Veteran journalist Shola Oshunkeye was recently celebrated at a colloquium and book launch held in his honor to mark his 70th birthday. The esteemed event took place on Thursday, April 23, at the Sir Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Ogba, Lagos. The program also featured the official launch of his new book, "Byline & Backbone: A Lifetime of Big and Impactful Stories," a compilation of his extensive reports spanning many years.

The gathering saw a distinguished array of guests, including former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba, chairman of Ovation Media Group Dele Momodu, and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland Gani Adams. Other notable attendees included the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland Clement Haastrup, former Osun State deputy governor Olusola Agbeja-Obada, the Orangun of Oke Ila Adedokun Abolarin, publishers Olumide Iyanda (QEDNG) and Azuh Arinze (Yes International Magazine), former managing director of New Telegraph Funke Egbemode, publisher of RealNews magazine Maureen Chigbo, and former presidential spokesman Femi Adesina, among many others, all converging to celebrate a journalistic icon.

Shola Oshunkeye, who serves as the chief executive officer of The Crest Online and turned 70 on Monday, April 20, is a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. His illustrious career in journalism began in 1989 at Concord Press of Nigeria, founded by Moshood Abiola. He quickly made his mark, working at Weekend Concord under Mike Awoyinfa before ascending to the position of editor. He later became a senior associate editor at TELL magazine, where he honed his skills as an investigative journalist and served as a bureau chief and State House correspondent in Abuja, covering the presidency of Olusegun Obasanjo between 2001 and 2005. His journey continued with The Sun Group as general editor and eventually as managing director and editor-in-chief of The Sun Publishing Ghana Limited. A testament to his exceptional talent, Oshunkeye was awarded the prestigious CNN Multichoice African Journalist of the Year in 2006.

A poignant moment during the event saw Mr. Oshunkeye become visibly emotional, shedding tears as he publicly thanked his wife, Funsho, who joined him on stage. He recounted their humble beginnings, starting their life together in a single room in Somolu, Lagos, in 1981, with "nothing." He attributed their success and current standing to divine grace, stating, "from the dust God raised us and got us to where we are today." He also expressed profound gratitude for his children, acknowledging their endurance in his frequent absences due to his demanding career, crediting his wife's steadfast support behind him.

Explaining the depth of his emotions, Oshunkeye revealed that his tears were also linked to the recent, tragic loss of two of his brothers to the COVID-19 pandemic within a short eight-month period. He shared the heartbreaking story of his brother, Pastor Mike Oshunkeye, who passed away in the United Kingdom. They had spoken late into the night before his death, with no indication of illness, making the news of his passing the next morning a profound shock from which he has not yet recovered. He also mentioned the loss of another brother, who served as a deputy finance director in Ilorin, during the same challenging period, emphasizing the immense impact these losses had on him and his family.

Concluding his remarks, Shola Oshunkeye offered invaluable advice to younger journalists. He stressed the importance of core journalistic virtues, stating, "You have to have patience, you have to have perseverance, you have to endure to do this job." He cautioned against entering the profession solely for financial gain, advising, "If your ambition is to make money, you can go to another industry. In journalism, what you build is your name," thereby highlighting the profession's emphasis on reputation and integrity over monetary rewards.