Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, has reflected on his landmark recognition as the first African recipient of the Lord Astor Award for Press Freedom, conferred by the Commonwealth Press Union in 1994.
In a post shared on social media Friday, Onanuga reminisced about receiving the award during the Commonwealth Press Union conference held in Malta in November 1994 at a time when Nigeria was under the repressive military rule of the late General Sani Abacha.
Press Freedom Under Siege
The early 1990s marked a turbulent era for Nigerian journalism. The annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election widely believed to have been won by Chief MKO Abiola plunged the country into political unrest. Abiola’s subsequent arrest and detention by the Abacha regime escalated tensions, while journalists faced severe censorship and persecution.
Onanuga, then a leading voice at The News, PM News, and TEMPO magazines, was among the media professionals who boldly resisted the military clampdown on press freedom and democracy.
“I re-read my speech at the Commonwealth Press Union conference in November 1994 in Malta, where I was honoured with the Lord Astor Award. I was the first and only African to earn the award for my work, along with my colleagues… in fighting for democracy, the restoration of the June 12 mandate, and press freedom,” he wrote.
Honouring Resilience
Onanuga described journalism under Abacha as a “nightmare” and said he hoped never to relive such an era, even “in my next incarnation.” The award, he noted, was a tribute to the resilience and courage of Nigerian journalists during one of the country’s darkest political periods.
He also thanked Temitope Olawale for retrieving the 31-year-old report from the archives and appreciated Ayo Oyalowo, whom he described as “the Godfather,” for sharing the article with him.
About the Award
The Lord Astor Award was established by the Commonwealth Press Union to recognize individuals who have shown unwavering dedication to press freedom, often at great personal risk and under oppressive regimes.
Onanuga’s recognition in 1994 remains a milestone in African journalism history symbolizing courage, resistance, and the enduring power of truth.
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