Veteran journalist Shola Oshunkeye on Thursday celebrated his 70th birthday with a high-profile colloquium at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), drawing an impressive assembly of media veterans, public officials and key stakeholders in Nigeria’s communication industry.
The event, held at the Sir Kensington Adebutu Media Resource Centre in Lagos, evolved into more than a birthday celebration. It became a significant intellectual and professional gathering, bringing together some of the country’s most influential voices to reflect on Oshunkeye’s legacy and the broader trajectory of journalism in Nigeria.
Among the dignitaries present were former Ogun State Governor and NIJ Governing Council Chairman Olusegun Osoba; Chairman of Ovation Media Group and keynote speaker Dele Momodu; former presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina; and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Tope Ajayi.
Traditional and cultural representation came from the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, while civic voices included Gani Adams, leader of the Oodua People’s Congress. Poet and journalist Akeem Lasisi was also in attendance.
The gathering further featured a wide array of seasoned journalists such as Taiwo Obe, Kayode Komolafe, Muyiwa Akintunde, Dare Babarinsa, Seni Okanlawon, Mike Awoyinfa, Mayor Akinpelu, Seye Kehinde, Maureen Chigbo, Funke Otti, Olumide Iyanda, Tony Onyima, Idowu Olayinka and Richard Akinnola, among others.
Also present were former Nigerian Guild of Editors President Funke Egbemode; Deputy Editor of PUNCH Weekend Titles Tessy Igomu; Publisher of The Eagle Online Dotun Oladipo; and Sunday Tribune Editor Lasisi Olagunju.
Opening the colloquium, Adesina delivered a reflective and humorous account of Oshunkeye’s early years in journalism, highlighting his professional evolution and enduring relevance. He described the celebrant as a resourceful practitioner whose influence is evident in the distinguished turnout.
Osoba, in his remarks, praised the growing culture of celebrating journalists while they are still alive, noting that the profession is gradually embracing self-recognition.
“We tend to celebrate others, but recently the situation is changing to celebrating our own,” he said, adding that Oshunkeye remains one of the figures he deeply respects for his contributions to journalism.
Delivering the keynote address, Momodu offered a strong tribute, describing Oshunkeye as a defining moral voice in Nigerian journalism.
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“If journalism in Nigeria has a conscience, it would be in the voice of Shola Oshunkeye,” he said.
Speaking on the theme, “The Decline of Human Interest Journalism in Nigeria,” Momodu expressed concern over shifting editorial priorities that have sidelined human-centred storytelling in mainstream media. He urged newsroom leaders to rebalance content strategies to accommodate stories that capture the human condition.
Drawing from personal experience, Momodu emphasized that human interest journalism is foundational rather than peripheral.
“Human interest journalism is not a distraction from serious journalism; in many ways, it is its foundation,” he noted, explaining that such storytelling fosters deeper societal understanding beyond statistics and official narratives.
He added that interactions cultivated through softer, society-focused reporting often provide insights that sharpen analytical depth and reveal the nuances of social realities.
According to him, human interest journalism “enables the journalist to see beyond the surface, connect personal stories with broader societal dynamics, and interpret events with depth,” ultimately humanising power while giving dignity to everyday lives.
On the sidelines, Akinpelu described Oshunkeye as one of the finest practitioners of human interest reporting in Nigeria, praising both his skill and influence.
“In this profession, they don’t come better than him. When it comes to human interest stories, he stands among the very best,” he said.
He also commended the initiative behind the colloquium, noting that it created an opportunity for knowledge exchange and professional reflection within the media community.