Olawepo Donates ₦5 Million To Kwara NUJ
By MANSUR ARAMIDE, Ilorin
A former presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Gbenga Olawepo Ashiru, has donated ₦5 million to the Kwara State Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He gave the money on Wednesday at the 45th anniversary of the Chapel in Ilorin, the state capital.
Olawepo, who was represented by Abdulrazaq Hamzat, was honoured with award of Excellence which he dedicated the gesture to Nigerian youths and victims of institutional abuse.
He told his hosts and other attendees that the award was not about personal achievement but “about amplifying the voices of those silenced by systemic injustice.”
He announced a ₦5 million donation to the Correspondents’ Chapel as a gesture of his commitment to press freedom, to encourage a vibrant and independent media, which he described as the “pillar of democracy.”
Olawepo tasked Nigerian journalists to remain fearless in holding institutions accountable.
According to him, institutional abuse, especially within academia, is a “silent killer of democracy that stifles innovation, silences dissent, and erodes public trust in governance.”
He recalled how the University of Lagos withheld his degree certificate after disagreements over student activism, a challenge he turned into an opportunity.
He said that he used the opportunity to establish “Set and Sell”, a political communication firm that launched his career in Public Relations and entrepreneurship.
Olawepo also highlighted the case of Hamzat, who was expelled and denied a Master’s certificate by the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) over a dispute regarding student association activities, describing such actions as “a dangerous stain on Nigeria’s democratic credentials.”
“Institutions should address intellectual issues intellectually, not through victimisation,” he stressed.
The NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, which comprises 50 elite national media outlets, said Hashim was honoured not only for his national vision but also for the humanitarian impact of the Gbenga Hashim Foundation across Nigeria.
(The Guardian)
