From left: The Publisher, Mr. Ademola Akinbola; Renowned Professor of International Relations, Prof. Bola Akinterinwa; Proprietress of Impact Group of Schools, Dr. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olawumi Unuigbe; Special Guest of Honour and Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa; Royal Father of the Day and the Jegun of Ile Oluji, Oba Olufaderin Adetimehin; Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Afolabi Adewakun; Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye; Asae of Akure, Senior High Chief Sola Adegbonmire who represented the Royal Host and Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi; and Mr. Wale Obanigba who represented the Guest Speaker, Dr. Wale Banmore, at the unveiling of The Podium Magazine in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Thursday, August 3, 2023.
By Banji Ayoola
Ondo State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Wale Akinterinwa, has called on the media to help rescue Nigeria from the worrisome deteriorating value system leading the society down the precipice.
He spoke as the special guest of honor at the unveiling of The Podium Magazine in Akure on Thursday, where he expressed alarm at the nauseating rot eating away the Nigerian society especially the youths, as symptomised by the get-rich-quick syndrome, yahoo-yahoo practices, ritual killing, worship of falsehood, and worrisome disdain for truth, among others.
At the event, Akinterinwa was also conferred with the Influential Leader Award for his outstanding contribution to the development of Ondo State.
The Chairman of Ondo State Council of Obas and the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi represented by the Asae, High Chief Sola Adegbonmire was the Royal Host; the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye was the Special Royal Guest; while the Jegun of Ile Oluji, Oba Olufaderin Adetimehin was the Royal Father of the Day.
A lecture titled “The Role of Strategy Marketing in Business Development” was delivered by the Guest Speaker who is the MD/CEO of Staco Insurance, Dr. Wale Banmore, who was represented by Barrister Wale Obanigba.
A former Permanent Secretary in the state, Dr. Afolabi Adewakun chaired the occasion.
Passionately, Akinterinwa appealed to the media to reawaken to the changing dynamics of Nigerian society and support the effort to save the eroding value system from total collapse.
He regretted that due to the worrisome failure of the value system in society, today truth has become abnormal while falsehood is being celebrated as the norm.
In his words: “Today, nobody likes to hear the truth anymore; and when you say the truth, people doubt it; but when you lie, people take it hook, line, and sinker.
“And we are also seeing this played out even on social media. We need to look at this seriously. It has become an issue of concern.
“The media should join the government and other well-meaning citizens in changing the mindset and thinking of the youth.
“I don’t know where people get the idea that you can just make money very easily and quickly without paying your dues. And in the course of that, they are even willing to destroy their own lives because they say they get the money and know the number of years they would spend.
“We need to let people know that when you grow up you would go up, but when you jump up, you would come down.
“People must begin to know that you have to earn wealth. It is not something that comes to you suddenly. If you pursue that approach, the end is never known to be good.
“The media should join the government and other well-meaning citizens in changing the mindset and thinking of the people. Success is sweet only when it is derived from hard work and integrity.
“We cannot continue to celebrate mediocrity and support the base values that have brought society to the sorry state that we are now.”
Unfortunately, he noted that AI, despite its positive sides, has complicated the vices of unfounded rumor, sensationalism, embellishment, and falsehood peddling, regretting that “we would not progress if we continue on this path.”
The Commissioner commended the Nigerian media “considering the good works they have done amid these challenges”, however, he appealed that the media should not relent.
“The mass media as agents of social change set agenda for public discourse. They must help us to set up the right agenda and show us the way to the Promised Land,” he appealed.
Ondo State Commissioner for Finance and the Special Guest receiving the plaque of his Influential Leader Award for his outstanding contribution to the development of Ondo State from the Proprietress of Impact Group of Schools, Dr. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Olawumi Unuigbe and The Podium Magazine Publisher, Mr. Ademola Akinbola
Akinterinwa praised Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu under whose watch, he said the state has taken giant strides leading to the approval by the Federal Government of the establishment of Port Ondo, which to him is the game changer for the state; and the recent creation of 33 Local Government Development Areas, (LGDAs).
In his words: “Ondo State under the leadership of our Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has taken giant strides to ensure that the state continues to witness significant progress and development.
“Today, you know about the Port Ondo that has come on board which is the game changer for this state. I know that a lot of local governments, indigenes, and people of this state have been looking forward to this port which all the previous governments had not been able to do.
“This has shown that this man (Akeredolu) is a man of courage and purpose.
“And you are all aware of the LGDAs that are in the process of being formally created. This is a plus for Ondo State.
“It shows a man of vision because there is no way that of Lagos could now be accepted and the Constitution would take care of it (creation of the LGDAs) and Ondo State won’t be a part of it. That is a forward-thinking person.”
Once the state’s assembly passes the creation into law, the 33 LGDAs will share equal powers and functions with the existing 18 council areas in the state.
Commending The Podium Magazine for berthing in Ondo State, he assured the publisher, Mr. Ademola Akinbola: “I can assure you that we would do everything humanly possible to partner with The Podium Magazine.”
Akinterinwa said: “Demola would have received a query from me if the magazine is not unveiled in Ondo State because he is an indigene of Ondo State in whom we are all pleased.
“It would have sincerely been an issue of concern for me because Ondo State under the leadership of our Governor Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has taken giant strides to ensure that the state continues to witness significant progress and development.
“If he had not included us among the states he would quickly unveil, I would have been very disappointed.”
Recommending the magazine, the commissioner said: “I have known Demola for nearly four decades.
“The Podium Magazine represents a fresh approach to Developmental Journalism.
“My analysis of the focus of the magazine reveals that its mission is to support the reformation of society by using the media to push cultural and value reorientation.
“I believe The Podium Magazine is on a mission to ensure that Nigeria celebrates only people with the right values and those who are making genuine efforts to succeed and make a difference.”
In his own speech, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye, said the publisher promised to also publish Owo Times to project and promote the ancient kingdom worldwide, as he has for years been publishing the Ile Oluji Times.
The Royal Father said: “The focus of The Podium Magazine on the people in the society who have made their marks is very necessary.
“I commend the efforts of the publisher. I will continue to support the publication in whatever way possible. Eni ba tit un lu se wa ka yoke. Wa ka yoke, wa ri ba ti se o.
“I congratulate you because it takes passion. It is people with passion that can bring out a product like this. So we are proud of you.
“We will continue to support you in any way because you are representing us collectively.”
In his own speech, the Jegun of Ile Oluji, Oba Olufaderin Adetimehin, said it was
high time and most appropriate for Nigerians to collaborate in all sincerity with the government of the day in the duty of governance and rulership of the citizenry.
He noted that the reality of the situation today is that government cannot do it alone, and therefore there is the need that “we all rise up to our responsibility to our people.”
Speaking glowingly about The Podium Magazine, the Jegun showered encomiums on the publisher whom he described as a worthy ambassador of Ile Oluji and his son in whom he is well pleased.
Oba Adetimehin said: “Our attendance at this event is an indication of our love for Mr Ademola Akinbola as well as the good things the Lord is enabling him to achieve in the media and communication corridor.
“It is also an indication of our commitment to and support for any good initiative that would facilitate the growth and development of Ondo State.
“The Podium Magazine is a media platform that I believe can be used to support the socio-economic and political development of our beloved Sunshine State individually and collectively.
“I am here today with members of my cabinet, the Jegun-in-Council to identify with the good job of our son Ademola Akinbola in his trade.
“We are proud of him for being a good ambassador of the Ile Oluji Kingdom, an illustrious indigene of Ondo State, and a shining example of a good and responsible citizen of Nigeria who believes in promoting the country all over the world.
“As you may wish to know, The Podium Magazine has been launched in parts of Europe, London, America, Houston, Texas, Indianapolis and he still has a long list of the continents to launch this magazine.
“You may wish to know as it is being mentioned in this programme, Ademola also publishes the Ile Oluji Times, the first community newspaper dedicated to promoting and projecting the Ile Oluji Kingdom. Ile Oluji Times has been in existence since 2011 and it is still waxing stronger.
“Awon agba bo, won ni bi omo eni ba dara, bi I k’a fi s’aya ko. But in our dialect, we also say t’a ba n be Olorun ninu adura pe k’O fun wa ni bukun to omo, omo kannakanna, okansoso ajanaku. I think Demola represents and portrays all the qualities.
“Ile Oluji is one of the very few communities in Ondo State nay Nigeria with a world-class newspaper of its own Ile Oluji Times.”
The unveiling
Oba Adetimehin gave his recommendation for the magazine as follows:
“The Podium Magazine is an example of how the Nigerian media could be used to celebrate the good things Nigerians are doing all over the world. It is a platform for recognizing success stories that can inspire and motivate.
“I have had the privilege of seeing copies of The Podium Magazine. I dare say that it is a powerful tool for the reformation of society and for restoring the good values that have been unfortunately eroded by greed, corruption, and the get-rich-quick mania that is destroying the society at large.
“To this end, I congratulate Ademola and his team for this commitment to reshaping the way we think and act in Nigeria.
“The path you have chosen to toe is not an easy one because change implementation and management is a challenging task that is not for the lily-livered.
“We must all pray for The Podium Magazine and support them in all possible ways. Demola and his team will excel beyond their expectation.”
In his speech, the publisher, Akinbola opined that the media should collaborate with society to facilitate development, saying: “We do not believe in destructive journalism. We do not believe in yellow journalism. We do not believe in pulling down people.
“The Podium was set up to build people and institutions. We don’t regard ourselves as just a media platform. We are a human development institution committed to celebrating the best. That is what we are out to do.
“In doing this, we are quite circumspect, discreet, working with people with integrity. You don’t get featured on the basis of the money you have paid, but you get featured on merit.
“It is not that those who are not featured do not qualify, some people don’t like publicity; but we keep telling them that if you don’t blow your trumpet, nobody would blow it for you.
“And you do not light a candle and put it under the table. You have to show the light; you have to let people know. We are different because we are looking at the substance of people’s personality.
“It is not looking about your weddings, or chieftaincies which are Okay and we also cover them. But more importantly, we are celebrating people who are adding value to society and who are creating impact. It is very important.
“We want to encourage our young ones to know that there are adults to emulate and for them to know that there is virtue in sacrifice and patience.
“We have a younger generation of Nigerians who want to get rich overnight. What would take you ten years to acquire they want to acquire it in one year. But everything works according to process.
“We want to encourage our young ones to know that there are a lot of people who are doing very well. They may not be loud, they may not be on TV, Instagram page, or celebrated by the so-called celebrity clubs, but they are doing very well. I appeal to you to work with us.
The Podium Magazine Publisher, Mr. Ademola Akinbola
“We have unveiled this magazine in the United States right in the midst of Covid 19 in 2021, in Indianapolis, Maryland, New York, Atlanta. Coming to Europe, we have unveiled in London, Belgium.
“Coming to Nigeria, we have unveiled in Lagos, Abuja, and Ibadan, and here we are unveiling it in Akure.
“We hope to do Ghana, South Africa, and Canada between now and next year. We are trying to make this magazine available to every Nigerian.
“The global concept is that we want to be able to be everywhere Nigerians are doing well to tell their stories, celebrate them.
“I tell people that Journalism has changed over the years. There is something called Development Journalism. That school of thought I belong to.
“I believe that we need to work with the government. We want to work with Ondo State Government to fast-track development.
“The media is a very important partner for any society both government and businesses too. We want to connect your business to a global audience.
“We are present in all the countries that I have mentioned. We have people who visit our website in all the continents of the world.”
He said: “The Podium Magazine is a hybrid media platform which means we are online and we also have the print edition. So if you are patronizing us, you are paying for one and getting value for two.
For everybody who advertises in the print edition, you also have a complimentary advert on our online edition which has over 10,000 readers every day all over the world.
“I believe we are here in Ondo State to partner with the government and people of Ondo State, to support each other. This state has tremendous human and natural resources.”
Akinbola thanked the Lord and Pastor Wole Olaniyan, Senior Pastor, Christ Living Faith Apostolic Ministry for standing by him to ensure his dreams come true.
His words: “I thank everybody. In doing that I like to quickly say this. When God gives a vision, He also makes provision for that vision and that provision could come in different forms.
“When you ask Him to help you, He won’t send Angel Gabriel down to come and help you. He would send people.
“And so for the journey of The Podium Magazine, we probably won’t be here today but for the grace of the Lord and the support of people like Pastor Wole Olaniyan, Senior Pastor Christ Living Faith Apostolic Ministry.
“He is a man who believes in you even if you don’t believe in yourself. And he is a man who does everything to support whatever you are doing. He is a very rare man of God.
“I thank my family and friends. I especially thank two people who worked with me to put this event together, Kunbi Adeleye, and the man behind the camera Uncle Jide Akintulubo.”
In attendance among others were Prof. Bola Akinterinwa; the Lisa of Ile Oluji, High Chief Johnson Akin Fagbamiye; Jomu of Ile Oluji, High Chief Akinfemiwa; Proprietress of Impact Group of Schools, Dr. Oluwatoyin Olawumi Unuigbe; FUTA Spokesman, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo who represented the Vice-Chancellor; Mr. Taiwo Ibitoye who represented the OSRC Chairman Mr. Kunle Adebayo; Barrister Steve Alabi; Pastor Wale Akinyanmi; and Mrs. Taye Fagbuyi of FUTA Radio.
