President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the co-founder and publisher of Premium Times Dapo Olorunyomi on being named one of the four awardees for 2020 International Press Freedom Award by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
In a statement on Saturday by his spoeksman Femi Adesina, President Buhari said the honour attests to Mr Olorunyomi’s many decades of commitment to the ideals of journalism and press freedom.
“Democracy and a free press are kindred spirits, and that is what we have committed to as a government. It is, therefore, gratifying to hear of this award to one of our own,” he said.
Buhari enjoined Olorunyomi to use the occasion of the award to recommit himself to all that is noble, fair and just in journalism, adding that a responsible media is part of the building blocks of a country.
The president reiterated that a free and responsible press remains an abiding commitment of the Nigerian government, and urged the media to adhere to the finest tenets of the noble profession at all times.
Olorunyomi wins the CPJ award along with three other journalists from Bangladesh, Iran and Russia.
