Communication Specialist, Femi Babatunde pays tributes to CEO, Diamond Publications. Publisher of Media Review, Mr Lanre Idowu on his birthday
Today, 19th July is Mr Lanre Idowu’ Birthday. Idowu is one of Nigeria’s most accomplished and respected journalists.
He is a media evaluator and trainer par excellence. Editor-in-Chief, Media Review and Supervising Trustee, Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME), Idowu is a pride of the Nigerian media. I am forever grateful to God that my professional career started under his tutelage.
Just like yesterday, I appeared at his office on James Robertson street, Surulere, on the recommendation of my then Poly teacher, Kunle Ogedengbe. I was young, naive and raw. The only thing I had to give was my resilience and the few years of drilling I had received from my training on campus.
Idowu must have been taken aback listening to me. I still don’t know the valuable thing I said while the interaction lasted, but somehow, he chose to give me a chance. A chance that dovetailed into a lifelong opportunity at doing something worthwhile with my life. And of course, it brought me into the phenomenal fortune of entering into a defining relationship with an affectionate boss, a forbearing mentor and a dependable father-figure.
I remember how upon resumption, he promptly ‘sentenced’ me to the library for months– just to read books and papers! That was my only assignment for several weeks. To show that he was intentional with me and despite his extremely busy schedule, he would often pop in and out to ascertain that I was using my time judiciously. I am not sure he ever found me wanting. The then librarian, Caroline Mgbolu, a most generous soul, became instantly interested in my progress and would not mind regaling me with as many choice books and papers as my burgeoning appetite could accommodate.
Looking back, I have come to treasure every time I spent working in that sprawling and endowed library. There, I cultivated a voracious appetite for knowledge and carefully prepared myself for the future I had envisioned.
Convinced that I had developed an impressive study and research habit, he brought me into the editorial suite fully, where I began to contribute to Media Review, a critical monthly assessor of the Nigerian media. That began my journey into reporting. I supervised by the humble, diligent and unassuming boss, Lekan Oladeinde. Later, I had the good fortune of being led and edited by the passionate mentor and award-winning writer, Ms Joke Kujenya, during her stint in the organization. There was also Kayode Ogundare, a roundly gifted journalist, among such great contributors like Maxim Uzoatu, Tam Fiofori and Adidi Uyo.
With Idowu, it’s been for me a most pleasurable ride with a dutiful mentor. I am grateful to him for teaching me that hard work and integrity always pay. I will never forget how he insisted and indeed, supported my return for further studies, and practically paid me monthly for studying!
Working and walking with this truly distinguished Nigerian, has, in many ways, rekindled my faith in the endless possibilities of a greater Nigeria. I’ve had the opportunity of studying him very closely and the conclusion is this: Idowu is a Nigerian in whom there is no guile! In other words, with Idowu, what you see is what you get!!
If Media Review demonstrated his depth of brilliance and professionalism; the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, Africa’s most consistent awards platform, aptly introduced you to Idowu’s life of unrivalled passion and enduring commitment to human development.
In my fifteen years of close association with the DAME brand, I have witnessed countless instances where Idowu’s selflessness and resources have been diligently invested in honouring some of Nigeria’s brightest media professionals. Indeed, it is to Idowu’s credit and the numerous sponsors of the DAME vision that the brand has sustained its unique reputation in almost three decades as the industry’s highly valued and most coveted prize. For me, that is a sure pathway to a life of timeless relevance.
At over three scores, I am delighted to celebrate an iconic journalist, a prodigious author and publisher, a dutiful father and a forbearing mentor. I pray, Sir, that just as you have laboured tirelessly to honour others and put smiles on the faces of many, may you live long enough to reap the bounteous rewards of your labours of love for me, the media industry and humanity generally. Happy Birthday, Sir!
