By Seyifunmi Odunuga
Arrangements have been concluded for the Freelance Independence Broadcaster Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), Oyo State Chapter to celebrate the media icon and Ibadan high chief, Oloye Lekan Rasheed Alabi as he Celebrates 50 Years as a media icon.
The Chairman, Oyo FIBAN, Pastor Seun Awodele disclosed this to REPORTERS AT LARGE at Omo Ajorosun Club recently.
The Celebration is to commemorate the first UNESCO WORLD RADIO DAY which comes up with the theme” RADIO AND PEACE”
Meanwhile, the FIBAN Oyo State planning committee therefore resolved to uniquely celebrate Oloye Lekan Rasheed Alabi as the quintessential Media Icon at a grand ceremony billed to hold on Monday, 13th February 2023 @ the prestigious Civic Center, Idi Ape, Ibadan starting from 11 am.
Awodele’ continued, “this historic one-day event is expected to feature:
-The Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka as the guest speaker,
– The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) as the Royal Father,
– The Olubadan of Ibadan, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Mahood Olalekan Balogun, The Okunmade 11, as Royal Host,
– The Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde as the Chief Host,
-The Executive Governors of Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States as the Special Guests of Honor,
– Former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba as Chairman of the occasion
– The Chancellor of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola SAN, as Father of the day,
-The King of world beat, King Sunny Ade as the Special Guest Artist,
– Prince Bisi Olatilo was the Director of the Ceremony, also, Mrs Victoria Adunola Samson (Mama Bovas) and the business Mongol, Chief Kola Daisi as special guests of honour.
Others from the government, politics, industries, academics, media, and diplomatic community as the Distinguished Guests of Honor ‘Seun Awodele said.
Oloye Lekan Rasheed Alabi started as a journalist, having been employed by the now-defunct Sketch Publishing Company Limited, Ibadan, in 1973, as a Reporter/Writer/Reader in Grade 11.
As we say, a lot of water has passed under the bridge.
Oloye Lekan worked at the:
*SPCL, Ibadan from 1973 to 1978;
*the old NTV, Ibadan (1978 to 1982);
*the old Television Service of Oyo State (TSOS now called the BCOS-TV) from 1982 to 1983,
*He was seconded to the old Oyo State Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan where he served four (1 civilian and 3 militaries)Governors old Oyo State as Press Secretary (1983 to 1989)
*ODU’A INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED (first as the pioneer Public Affairs Manager and later the first General Manager, Corporate Affairs from 1989 to 2016) *Four-time Coordinator of Sketch Press Limited, Ibadan.
*Presently, he is a syndicated columnist with the City People magazine,
*Analyst on SPACE 90.1FM, and
*Agidigbo TV on STARTIMES on Channel 144 among others.
Whereas the TAP RADIO-TV INTERNATIONAL of Pretoria, South Africa, blazed the trail of Oloye Lekan Rasheed Alabi’s 50th-anniversary celebrations with a live worldwide interview on Tuesday, 3rd January 2023.
With the full consent of Oloye Lekan Alabi, the Oyo State Chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters Association (FIBAN) is taking over the celebrations with a Lecture/Luncheon on Monday, 13th February 2023 being a special highlight of the 2023 UNESCO World Radio Day.
