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It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the 17th presentation of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence on behalf of the board of Trustees. This presentation is the latest in our annual ritual of recognizing talent, rewarding diligence, honouring enterprise and celebrating excellence in the media of public communications.
Every year since 1992 when we hold DAME presentations, I always feel happy to see many people honour our invitations. It is a feeling of appreciation to all of you, faithful men and women who recognise that the path to enduring greatness is one paved with diligence and dedication. You do not have to be here. There are many other things you could have chosen to do. For you to be here means this event is special to you. And we appreciate that. But we wish to note also, that it takes a special audience to identify with a special event.
I welcome all the trustees and all the judges that assessed the entries this year. I welcome our sponsors, whose support has made today possible. Let we also welcome our revered fathers, who are receiving the Lifetime achievement awards tonight- Dr. Christopher Kolade, CON, Mr. Ted Mukoro and Chief Segun Olusola. Over the years, through great sacrifice, you have brought honour to the industry. When we think of you, we think of professionalism, we think of accomplishment and we think of integrity. It is these attributes that have earned you the little appreciation that is coming your way.
We welcome all you good people. In a sense, today is also a day of renewal-renewal in our country, Nigeria, renewal in its people, its future and its destiny. Renewal that even though we appear to wallow in an ocean of mediocrity, there are islands of promise, of hope that merits pays and there are those committed to promoting the spirit of excellence in the land .
The challenge for all of us is: how do we replicate these islands of hope and promise? How do we turn this vast ocean of mediocrity into reclaimed estates of excellence, of promise, of hope, of restoration to our manifest destiny? I propose that we can begin by resolving individually to make a difference at our individual posts to do our honest bit to promote that which is fair, ennobling and enduring.. We must always keep a long term view of our actions whether in the newsroom, boardroom, studio or in our management meetings; for it is those who set their eyes on the future who have a stake in it and who are ready to be judged by it.
To the 28 winners, we say congratulations. You have been specially selected- set apart from the pack. You are a special breed inducted into higher calling. You have increased the number of DAME winners to 341 in 17 years. You must be ambassadors of best practices, apostles of responsibility. You must hoist the banner of diligent professionalism, ethical rigour and unwavering defenders of a free and responsible media. You must be ambassadors of change by redoubling your efforts and promoting the culture of creativity, diligence and doggedness. You must translate your today that is promising into a tomorrow that is glorious. It is when we have more of you sprouting in the land that the pursuit of excellence will defeat the temporary suzerainty of mediocrity.
Excerpts from the Address of welcome delivered by Mr. Lanre Idowu at the November 30th 17th D. A. M. E presentation.
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