Business Mogul and Patriarch of the House of Igbinedio, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion on sunday, expressed his support for the media in the country as he hosted members of the fourth estate of the realm to a lunch.
Speaking during the event in his palatial residence in Benin, Igbinedion said he put together the get-together to make the journalists have their time with him ahead of the September 11th Birthday celebration.
According to him, Journalists are busy people and would be busy gathering news stories on September 11 , which is the D-day. Hence, he decided to host them separately today, sunday.
He appreciated the media for their role in news dissemination and information that has helped to shape society.
“Over 200 trqditional rulers comprising Oba’s and Emirs and 87 Countries will be sending in their Ambassadors will be joining me to mark my 90th birthday celebration coming up in September.” Igbinedion said.
Igbinedion, who is also the founder and chancellor of Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) in Edo State
said he was putting the journalists first in his preparation for his 90th birthday as they are the first group he has hosted as he begins the epoch making historic celebration of his 90th birthday.
In his speech, Chairman, Edo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Festus Alenkhe hailed the celebrant and Esama of Benin Kingdom for prioritizing the media as he commences his 90th birthday celebration.
Journalists from the broadcast and print media, including heads of Stations of Government and privately owned media organizations, attended the event to herald activities lined up to celebrate the nonagenarian come September 11th.