The Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye was on Sunday, July 6, 2025, honoured with the “Outstanding Cultural Renaissance and Heritage Leadership Award” for his unprecedented contributions towards the promotion of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The prestigious award ceremony was organized by Symbol Magazine and Kwara Alert Media, a premier and prominent news tabloid committed to delivering unfiltered truth and inspiring change to the people of Kwara State and beyond.
Presenting the award, Kwara State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Afeez Abolore, lauded Otunba Ajiboye’s commitment towards promoting Nigeria’s culture and repositioning of NICO to be at the heart of propagation of cultural philosophy in Nigeria.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Executive Secretary, the North Central Zonal Director of NICO, Mrs. Francisca Okoro who was represented by Mrs. Abolarin Bolaji Shalom, commended the organizers for the thoughtful initiative and for the award of recognition conferred on the NICO Boss, reiterating that the institute would continue to extend its hand of partnership by working closely with relevant stakeholders such as media outfits and the Kwara State government among others to promote Nigerian cultural values locally and internationally towards fostering unity and national development among Nigerians.
Speaking earlier, the Publisher of Symbol Magazine and Kwara Alert Media, Mr. Emmanuel Remilekun noted that the event which also served a dual celebration of the sixth anniversary of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration and Kwara Alert Newspaper’s fifth anniversary as well as the launching of its magazine, was designed to encourage and honour distinguished sons and daughters of Kwara State who have excelled in their various professions/careers and have significantly shaped Kwara’s political landscape both nationally and globally.
Other awardees at the event alongside the Executive Secretary were: Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye; HRM Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II, Oloro of Oro Kingdom; the Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakub Danladi; the Chairman Kwara State SUBEB, Prof. Raheem Aderamaja; and the Chairman, Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Hon. Gidado Abdullateef Alakawa among others.
The event which took place at E-phonex Hotel Flower Garden, GRA, Ilorin attracted a host of prominent figures, political bigwigs, and crème de la crème from across the state. Notable attendees were the Kwara State Chairman for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Sunday Fagbemi; Kwara State First Lady, Her Excellency Amb. Olufolake Abdulrazaq; HRM Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye, Elerin of Erin-Ile; HRM Oba Joel Olaniyi Oyatoye Titiloye Olufayo II, Oloro of Oro Kingdom; Chief Press Secretary to Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye; Executive Secretary/CEO National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Engr. Cornelius Segun Adebayo; TETFund Board Member, Engr. Nurudeen Balogun Adeyemi; various Commissioners, Lawmakers, media personalities and a host of others.
Ahmed Mohammed
Corporate Affairs & ICT Unit
NICO North Central Zone, Ilorin
