Lekan otufodunrin

Lekan Otufodunrin: A Passion for excellence

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For somebody who started his career as a cub reporter in Ogun State way back in 1987 and during which period he transversed all the major positions and duties in the print media to become a mentor and trainer, it was a demonstration of passion matched by uncommon diligence.

For Managing Director of Vintage Media,Victor Ifijeh, himself a veteran journalist of repute,it was this passion he saw in Lekan Otufodunrin -outgoing managing editor-On line,of The Nation newspapers,his long-standing friend and colleague that made him to drag him out from temporal disengagement from newsroom back to the trade he love in 2006.

By the time he spent 12 years in the saddle as an employee of The Nation newspaper, Lekan characteristically proved Ifijeh right such that today he ended up by redefining and changing the fortunes of online editing in the country.

As a result of today, The Nation newspaper has turned out to be the major beneficiary.

Speaking at a send forth organized by another veteran of the trade Sam Omatseye, Chairman of the Nations Editorial Board to honour Lekan, Ifijeh proudly enthused that his friend and colleague changed the narrative of online publishing by proving cynics wrong.

For him, when Lekan was redeployed from the position of Sunday editor of the Nation title to online version, “many thought it was moving him to Siberia”.

Mr. Ifijeh, however, declared rather proudly at the event attended by senior editors and management staff that the outgoing on-line Editor proved many cynics wrong saying,

“But I’m happy today because he has elevated the Nation  publication from zero level position in an online publication to number 3 in the country.”

Hence, as for him and many others, Lekan’s decision to bow out after,12 years in service of the Nation is a risk worth taking because he will succeed in his future endeavor of trying new things.

This new thing unarguably is Lekan’s past time for the past years..mentoring and training media career practitioners via the Media Career Development Centre.

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On a  personal note, Ifijeh described his friend and colleague with whom he has, worked in the last 12 years, as ” as a likable and jolly good fellow. Anybody who can’t work with him cannot work with any other person. He did his job with passion.

Chief Host of the send- forth Omatseye echoed Ifijeh’s words when he inferred that gentle as a dove that Lekan is, “he doesn’t accept just anything you push to him. Though gentle and easy going, he could be cynical at times but in spite of all, he is a modest writer, fine journalist and practical Christian”.

This view was also shared by Festus Eriye, the Sunday Editor and a veteran of the job who described the outgoing Managing Editor as a fine gentleman adding, “what struck me was his friendliness when we met 18 years, ago and over the years we became friends and professional colleague. He is a good man”.

It was indeed a day of tribute to a consummate professional and a uniquely kind-hearted fellow who can hardly hurt a fly.

Dr. Quazzim Akinreti, Lagos state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalist, said Lekan’s commitment to support merit when he campaigned for his election having known him for a short time and in spite of lies told against him by opponents marks him out as a character worthy of emulation.

This virtue he said stood Lekan out as a member of the Africa media initiative whose character should be emulated.

As a mentor, Fred Adegboye testified that he got to the Nation as a reporter through Lekan 14 years ago adding, “I will be missing somebody more than a friend and boss.

His views were also corroborated by Yinka Aderibigbe, another Editorial staff who he said got counseled by Lekan, “to do something different and out of the box in order to excel.

On a personal note Aderibigbe revealed the gentleness and obedience in the outgoing Editor when he said “he hardly beat traffic light and rules..always staying in the right track even when it is in the dead of the night”, a claim to which he drew confirmation from the audience who burst out in laughter to confirm the gentleness and strict obedience to the law and rules by the man who also founded Journalist for Christ(JFC) in 1998 to lead colleagues back to Christ.

Another editorial staff, Kofoworola Bello, described Lekan, as a go-to person for advice and problem-solving.”He never got angry. I want to say a big thank you to him.”

Responding to the tributes, Mrs. Ronke Otufodunrin, Lekan’s wife, thanked the staff for standing by the family when the husband took Ill sometime ago and for giving him the opportunity to serve.

In his response to the various accolades, Lekan acknowledged that The Nation title gave him a second chance in journalism after he left Punch newspapers in 1997 having served for twelve years after which he decided to pursue a personal life.

I had wanted to stay on my own when I said bye to the Punch but I had to succumb to Mr. Ifijehs call to “come and resume as Sunday Editor”, to replace the former editor who had left.

He thanked the management and fellow editors who gave him the opportunity to serve and promised not to leave the organization more so when he would be ready to offer his training expertise.

It was indeed a remarkable period for a consummate, diligent and passionate journalist who combined the devotion to excellence and calling of the profession to an unequaled human kindness which radiates in his personal relationship with friends and colleagues.

Indeed, Lekan is a jolly good fellow such as is

uncommon to find among colleagues, friends, and peers.

To say that he has availed himself the opportunity to be kind and compassionate to those he met in his over 30 years in journalism is an understatement.

He is a relationship builder and this accounts for his consummate mentorship role in the media which is the next port of call in his career of service.

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