By Saheed Ibrahim

Like water cascading from the mountain top, congratulatory messages have continued to pour into Owena Press Limited, as five of its staff clinched the 2021 Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) merit awards in Ondo State.

From the Chief of Staff to the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale, Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo, eminent scholars, royalties and top a saw the feat as unprecedented and a blessing under the tenure of its Chairman and Editor-in-Chief, Sir Ademola Adetula.
Among those who sent in congratulatory messages to the company yesterday were Sir Olubunmi Famosaya, former Head of Service in Ekiti State, Mr Akin Olotu, Special Adviser to Governor Akeredolu on Agric Matters, Mr Gbenga Omole, Chairman, House Committee on Information and former Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Lady Yemi Mahmoud.

Others include media guru and former Press Secretary to Ondo State Military Administrator, late Navy Captain Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem, Mr Sola Akinuli, former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Hope, Mr Modupe Osewole (JP), Mr Bunmi Alade, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, the Olujigba of Ijigba, Oba Luyi Rotimi, Prince Wale Olateru-Olagbegi and the General Manager of Ondo State Contributory Health Commission, Dr Abiodun Oyeneyin.
Out of the 11 awards on parade by the Union to honour outstanding performances, five of them went to Owena Press Limited, Publisher of The Hope titles.

The awardees were: Sunmola Olowookere, Judiciary Reporter of the Year, Maria Famakinwa, Investigative Reporter of the year, Femi Atolagbe, Sports Reporter of the Year and Saheed Ibrahim as Grassroots Reporter of the year, all in the Print category while Tola Gbadamosi bagged the NUJ Chairman’s Award.
Mrs Olowookere won the Judiciary Reporter award for the fourth consecutive years while Maria Famakinwa won investigative reporter of the year for the third consecutive year.
Last year, three of the company’s staff won three of the awards galloping to greater heights in 2021 by adding two more laurels to bring the total number to five.
Bagging his third award of excellence of the year, the Sports guru, Femi Atolagbe dedicated his award to the entire staff and management of Owena Press Limited.
Other awardees at the event were Kemi Ademola of NTA as Grassroots Reporter of the year (TV) and Olufisoye Adenitan of Radio Nigeria (Radio)

Political Reporters of the Year awards went to Olusola Adesuyan of AIT (Broadcast) and Adewale Momoh of Newtelegram (Print)
Kayode Animashaun of Radio Nigeria bagged Investigative Reporter of the Year (Broadcast)
Broadcast Sports Reporter of the Year went to Saheed Atibisala of OSRC. Akeem Momoh of Local Government and Civil Service Commission won the Information officer of the year award while Press Officer of the Year, award went to Adesina Adeyeye of the Ministry of Information.