Toyin Ibitoye to join HotSports after five-year journalism hiatus

Toyin Ibitoye, a former media officer of the Super Eagles, is set to join HotSports for his journalism career after a five-and-a-half-year hiatus that doubled as his tour of duty with the national team.

The sports production and marketing company broke the news in a statement on Sunday.

It said it has finalised plans to welcome Ibitoye — who is versed in both print and broadcast media — back to the beat.

HotSports also said a party has been billed for 4pm on November 8, at Studio 2 of its Ikeja production complex n Lagos.

Leading the welcome event is Taye Ige, the president and CEO of the company, who will be assisted by top officials.

Among those expected to be in attendance are top officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), leading figures of the football confraternity in the country, sports editors, newspaper managers, and owners of radio/TV programmes.

Speaking of the forthcoming event, Ige said: “I wish to extend my heartfelt salutation and congratulations to our colleague, Toyin Ibitoye on the successful completion of his tour of duty.

‘The HotSports team would like to recall how pleasurable it was working with Toyin in the last five-and-a-half years in furtherance of our roles as both the official media partner as well as marketing consultant to the NFF.

“We all know how difficult access to the national team camp can be. This became significantly easy for us to achieve under Toyin’s watch, making both our editorial and marketing activation responsibilities much easier to carry out.

“It has thus been a privilege working with Toyin and now it’s an honour to celebrate the legacy of hard work and exceptional dedication to duty he has left behind for his successor’.

“It is for these services to our company and to our dear country that we wish to thank you and formally welcome you back to the profession we know you have always loved.

“We know your passion for sports journalism and we are almost certain that you can’t wait to get back to it.”

Ibitoye is a sports analyst who worked for Channels TV.