Ooni of Ife Named Royal Father of the Day as Osoba Chairs New Telegraph Awards Night

Ooni of Ife Named Royal Father of the Day as Osoba Chairs New Telegraph Awards Night

Lagos – February 10, 2026:
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has accepted to serve as the Royal Father of the Day at the forthcoming New Telegraph Awards Night and Dinner, scheduled to hold this Friday at the Grand Ballroom of Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Also confirmed for the high-profile event is Aremo Olusegun Osoba, veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State, who will serve as the Chairman of the occasion.

The New Telegraph Awards Night/Dinner is an annual flagship event that recognises outstanding achievements across governance, business, finance, sports and other key sectors of the Nigerian economy. The ceremony is expected to attract governors, captains of industry, senior executives in banking and finance, as well as notable public and private sector leaders.

No fewer than nine state governors from different parts of the country have confirmed their attendance, while several award recipients have expressed anticipation ahead of the event.

In a letter formally conveying his selection as Royal Father of the Day, the management of Daily Telegraph Publishing Company, publishers of New Telegraph, Saturday Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph, said the Ooni was chosen in recognition of his exemplary leadership, commitment to public good and dedication to excellence during his over 10-year reign as a foremost traditional ruler.

The letter, personally delivered by the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mr Ayodele Aminu, described the monarch as a symbol of service, integrity and progressive leadership, not only as the Paramount Ruler of Ile-Ife but as a respected voice within the Yoruba Nation and beyond.

Similarly, Osoba’s appointment as Chairman of the event was attributed to his enduring commitment to journalism and his close ties with the media profession, years after serving as governor of Ogun State.

A former Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Times and Grand Patron of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Osoba is widely regarded as a bridge between journalism and public service, remaining actively involved in media-related activities despite his stature as a leading political figure.

According to Aminu, Osoba exemplifies professional humility and loyalty, noting that he continues to identify with journalists and editors across generations, thereby reflecting the aspirations of professionals who remain grounded regardless of career progression.