The chairman of Òdì-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Seyi Jakande, has received an award from The Press Society for what the organisation described as contributions to community transformation.
The award was presented on Thursday at The Press Society’s maiden Media Sensitisation Workshop and Award Ceremony at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) in Ikeja, Lagos.
Jakande attended the event represented by his Special Adviser on Digital Media and Public Affairs and received a plaque during the ceremony.
What the event was about
The ceremony also focused on the changing relationship between journalism and artificial intelligence (AI).
Speakers discussed the opportunities AI offers media organisations while warning about risks to accuracy, accountability and professional ethics.
The concerns are increasingly relevant as journalists and newsrooms adopt AI tools for tasks such as research, transcription, translation and content production.
But the use of AI also raises questions about misinformation, fabricated material, attribution and the need for journalists to verify information before publication.
The workshop therefore placed media responsibility alongside the award ceremony, with participants calling for journalists to maintain established standards of factual accuracy and ethical reporting.
Jakande: award is a call to service
Jakande said the recognition should encourage his administration to pursue further work at the grassroots level.
“This award is a call to continuous service. It serves as an immense encouragement to further institutionalize responsive governance, expand our people-oriented leadership blueprints, and drive aggressive community renewal across our LCDA,” the Chairman stated.
The statement sets out future ambitions rather than measurable commitments.
For residents, the more important question will be whether such commitments translate into improvements in areas under the council’s responsibility and whether residents can assess those improvements through publicly available evidence.
Also Read: IGP Disu Pays ₦2.3bn to Families of 2,971 Deceased Police Officers
Why the award matters
Local councils are the level of government closest to many communities, making their performance particularly relevant to residents who rely on them for local services and infrastructure.
However, recognition from media or civil society organisations should not replace public scrutiny of budgets, projects, service delivery and outcomes.
Media, government and public accountability
The event also highlighted the importance of cooperation between local government authorities, journalists and other stakeholders.
Such cooperation can improve public communication, but it should not compromise the media’s independence or its responsibility to question government claims.
For residents of Òdì-Olowo/Ojuwoye LCDA, the next test is therefore practical: whether the administration can demonstrate measurable progress against its stated objectives and whether journalists continue to independently examine those claims.
The award may provide recognition for Jakande, but sustained public confidence will depend on evidence of results.
