…..promises to keep the flag flying
By Abubakar Imam
The Head of the Current Affairs Unit at Television Continental (TVC), Lagos, Mr Babajide Kolade-Otitoju, has said that he would continue to be proud of the University of Ilorin for contributing significantly towards making him what he has become.
Mr Kolade-Otitoju stated this penultimate Friday (July 18, 2025) while reviewing the recent conferment of awards on him and 64 other distinguished individuals and groups by the University on “Journalists Hangout”, a popular current affairs programme of TVC, as monitored by UNILORIN Bulletin.
The ace broadcaster said that he was delighted that he was among the recipients of the awards given to distinguished alumni of the University across various disciplines in acknowledgement of their excellence in their respective careers and various give-back efforts to their alma mater.
Mr Kolade-Otitoju, who graduated from the institution’s Department of History in 1989, congratulated the University on its upcoming Golden Jubilee as he commended the University for honouring him and others as part of the anniversary celebration.
He added that he was particularly grateful that the honours were premised on personal contributions and not the depth of the honorees’ pockets.
While describing the University of Ilorin as “a citadel of first class learning, which prepared him for the Nigerian stage”, the renowned public affairs analyst said that he would remain immensely grateful to the University for imparting qualitative knowledge in him, the type he has not gotten elsewhere.
The highly respected current affairs analyst described the award ceremony as an event that highlighted the University’s commitment to recognising the impactful work of its exemplary products across diverse fields.
Mr Kolade-Otitoju, who is one of the three prominent figures in journalism in Nigeria honoured at the event, praised the University for extending the honour to the Managing Director of ThisDay newspapers, Mr Eniola Bello, and the Political Editor of Channels Television, Mr Seun Okinbaloye.
He explained that “it is a great thing to be honoured by an institution that moulded one’s character”, saying that the award is the most cherished of all the over 140 he had received in the course of his career as he said that his visit to the University was also a sweet homecoming for him.
While he said that the honour would continue to hold a prominent place in his heart, Mr Kolade-Otitoju promised to continue edifying the good name of the Better By Far University.
He assured the University that he would also continue to exemplify “learning, winning, building, praying” as well as “showing the way for all who yearn, Making a future for the ones who follow” as highlighted in the University Anthem.
