Journalists Hangout producer, Babajide Otitoju, Bags Ekirin- Adde Grand Star Award, Promises Selfless Sacrifices

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The Producer of popular Journalists Hangout on TVC television, Babajide Kolade Otitoju, has bagged the 2026 Ekirin- Adde Grand Star Award for his selfless service to the development of his community.
This is as he promised to rededicate his life to the promotion of his community, to making it a community of first choice in the country.

The Ace broadcaster made the pledge when he bagged the Grand Star Award , the highest honour that the community would bestow on its citizens at the grand finale of Ekirin Adde cultural and development fund-raising ceremony held over the weekend at Ekirin Adde in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Presenting the award, the Paramount ruler, HRH Olu Anthony Bamigbaye Idowu, noted that the award was in recognition of his selfless contributions to the growth and sustenance of the development of the Ekirin Adde communities.

The Monarch added that the 2026 recipient has made the communities proud by projecting the values and culture of his community to the world through his chosen profession of Journalism.
He called on the sons and daughters of Ekirin Adde to emulate his tenacious commitment to uphold the virtues and norms of the community.

Speaking to Journalists after the award, Babajide Kolade Otitoju, disclosed that he was extremely delighted by the honour done to him by the community and pledged to reciprocate with hard work , selfless service, and recommitment to the ideals that made Ekirin Adde thick among its peers.

Otitoju, popularly known as BKO on his Journalists Hangout program, said he was surprised by the award, as the news of the award was kept away from him even though he worked closely with them on the planning Committee.

He hailed the National President of Ekirin Adde Association, the Paramount rulers, prominent sons and daughters, for their encouragement, which has been an inspiration for him to think more about those things that bring development to the community.

He added that the Grand Star Award, which is the most prestigious award, is usually given to one person in a year, saying, for him to be the 2026 recipient is something he will continue to cherish for the rest of his life on planet earth.

Speaking further, he said, he has been working around the clock to galvanize his people to forge unity, ensure peace, and make sacrifices for the development of the community.

He added that, not just for peace, but for unity and progress, where people will not look in different directions, but will focus on the essence and ideals that will transform society.

According to him, the people now know that when they are united and stay focused, there is nothing that they set out to do that would not be achievable.

He promised to continue to encourage the indigenes at home and in the diaspora to have their community at heart and think of what they can do for the progress of the area.

He assured that the award will spur him to do the best, give his best, and will not relent in talking about his community to friends and associates to enlist their support in achieving real development for the people.

I will like our friends to support us with infrastructure issues and this is why we launched #750m development projects for those who really love us , so that we can make the community proud, where everyone will challenge himself to think of specific project to be executed for the community.

“Look at our secondary schools here, we need teachers and infrastructure. I commend our old students’ Association, who have hired teachers, just to intervene in specific subjects where there is a shortage of teachers. We also aimed to encourage the indigenes of our community to emulate them. There are inner roads here and there that people can execute on their own, as the government alone cannot do everything. As good citizens, we have to assist the government to bring development to all nooks and crannies of our area.’’ he solicited.

While explaining the role of the youth in community development, he advised them to imbibe the culture of hard work, honesty, and creativity, and seek to be different, as when one does something different in positive ways that will capture the attention of society.

He said, there are many journalists out there, but the question is how one set apart from others that matters, adding that challenging oneself is a pathway to make a difference.

Otitoju, who is also the Executive Director of news of TVC, charged the younger generation who are blessed with fertile minds to blend their God-given talents with creativity, honesty, and hard work to their God-given talents to enable them to live their full potentials.

According to him, hard work and respect for those values are what differentiate good from bad, urging them to pay attention to cultures, honour, and family name to be their watchword.

While congratulating all those who work tirelessly for the success of the occasion, I advised the indigenes in the diaspora to always talk of home, and develop love for their Communities and form associations that inspire them to contribute their quota, no matter how little, for the development of their fatherland.