Friends, colleagues honour Dapo Olorunyomi

“Testimony to Courage”, a book in honour of Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of Premium Times, was launched in Abuja on Monday.

It was co-edited by  Chido Onumah, executive director of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy, and Frederick Adetiba, a strategic management consultant.

Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Nuhu Ribadu, pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); and Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Osun state, were among those who contributed to the book.

In his welcome address, Onumah said very few journalists have impacted journalism in Nigeria the way Olorunyomi has done.

He said the idea of the book was conceived during Olorunyomi’s 60th birthday in November 2017. Onumah said Olorunyomi did not know about it until “some few weeks ago”.

“My team members and I put together this book to celebrate Dapo, to share his experience through the views of his teachers, relations, friends, colleagues, and mentees,” Onumah said.

“We hope current and future generations of journalists and public administrators will gain from the fountain of knowledge and experience that Dapo represents, so aptly captured in the over 90 essays that make up the book. If there is any time courage and integrity are needed in our country, it is now.

“Our dear nation stands at the crossroads and journalists and the media need to once again rise to the occasion the way Dapo and many in his generation did years ago.”

Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti state, who delivered the keynote address, said Olorunyomi put his life at stake to ensure the emergence of Nigeria’s democracy.

“Dapsy risked not only his freedom but his life to ensure that Nigeria became a democratic state,” Fayemi said.

“One thing that happened in Dapo’s time is that they threw away the caution and exhibited fearlessness. Few intellectuals can claim to rival Dapo Olorunyomi in intellect and courage.”

In his remark, Olorunyomi thanked the essayists, organisers, and attendees of the event.

He described the remarks by various speakers as “hyperbolic”, saying he could not have achieved anything without his friends, families and colleagues.

“It is a great exaggeration about me all these things said here today. All I have done is really about the team I work with. I only contribute a little to the work,” Olorunyomi said.