Osun Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola has been named the 2021 DAAR Communications Outstanding Leader in Public Service and Citizens’ Welfare.
Oyetola received the award on Monday night at a ceremony attended by prominent Nigerians including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, lawmakers, politicians, clerics, and traditional rulers.
Mr Steve Omojafor, a former Chairman of Zenith Bank and alumnus of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), who presented the award, stated that Oyetola, who is also a UNILAG alumnus, had to overcome numerous challenges on his way to becoming governor of Osun.
“Today, we are honoring Nigerians who have made enormous contributions to the country’s development in one way or another,” he said.
He stated that DAAR Communications has had a positive impact on the Nigerian landscape and beyond by capitalizing on the experience of its founder, Chief Raymond Dokpesi.
Omajafor went on to say that the organization’s place in the country’s broadcast history was secured.
He praised Oyetola’s accomplishments in office, saying he had made UNILAG alumnus proud by bringing fiscal discipline and good governance to Osun.
According to him, the award was given to the Osun governor because of his outstanding performance and achievements, particularly in the area of citizen welfare.
Oyetola described the award as an endorsement of the current All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in Osun, which he leads.
He vowed that the State Government would continue to uphold its reputation as a responsive and responsible administration.
Oyetola stated that after working in the private sector for many years, he entered politics with a strong determination to apply private sector results-oriented principles to fill the governance gap and ensure that the people reaped the benefits of democracy.
“In Osun, people are at the heart of what we do; our employees, for example, receive their salaries in full when they are due.”
“We may not be in the best of spirits, but we pay the minimum wage.” We pay pensions and gratuities on a regular basis, just as we pay the arrears we inherited.
“We have reinstated the car loan scheme for our employees, and they also benefit from our intervention in the sector, as well as other welfare packages.”
“Through the Osun Insurance Health Scheme, our workers contribute only 1.5 percent of their basic salaries, while the government contributes 3%, for a total premium of 4.5 percent to enjoy quality healthcare services,” Oyetola explained.
He went on to say that the government had begun the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and revitalization of 332 primary healthcare centers across the state in order to provide easy access to healthcare services at the grassroots level.
According to the governor, over 300 of the healthcare facilities have been completed and are in use, with the remaining facilities in various stages of completion.
“We enrolled the vulnerable, including the elderly and people with disabilities, in the Osun Health Insurance Scheme at no cost in order for them to receive quality healthcare services.”
“Through the Osun Food Support Scheme, we feed 30,000 vulnerable people on a monthly basis.” We plan to launch additional specific support programs for the elderly and widows before the end of 2021.
“We have provided loans and credit facilities to our people, including women and youths; over 18, 000 Osun youths have been empowered through various schemes,” Oyetola said.
He stated that this included loan disbursement to help youths and others in the state start new businesses or expand existing ones.
Oyetola stated that the government established 350 Amotekun Corps and recruited 750 vigilantes, including hunters, across the state’s Local Government Areas (LGAs) to improve the security of lives and property.
He thanked DAAR Communications for the award, which he dedicated to the people of Osun.
“The people of Osun provided me with a platform to demonstrate that it is possible to run a state in a depressed economy without necessarily inflicting additional pains on the people,” he said.
In his speech, Mr Tony Akiotu, Group Managing Director of DAAR Communications, took the audience on a journey that began 25 years ago.
He stated that the creation of AIT was intended to fill a void in the communication channel not only in Nigeria, but throughout Africa.
He went on to say that the DAAR Award was a celebration of excellence and the best of the best, and that it was not organized for profit.
Chief Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR communications, thanked Nigerians for their support over the years, saying the journey had been difficult but fruitful.
He was overjoyed that a number of radio stations popped up following the AIT.
Dokpesi praised former military president, retired Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, for taking the bold step of deregulating the broadcast sector, noting that AIT would not have existed without the decision.
He also thanked former Delta Gov. James Ibori, former Delta Gov. Peter Odili, and Mr Mike Ozekhome, among others, for their encouragement and support over the years.
“We took Nigeria outside of the world and pioneered 24 hour broadcasting in the country,” he explained.
The award was created to recognize men and women both within and outside of Nigeria who have distinguished themselves and, in some way, contributed to Nigeria’s development and inspired others to greater heights.
It was part of the events commemorating DAAR Communications’ 25th anniversary, and the company owns African Independent Television (AIT) Ray Power and Faji FM Radio Station.