12th September, 2012
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji has won the Legislative Man of the Year 2012 award for leading the “most resourceful legislative chamber in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Ikuforiji was honoured along with the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Senator Oluremi Tinubu by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) led by its Chairperson, Mrs Bimbo Oyetunde.
The honour was part of the chapel’s Year 2012 Press Week and the commemoration of the 80th year of broadcasting in Nigeria.
Governor Aregbesola bagged the award for Excellent Information Management in recognition of what the NUJ described as the enviable and tireless efforts of his administration to improve the welfare of the people of Osun State.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu also got recognition for her giant strides in promoting academic brilliance and excellence among school children in Lagos State through her brainchild, the New Era Foundation.
The chapel also honoured the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)for its zero tolerance to drug trafficking in Nigeria while Justice Alban was appreciated for his outstanding contribution to the rule of law through his impartial dispensation of justice without fear or favour.
Speaker Ikuforiji, who was represented at the event by Segun Olulade, Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, dedicated the award to the over 18 million people of Lagos State and assured the gathering that the state House of Assembly would remain committed to the vision of the ruling party in the state, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), saying it is aimed at ensuring that life is made better for all Lagosians.
He said the House would continue to enact beneficial laws as well as promote democratic values, rule of law and entrenchment of good governance in the state.
Governor Aregbesola, who is a honorary member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, while delivering a lecture with the theme: “Funding, Good Governance and Transformation at the Grassroots,” urged the media to continue to be at the forefront of the clamour to discourage the military from interfering in the nation’s democracy, saying that military experience has been noted to be barbaric and uncivilised and an impediment to progress.
Aregbesola emphasised that the media has a historical role to play in deepening democracy, strengthening the rule of law and transforming leadership and governance in Nigeria.
He maintained that only true federalism and a fair distributive system of revenue between the Federal Government and states can guarantee sustainable growth and development at the local government level.
—Eromosele Ebhomele