As tributes continue to pour in for veteran journalist and community publisher, Prince Ganny Awobajo, on the occasion of his 80th birthday anniversary, prominent Lagos political leader and member of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, has described the celebrant as a foremost pioneer of community media practice in Nigeria.
Basorun, who also served as Secretary to the Lagos State Government during the administration of the Late Lateef Jakande, praised Prince Awobajo’s enduring contributions to journalism and grassroots development, noting that the publisher of Ikorodu News has consistently used the media as a tool for societal growth and community advancement.
Speaking during a brief interview with INN while extending birthday goodwill messages to the veteran journalist who clocked 80 on May 25, 2026, Basorun said Prince Awobajo’s impact on community journalism remains historic and unmatched within Ikorodu Division.
According to him, Ikorodu News, under the leadership of Prince Ganny Awobajo, established itself as the first community newspaper in Ikorodu and played a significant role in documenting developmental activities within the division, across Lagos and Nigeria, during the Jakande administration in Lagos State.
Basorun recalled his personal involvement in the official launch of the newspaper in April 1983, clarifying long-standing misconceptions regarding the publication’s founding date.
“I was sent by then Lagos Governor, Jakande, to come and launch its first release in April 1983, and not August 1983 as inscribed on the cover,” Basorun stated.
“The Governor would have attended personally, but due to the fact that our tenure was winding down and there were many official engagements to conclude, he directed me to represent him at the grand ceremony because he was proud of the initiative.”
He further explained that the publication, which initially operated under the name Ikorodu Providence News, maintained close attention to government developmental activities and community affairs at the time.
“Knowing that Ikorodu News, formerly known as Ikorodu Providence News, was always following the government’s developmental strides during that period, the administration appreciated its role in informing and educating the people,” he added.
The elder statesman emphasized that his remarks were aimed at correcting historical narratives surrounding the emergence of community newspapers in Ikorodu.
“I am saying this to put an end to every speculation that Ikorodu News is not the first community newspaper in Ikorodu. It is the first, and we played a part in it. I am 87 years old today, but I still remember everything that took place then,” Basorun declared.
He also maintained that while other media platforms may lay claim to pioneering status elsewhere, Ikorodu News remains the undisputed first indigenous community newspaper within Ikorodu Division.
“Any media platform that claims to be the first might be outside Ikorodu. But when it comes to Ikorodu, I can categorically state that Ikorodu News was the first to emerge here,” he concluded.
Prince Prince Ganny Awobajo is widely regarded as one of the most respected voices in grassroots journalism and community reporting in Lagos State, with decades of dedication to information dissemination, public enlightenment, and community development.
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