PUNCH to commence celebration of 50th anniversary Feb 24

PUNCH Nigeria limited, a  foremost print and online media group, is celebrating its 50th year anniversary with a week-long of activities from February 24.

In a statement on Thursday, Olufolakemi Gbemuotor, PUNCH’s general manager, corporate services, said the media group clocked 50 years in March 2023, but the celebration was postponed due to the general election.

“PUNCH, the publisher of the nation’s leading newspaper titles, The PUNCH, Saturday PUNCH, Sunday PUNCH and PUNCH Online, clocked 50 on March 18, 2023,” the statement reads.

“However, its board of directors moved the 50th-anniversary celebration to this year because the anniversary month fell within an election month and year.

“The 50th anniversary will be marked with the 40th anniversary of the passing of the founding Chairman, the late Chief James Olubunmi Aboderin, who died on February 28, 1984 at the age of 50.”

He said the anniversary will commence on February 24, with a football tournament between the PUNCH team and the Nigerian Media XI, a team of journalists from other media houses, at Mobolaji Johnson.

He added that the football natch will be followed by a three- day photo exhibition at the Alliance Francaise de Lagos at the Mike Adenuga Centre on February 28.

“Beginning on Wednesday, February 28, PUNCH will hold a three-day photo exhibition at the Alliance Francaise de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, to afford its readers and other Nigerians opportunities to view the best photographs from its extensive pictorial archive of the biggest news events in the nation’s history,” Gbemuotor said.

Gbemuotor added that the high point of the  event would be a public lecture on February 29, at the Civic Center, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road.

He added that the event  would end with a black-tie dinner to acknowledge the contributions of the past and present stakeholders.

“The high point of the anniversary is a distinguished public lecture to be held on Thursday, February 29 at the Civic Centre, Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos. The lecture is expected to play host to leaders from the public and private sectors,” he said.

The weeklong activities will continue on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos, where PUNCH will host a black-tie dinner to acknowledge the contributions of its stakeholders to the success of our organisation.”

According to Gbemuotor, Angela Emuwa, the chairman of the group described the anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate twin milestone of the father’s achievement 40 years after his demise.

“For over five decades, PUNCH has made tremendous impact in Nigeria,” Emuwa said.

“At a time when we are equally remembering the passing of our founding chairman, it is fitting to look back at those landmark events that have shaped the course of history in our national polity and appreciate those who have stood by us not only in good times but when it was uncomfortable for them to do so.”