The Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of Nigerian Tribune newspapers, Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosunmu has accepted the role of Mother-of-the-Day at the eightth anniversary lecture of Penpushing Media, scheduled to hold 23 July 2026 at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
Chairperson of the anniversary lecture, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi said that Dr. Awolowo-Dosunmu has also confirmed to be physically present at the event.
She added that the lecture themed, “Restoring Electoral Integrity: The Path to Good Governance and Public Accountability”, will be delivered by a legal luminary, Mr. Femi Falana, while four intellects will join him as discussion panelists at the event.
Awolowo-Dosunmu commended the editorial board and planning committee of Penpushing Media, owners of an online newspaper and television, for the foresight and relevance in the media industry
She was a nominated member of the Constituent Assembly (1988-89), where she served as Vice Chairman of the committee charged with preparing the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy of the constitution.
In late 1991, Awolowo-Dosunmu played various roles in the emerging politics of the Third Republic. In April 1992, she co-founded the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan research organisation set up in memory of her father, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and dedicated to generating ideas for national development.
The Executive Director and co-founder of the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, was the first Vice Chairman of the Yoruba Unity Forum, an Honorary International Women’s Society and was appointed member of the International Committee of the Council on Foundations, an umbrella body of Foundations based in Washington, DC, in 1995.
She was appointed Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, serving from January 2000 to July 2003, during which time she was concurrently accredited as the country’s representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
The occupational health physician was, at various times and in succession, appointed Vice-Chairman of the Conference of States Parties; member of the Executive Council, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council (Administrative and Financial issues); Vice Chairman of the First Review Conference; and Chairman of the African Group of States Parties.
Awolowo-Dosunmu was also concurrently accredited to the Permanent Court of Arbitration and Common Fund for Commodities, and subsequently chose to return to her profession as an occupational health physician and has continued her work as Executive Director at the Obafemi Awolowo Foundation.
The Mother-of-the-Day was appointed Chair of the Board of Management of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, in which capacity she served from April 2013 to June 2015, and was one of the 15 delegates representing the Southwest zone at the 2014 National Constitutional Conference.
Following the transition of the matriarch of the Awolowo family, Yeye Oodua Hannah Awolowo, on 19 September 2015, Awolowo-Dosunmu assumed the role of co-Chairman of ANN Plc.
Her non-medical appointments include member of the Governing Council of Lagos State College of Science and Technology; and Vice Chairman of Dideolu Specialist Hospital, Ikẹnnẹ, Ogun State.
She is a member, UNIFEM National Advisory Board (Nigeria) and Chairman of the Fund-raising Committee; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Women’s Health and Action Research Centre, Benin City, Nigeria; and first Vice President of CIVITAS Nigeria.
Awolowo Dosunmu is Iya Ewe of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikẹnnẹ, and Asiwaju Obinrin Onigbagbọ of Ogun State, and recipient of several awards, including Outstanding Contribution to Human Development (NAWOJ Oyo State), Outstanding Role Model (Youth Focus Initiative), the Kwame Nkrumah Award for Service to Pan Africanism (Babcock University/University of Texas, Austin, USA/TOFAC Board), the Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Platinum Distinguished Leadership Award by the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students.
She also received an award for her contributions to the growth of the Anglican Church as part of the celebration of the 106th Anniversary of Archbishop Vining Theological College and an award for contribution to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals by the Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University
