The editor of Daily Champion Newspaper, Mr. Justus Nwakanma and 24 others have bagged the distinguished alumni award of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos (UNILAG).

According to the chairman, Board of Trustees, Unilag Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA) Prof. Idowu Sobowale, the conferment of the award scheduled for November 21 at the Unilag conference centre hallmarks the foremost journalism college’s 42^nd anniversary.

Daily Champion learnt that Mr. Nwakanma won the award based on his professional accomplishment among his academic set in the department.

Besides Mr. Nwakanma, a runner-up in 2007 CNN African journalist award, other awardees include former information Minister, Prince Tony Momoh, John and Sola Momoh, Hon. Abike Dabiri- Erewa, Newswatch trio of Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed, and former Lagos State Information Commissioner, Mr. Dele Alake and the only Nigerian winner of Pulitzer award, Dele Olojede.

Other top flights mass communicators to be honoured are Steve Omojafor, Bayo Onanuga, Emeka Izeze, Mike Awoyinfa, Akin Odunsi, Oluremi Oyo, Tunde Adelaja, and Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase.

Also to be honoured are: Yemi Fakayejo, Mumini Alao, Azu Ishiekwene, Tunde Thanni, Debo Adesina, Kunle Bakare. Prof Sobowale who taught some of the awardees hinted that the programme which would feature memoirs, comedy and launch of development projects for the department being packaged by the Unilag Mass Communication Alumni Association (UMCAA) and its alma mater to mark the historical milestone.

Prof. Sobowale also said that four Nigerians would be honoured for their contributions to the development of mass communication in Nigeria. They are former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, chairman of Punch Nigeria Ltd. and chairman, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, Chief Ajibola Ogunsola, and the CEO of Lagos Television, Mr. Lekan Ogunbanwo.

According to him, the special award dinner "is a reunion programme to foster professional excellence among Unilag Mass Communication graduates, support the development of our alma Mater and also celebrate their immense contributions to journalism and Mass Communication in Nigeria."