Leading industrialist and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has been honoured by the Lagos state branch of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ.

The award of excellence was conferred on Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, (DIL) and its parent body, the Dangote Group for its outstanding contributions to the economic development of Nigeria and Africa.

The body of journalists in Lagos state said the award became necessary because of Dangote’s aggressive employment generation drive, which has seen thousands of able youths, gainfully employed in the Group as well as commitment to provision of critical infrastructure.

The award presentation was during the Gala/Awards Nite to end the 2023 Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos State Council, where some corporate firms and individuals were recognised for their contributions to society.

The NUJ award for Dangote Group came barely a week after the conglomerate emerged as Nigeria’s Most Valuable Brand for the sixth consecutive year, an achievement that was announced by the brand and marketing firm, TOP 50 BRANDS NIGERIA, as part of its comprehensive 2023 Top Brands perception assessment.

Dangote Cement Plc, a subsidiary of DIL, is the leading producer of Cement in the country and employs more than 65,000 direct workers and over 100,000 indirect workers, across all its Plants.

The journalists specifically lauded Dangote Group over the leading roles played by the company regarding backward integration in the cement and sugar industries with continuous expansion of its operations, both within and outside the country, which has transformed the nation from being import-dependent to self-sufficiency and thereby creating the much-needed jobs for the employable youths.

Chairman of NUJ Lagos Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, in his address said the Council set aside the event as an occasion for his administration to reflect on its major landmarks, roll out the drums, and celebrate excellence by recognising those who have made the journey eventful for the Council over the year.

As parts of the landmarks recorded in the last three years, Ajayi enumerated some of the achievements to include completion of the building of the new Council secretariat complex, training of journalists, and allocation of lands to the subscribers to the Council estate project at Abaren in Ogun state.

Mr. Ajayi also disclosed that the Council was almost completing the process of establishing a community radio station for the Council, adding that the NUJ is awaiting the issuance of a radio license by the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Of note, according to him, is the renaming of the popular NUJ Light House in Victoria Island to Lateef Kayode Jakande (LKJ) House in honour of one of the founding fathers of Journalism in Nigeria and former governor of Lagos state who passed on recently.

Giving a goodwill message, an accomplished award-winning Journalist, now the Queen of Apomu-land, Her Majesty Olori Janet Afolabi, commended the Ajayi-led administration for its achievements so far and urged it not to rest on its oars.

Describing the roles of journalists in society as indispensable, the Olori advised Journalists to report more on the happenings at the grassroots as many people at that level are suffering and their plight needs to be reported to elicit positive response from appropriate quarters.