The Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kano State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has conferred an award of distinguished leadership on the Editor-in-Chief of Greenbarge Reporters online newspaper, Yusuf Ozi-Usman.
The recipient, who is also the pioneer chairman of the chapel from 1992 to 1994, is also the Editor-in-Chief of Hardcopy magazine.
The award plaque reads: “Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, NUJ Distinguished Leadership Service Award 2025, presented to Yusuf Ozi-Usman, in recognition of your quality leadership, dedication and invaluable contributions in your service as former Chairman”.
The chapel conferred similar award on the subsequent chairmen of the chapel, including Alhaji Tajudeen Suleiman, Dr. Lamara Garba Azare, Osa Director, Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar Askira, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba, Alhaji Aminu Ahmed Garko, Alhaji Mujitaba Ramalan Bello, Alhaji Bala G. Abdullahi, Alhaji Baffa Jakusco and Edwin Olofu. Babajide Kolade-Otitoju missed the event being one of the foundation executives of the chapel.
At the award night in Kano last Sunday, the current chairman of the chapel, Alhaji Murtala Adewale described the event as unique.
According to him, Ozi-Usman led the chapel from 1992 to 1994, saying that his leadership and that of the subsequent chairmen strengthened unity, professionalism and progress.
He said: ‘Today, it is a privilege for some of us, just occupying this position, to meet these past leaders.
‘We are also celebrating our members who God has elevated to different areas of human endeavour. We are also celebrating our friends, the friends of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, who identify with us at all times’.
He described the get-together and Award Night as one for ‘reflection, celebration and display of service to humanity’.
Adewale said that the award night was dedicated to recognising past leaders and celebrating elevated members of the chapel.
‘It is also a special night set aside to reward the wisdom of long-serving members, and to recognise the loyal friends of the chapel’, he said.
Those who received awards as Friends of the Chapel included a former President of the NUJ, Comrade Muhammad Garba, who also served Kano State Commissioner for Information; Associate Professor Sule Ya’u Sule; Alhaji Inuwa Waya, Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum; and Hon. Baffa Babba Dan Agundi.
Others were the Director General (Media and Publicity) in the state Government House, Alhaji Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa; and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sha’aban Sharada.
Those who got awards as elevated members of the chapel were Kolade-Otitoju; publisher of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar; Associate Professor Rukaya Aliyu; and the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Kano State, Comrade Ibrahim Garba Shuaibu.
Long Service Awards were presented to Abdullahi Mallam Yusuf, Mohammed Kabir Ya’u, Mohammed Abdulsalam, Chief Jacob Ajakaiye, Desmond Mgoh, Maduabuchi Jerry and Ahmed Mohammed Soron Dinki.
One of the oldest journalists in the country, Chief Ajayi Maimeyatan, who is over 80 years old, was also honoured.
Ozi-Usman, a member of the Governing Board of the Guild of Interfaith Media Practitioners Nigeria, is also the Guild’s Director of Programmes Development.
