The Chief Operating Officer at Parrot Xtra Media Network, Ambassador Olayinka Agboola, on Sunday, December 3, 2023 bagged a National Media Community Award as ‘icon of media excellence in print journalism’.
Also at the well-attended event held within the expansive premises of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, Ogba in Lagos, the management of National Media Community Network, the organisers of the media outing said the event was being organized to appreciate media practitioners and other professionals who have been doing well and making Nigeria proud.
After receiving his award, Agboola said “I am quite appreciative that I am being singled out for this award. It is just another subtle message meant to encourage me to work harder and keep the focus.
“It is equally my wish to dedicate this award to God who has remained our pillar of support since we began the Parrot Project 20 years ago. I also dedicate it to my darling wife, Oluwatoyin and children as well as all supporters of the media industry within Nigeria and abroad.”
Mr Parrot as he is being popularly called also thanked the organisers of the event led by Mr Joshua Uloko of Lagos-based City Pride Magazine. He urged the organisers to ensure the sustenance of the media event to encourage professionals to be more steadfast and hardworking.
Special Magazine
The special magazine produced to commemorate the day described Agboola as ‘A dynamic journalist with optimal creative and innovative ideologies’.
The special National Media Community Award Magazine also published that “Olayinka Agboola is blessed with uncommon creativity and innovations – two of the many sterling qualities he infused into his style of journalism. He is a thoroughbred media practitioner, a distinguish member of the fourth estate of the realms and a legendary writer, researcher, radioman and pen pusher. His writing and reports are widely acknowledged and commended by his esteemed readers.
“Born on May 5, 1965 in Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, the legendary Agboola attended ICC Primary School, Agugu in Ibadan, before proceeding to Lagelu Grammar School, in the same vicinity before attending the University of Ibadan where he got his first and masters’ degrees in Archaeology/History. He also attended the Nigeria Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos where he acquired his post-graduate diploma in Journalism in 1996.
“He worked with the defunct Fame Weekly Magazine, Thisday Newspaper, Ovation International Magazine, Daily Sketch and Nigeria Tribune. He served Governor Lam Adesina as Press Secretary and 20 years ago, after leaving the government, he established PROkonnect Ltd and has since been using the platform to publish ParrotXtra Magazine as well as the online platform, PMParrot.com
“Agboola equally runs Parrot Xtra (Ayekooto) Hour live on the popular Splash 105.5fm radio station every Tuesday morning. He is also the present chairman, Southwest Guild Of Online Publishers (SWEGOP) and he is married to Oluwatoyin and blessed with wonderful children.”
Packaged by Dare Raji
