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Oketola wins Editor of the Year at DAME following book presentation

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Just two months after the public presentation of his book, “The Catalyst: Nigerian Tech Evolution Through a Journalist’s Lens”, the immediate past Editor of The PUNCH, Dayo Oketola, has been named Editor of the Year at the prestigious Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).

Oketola was adjudged Editor of the Year at the 33rd edition of DAME. At the same time, Niyi Adesina, Editor of The Nation, and Femi Adekoya, Editor of The Guardian, emerged as first and second runners-up, respectively.

The PUNCH was also adjudged the Newspaper of the Year, among other awards.

Commenting on the industry accolade via his social media handles, the consummate editor, said, ” I attended the 33rd edition of the DAME in Lagos on Saturday, November 30, 2024, as a guest. I had no inkling that I was nominated and never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would be standing on the podium as the Editor of the Year. It was an incredible surprise, and I am truly grateful to God for the opportunity.

“I was a runner-up at the DAME last year and today, the award is in the bag, following our exploits at the Nigeria Media Merit Award in 2023. It’s a huge testament to our capacity, consistency, and grit as well as an objectively unbiased assessment of our contributions.”

In his remarks, the organisers of the awards,  Mr Lanre Idowu, said the awards were tokens of appreciation for good work and a source of encouragement for greater productivity.

Idowu, also the Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Publications Ltd. and Editor-in-Chief of Media Review, said that DAME was in pursuit of excellence and would maintain high quality.

He said that DAME had to drop 10 categories of the awards because there were no quality entries on them.

He urged those willing to participate in subsequent editions of the awards to work harder.

“Indeed, the central message of the stories that have been nominated for awards today is one of hope, of the need for a better society, and of a belief that Nigeria can and will be better,” he noted.

Recall that the erstwhile Editor, The PUNCH  recently held an exaugural lecture to mark the end of his assignment as Editor of The PUNCH and the public presentation of his book.

The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo; former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; and founder of the Love of Christ Generation Church, Reverend Mother Esther Ajayi.

At the event, Obasanjo emphasised Nigeria’s potential to attract investment and foster economic growth. He underscored the importance of creating a conducive environment for investment and called for a commitment to character, understanding, and knowledge to transform Nigeria into a prosperous nation free from insecurity and hardship.

Oketola had recently embarked on #thecatalystbooktour, an international platform  to engage with readers and friends while talking about tech, innovation, and advocating for the reading culture in local communities

Talking about his book already online and in bookstores in Abuja and Lagos, the former PUNCH editor, said, ” The book offers a comprehensive chronicle of Nigeria’s telecommunications evolution, which began with the introduction of GSM in 2001, to the vibrant and competitive industry we witness today.  It also highlights the bold initiatives that opened the sector to private investment, leading to over $70 billion in capital inflow and the creation of over 500,000 jobs.”

The origins and visionaries behind Nigeria’s mobile revolution were explored in the book, according to him, adding that the work highlights the exclusion of people with disabilities, advocating for more inclusive design.

“It further examines the Nigerian Communications Commission’s role in regulating and advancing the sector and investigates the operational challenges faced by NigComSat-1R. The vital role of social media in combating Ebola, the empowerment of female farmers through mobile technology, and the contributions of prominent Nigerian women in tech were also discussed,” Oketola noted.

“The book not only provides valuable insights into strategies for unlocking the full potential of the digital economy while promoting inclusive growth, but it also serves as a testament to the extraordinary progress achieved and a poignant reminder of the ongoing efforts required to ensure that the benefits of this revolution reach every citizen. For your copies, please visit https://rhbooks.com.ng/product/the-catalyst-nigerian-tech-evolution-through-a-journalists-lens/. You can also visit my website – https://dayooketola.com/books/,” he added.

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Lagos police spokesman Benjamin Hundeyin promoted to CSP

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Public Relations Officer of Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, has been promoted to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

Hundeyin took over from Adekunle Ajisebutu as Lagos police spokesman in 2022 while he was Superintendent of Police (SP).

On Wednesday, he shared photos of himself being decorated by Lagos police commissioner, Ishola Olawale.

“Behold the latest Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) in town. It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes,” Hundeyin wrote on X.

Hundeyin holds a BA (Hons) in English Language from the Lagos State University and an MSc in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

He also holds a certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Training Centre, Jaji, Kaduna.

He is an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

Hundeyin was a one-time PPRO at the Zone 2 Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos and was a member of the Nigerian contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan (UNAMID) in 2020.

He was the administration officer at the Force Public Relations Department, Force Headquarters, Abuja.

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‘I am currently at my home in Onitsha’ — Obi debunks rumoured arrest in Abuja

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Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party in 2023, has denied the recent rumour that he has been arrested in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

On Tuesday, some social media users claimed that Obi was purportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services in Abuja.

In a statement published on his X handle on Wednesday, Obi condemned the “recurrently fake news” about his purported arrest by security operatives.

The former Anambra governor said he is currently at his residence in Onitsha, adding the motive of the fake news merchants cannot be positive.

“I have been made aware of a circulating fake news about my alleged arrest. Let me state unequivocally that these claims are entirely false,” Obi said.

“I am currently at my home in Onitsha. Anambra State. Such fake News on my person has become a pastime for some people.

“Recall last year September, when I was in Rwanda, similar lies had gone out that DSS invaded my house; now, while I was in my home in Onitsha, Anambra State, they said I was arrested in Abuja.”

“The motive of these peddlers cannot be positive but let us not allow baseless rumors to distract us from the critical challenges we face as a nation.”

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OpenAI chief, Sam Altman, debunks sister’s sexual abuse accusations

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Open AI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday denied allegations from his sister Annie Altman, who has filed a complaint accusing him of childhood sexual abuse.

“…Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, especially Sam,” the boss of the California startup said in a letter co-signed by his mother and two brothers, and published on social platform X.

“Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is incredibly difficult,” they wrote.

One of Silicon Valley’s more charismatic figures, Altman shot to global fame with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, which ignited a race to advance AI research and development.

A prolific entrepreneur and already a billionaire, Altman, 39, has set himself the mission of developing a so-called “general” AI, with cognitive abilities similar to those of humans and which “benefits all of humanity”.

The Altman family said that they have tried to help their daughter and sister, covering her expenses and guaranteeing her “monthly financial support, which we expect to continue for the rest of her life”.

“Despite this, Annie continues to demand more money from us,” they said, pointing out that they have decided to respond publicly following Anne’s legal complaint filed on Monday, and after years of tension.

“The worst allegation she has made is that she was sexually abused by Sam as a child,” said the family.

“Her claims have evolved drastically over time. Newly for this lawsuit, they now include allegations of incidents where Sam was over 18.

“All these claims are utterly untrue.”

According to the complaint, Annie — who is nine years younger than Sam Altman — alleges the assaults took place from 1997, when she was three, until 2006.

In a report for New York Magazine in 2023, a journalist who met Annie in Hawaii described her as an artist suffering from depression and the growing rift with her family and supporting herself mainly through online sex work.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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