The PUNCH ex-editor, Oketola, to launch book on tech, digital economy

The contiguous past Editor of The PUNCH, Dayo Oketola, is acceptable to motorboat a publication helium authored connected the improvement of Nigeria’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.

The book, titled: The Catalyst: Nigerian ICT Evolution Through a Journalist’s Lens, volition beryllium launched connected September 17, 2024, during an inaugural lecture to people the extremity of his clip arsenic an exertion and observe his astir 20 years of acquisition successful journalism.

The improvement of Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, which began with the instauration of GSM successful 2001, has attracted implicit $70 cardinal successful investments and created implicit 500,000 jobs successful the country.

Oketola highlights the bold initiatives that opened the assemblage to backstage investment, from 450,000 telephone lines earlier 2001 to a vibrant marketplace contiguous and besides charts a way done which Nigeria tin maximise its integer economical potential.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo volition beryllium the Special Guest Speaker astatine the lawsuit holding astatine the MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, astatine 10:00 a.m.

Oketola, present a elder subordinate of The PUNCH Editorial Board won the Editor of the Year prize astatine the Nigeria Media Merit Awards (NMMA) successful December 2023. He besides led the organisation to triumph the Newspaper of the Year astatine the aforesaid grant ceremony. Oketola, a accordant journalism prizeman, besides won Editor of the Year Award astatine The Industry Awards 2022. He is simply a two-time victor of the Zimeo Excellence successful Media Awards successful Johannesburg 2015 and Nairobi 2016, among galore awards during his illustrious journalism career.

In a statement, Oketola said: “I americium excited to denote the upcoming motorboat of my book, The Catalyst: Nigerian ICT Evolution done A Journalist’s Lens, scheduled for September 17, 2024.

“On the aforesaid day, I volition besides beryllium hosting an inaugural lecture to observe my tenure arsenic Editor of The PUNCH and astir 20 years successful journalism.” The erstwhile Editor of The PUNCH described his years successful journalism arsenic 1 that had driven advocacy and impacted antithetic sectors of the economy.

“My 20 singular years of stewardship to the federation via media and enactment practices person driven advocacy and impacted areas, specified arsenic concern and economy, ICT, energy, agriculture, societal inclusion, anti-corruption, cause trafficking prevention, and nation-building, a testament to the powerfulness of journalism successful shaping our society,” Oketola remarked.

Other influential guests expected astatine the media lawsuit see erstwhile Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Michael Ikpoki, who volition seat the occasion, and Dr Akin Olaniyan, the Convener of Centre for Social Media Research, who volition beryllium the publication reviewer. Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, volition grace the juncture arsenic the Chief Host.

Also, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The PUNCH (Nig.) Limited, Adeyeye Joseph, is the host, portion the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, is the co-host.