Personality in Focus
The Boss Editor, Eric Elezuo, Wins Journalist of the Year Award
By Morakinyo Ajibade
It was an evening of multiple applause from veterans and achievers across the Nigerian media industry as Eric Elezuo, a seasoned journalist, whose impacts and jaw-dropping contributions were recognized by the Momentous Prestigious Annual Magazine and Personality Award, MOPA, won the Journalist of the Year award for 2023. Undeniably, it was a well-deserving award for the UNILAG alumnus.
With almost two decades of unwavering tenacity and consistency in the media profession, his long years track record of professionalism has once again been recognized in Lagos. Eric, as he is fondly called, in November 2023 stepped into the shoes of the Editor of Nigeria’s foremost celebrity magazine, Ovation International Magazine, owned by Chief Dele Momodu, after the former editor, Mr. Michael Effiong, who had meritoriously served the organization, was appointed by the Akwa Ibom State Government as Senior Special Assistant (SSA).
Prior to this, he served, and still serving as the Editor of the newspaper arm of Ovation Media Group, and has countless times been praised by management as a vibrant and dedicated editor whose leadership has kept the newspapers afloat for unimaginable numbers of years.
In one of the moments of celebration, the Publisher, Chief Dele Momodu, had acknowledged him as a masterpiece writer.
Cascading to becoming a masterpiece writer, Eric after graduating from the Department of English from the prestigious University of Lagos found his way into the media profession as a reporter. He has since risen to the position of Editor, and even as a former Editorial Executive at Blue magazine.
Eric is no doubt an invaluable asset to any organization beyond the media space as his wealth of resume portrays. He proved this as a tutor of English Language at Hopebay College, Evangel College, Mason College, and many more.
He is an alumnus of the Lagos Business School, LBS, and has, over the years attended a myriad of seminars and workshops that attested to his drive for self-development even in the face of obvious achievements and successful career.
Many might easily identify with him as an unbeatable journalist, but little did anyone know that he has built his biceps in International Diplomacy.
After his first degree in English, he proceeded to acquire his second degree at the same University of Lagos. Here, he acquired his Master’s in International Diplomacy (MILD).
He is fondly called “a one-man riot squad” by his colleagues. This came after he single-handedly produced The Boss Newspaper weekly of Ovation Media Group. Under his editorial leadership of the newspaper, the paper has indeed become a The Boss.
He has attended several courses in Leadership and Citizenship Training, at Shere Hills, Jos and Sea School Lagos. He is an alumus of Shaddaiville Leadership Academy. The former Sub-Editor with Newswatch Newspapers has in the decades of his career tranverse both in private establishments and several media houses.
He was the Marketing Manager for Belgush Nigeria Limited, where through his leadership the brand sales equivocally skyrocketed to a huge percentage.
Over the years, he became the General Manager of Clayfield and Harrow – a facilities management company that combines a wide range of skills and competencies, appropriate technology, and a customer focus strategy to help meet the facilities objectives you have set for your organization, residential community and/or household.
Also, he once served as the Manager of DHB Construction Limited, Senior Correspondent of National Mirror, Senior Correspondent of Ovation International Magazine, and in several capacities.
Eric, who is presently the National Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), and married with four amazing children, is indeed a resource of high quality in the media industry and business world.
Undoubtedly, the Momentous Prestigious Annual Magazine and Personality Award to Eric Elezuo as the Journalist of the Year 2023 is a timely award given to a well-deserving journalist for his unbending focus, high-level skill, integrity, and professionalism displayed in the calendar year.
A Board Member of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, has been honoured with membership status of the Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET), University of the West of England, United Kingdom.
The recognition is coming on the heels of Ogunsan’s indefatigable commitment and unrelenting advocacy and support for quality education across all levels.
Dr. Ogunsan’s unflinching interest in education glaringly shows in his active participation as Board Member of Center for Digital Humanities (CEDHUL) in Nigeria’s frontline university, University of Lagos; as Chairman of AKEM Foundation, a nonprofit which has provided millions of naira within two (2) years to support schools and NGOs who provide education access for free to children in underserved communities in Nigeria; and in several individual sponsorships to ensure that the future is brighter for children. His personal story of prominence polished out of adversity continues to propel him forward.
This commitment is well-captured in the letter of Jo Midgley, the Deputy Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the University of the West of England, UK who communicated the news of the appointment to the advisory board.
The academic, Jo Midgley highlighted about Dr. Ogunsan, ‘Your extensive experience and contributions to Africa’s higher education sector through training university leaders and teaching personnel, as well as your Board Membership of the Centre for Digital Humanities at the University of Lagos, Nigeria will make you an invaluable member of our CASET’s Advisory Board.’
‘As a Board member, you will play a crucial role in shaping CASET’s strategic direction, providing high-level support and guidance on stakeholder engagement strategies and knowledge dissemination efforts, helping to foster impactful collaborations and partnerships, and ensuring that the Centre’s initiatives align with the evolving needs of Africa’s social and economic landscape’, the letter stated about the expectations for the technocrat Ogunsan.
The higher institution, University of the West of England, United Kingdom also added the reason for appointing Dr. Ayo Ogunsan as Member of the Advisory Board of our Centre for African Social and Economic Transformation (CASET). They noted that they are guided by the University’s ethos of enterprise and collaboration, thus ‘the Centre is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities in Africa through strategic partnerships and transformative education and training programmes, research, evidence-based policymaking, social and cultural engagement geared towards finding practical solutions to regional social and economic challenges.’
‘We will be honoured to have you as part of our highly respected and esteemed group of experts and thought leaders.’
Midgley added that the Advisory Board convenes annually, with meetings held virtually and occasionally in person at the University of the West of England UK or in Africa where feasible.
He noted that Ogunsan’s insights and participation would be instrumental in helping CASET to achieve its mission of fostering transformative social and economic change through capacity building, research priorities, evidence-based policy and innovation.
The Registral said that Advisory Board Members were not employees of the University including CASET adding that his term as a board member would commence in June 2025 and run for a renewable period of three years on a non-remuneration basis.
“Renewal of board membership is subject to members’ continuing support, integrity and commitment to always being a good ambassador in advancing CASET’s mission.
“We will be honoured to have you as part of our highly respected and esteemed group of experts and thought leaders.
“We also appreciate your willingness to contribute to our mission and look forward to your valuable contribution to advancing CASET’s vision for transformative change in Africa,” he said in the letter.
It was gathered that Ogunasn is a prominent figure in the education sector, his expertise spans entrepreneurs hip, security management, and education, and he is widely acknowledged for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence.
Source: Trek Africa
Robert Francis Prevost, the first pope from the United States, has a history of missionary work in Peru but also a keen grasp of the inner workings of the Church.
The new Leo XIV, a Chicago native, was entrusted by his predecessor Francis, to head the powerful Dicastery for Bishops, charged with advising the pontiff on new bishop appointments.
The sign of confidence from Francis speaks to Prevost’s commitment as a missionary in Peru to the “peripheries” – overlooked areas far from Rome prioritised by Francis – and his reputation as a bridge-builder and moderate within the Curia.
The 69-year-old Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo, Peru, was made a cardinal by Francis in 2023 after being named Prefect of the Dicastery, one of the Vatican’s most important departments — and a post that introduced him to all key players in the Church.
Vatican watchers had given Prevost the highest chances among the group of US cardinals of being pope, given his pastoral bent, global view and ability to navigate the central bureaucracy.
Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, called him “the least American of the Americans” for his soft-spoken touch.
His strong grounding in canon law has also been seen as reassuring to more conservative cardinals seeking a greater focus on Theology.
Following Francis’s death, Prevost said there was “still so much to do” in the work of the Church.
“We can’t stop, we can’t turn back. We have to see how the Holy Spirit wants the Church to be today and tomorrow, because today’s world, in which the Church lives, is not the same as the world of ten or 20 years ago,” he told Vatican News last month.
“The message is always the same: proclaim Jesus Christ, proclaim the Gospel, but the way to reach today’s people, young people, the poor, politicians, is different,” he said.
Born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Prevost attended a Minor Seminary of the Order of St Augustine in St Louis as a novice before graduating from Philadelphia’s Villanova University, an Augustinian institution, with a degree in Mathematics.
After receiving a masters degree in divinity from Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union in 1982, and a doctorate decree in canon law in Rome, the polyglot joined the Augustinians in Peru in 1985 for the first of his decade-long missions in that country.
Returning to Chicago in 1999, he was made provincial prior of the Augustinians in the US Midwest and later the prior general of the order throughout the world.
But he returned to Peru in 2014 when Francis appointed him as apostolic administrator of the Diocese of Chiclayo in the country’s north.
Nearly a decade later, Prevost’s appointment in 2023 as head of the Dicastery came after Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet was accused of sexually assaulting a woman and resigned for age reasons.
The Vatican later dropped the case against Ouellet for insufficient evidence.
Prevost also serves as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has celebrated Globacom Chairman, Dr. Mike Adenuga Jr., on his 72nd birthday. He joins President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who had on Tuesday released a statement celebrating the astute businessman.
The two leaders praised Dr. Adenuga for his remarkable contributions to the growth of both countries, their people and the economy.
President Mahama described the business icon’s life as an “illustrious example of vision, resistance and extraordinary performance”.
His Nigerian counterpart said Dr. Adenuga’s life and extraordinary achievements are evidence of the power of vision and resilience.
Congratulating Dr. Adenuga, President Mahama said, “he not only built enduring businesses but also contributed significantly to the socio-economic advancement of our continent.”
Similarly, President Tinubu said Adenuga’s humility and hard work allowed him to succeed in banking, communications, oil and gas. “Through determination and hard work, he built businesses that have created thousands of jobs for our people,” President Tinubu said.
According to the President, Globacom’s ingenuity in disrupting the billing template in the telecoms industry remains a point for which Nigerians are always grateful to Dr Adenuga for expanding telephony and digital access to millions of Nigerians.
The President noted that Conoil has become a proof that indigenous companies can compete with international oil companies to promote energy independence and the security of the country.
