As  elder statesmen, always read books and write publishable articles in  order to challenge and exercise your brain to keep it active.” Oni said

In his  comments, the Chairman of Owena Press,  Sir Ademola Adetula,  expressed  immense joy to be part of the  celebration.

While wishing his fellow veterans good health and long life, Adetula also advised the younger journalists to imbibe and learn discipline and to resist immediate inducement that could be  harmful to them.

In his reaction, the Chairman of OSRC media group, Mr. Kunle Adebayo represented by the Director of News and Current Affairs, Nike Busari expressed his happiness to identify with the veterans who have seen it all in journalism.