Bayo Onanuga recalls becoming first African to win Commonwealth press freedom award in 1994

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on information and strategy, has recalled his 1994 recognition as the first African to receive the Lord Astor award for Press Freedom, conferred by the Commonwealth Press Union.

In a post shared on social media on Friday, Onanuga said the award was presented to him at the Commonwealth Press Union conference held in November 1994 in Malta.

Sani Abacha, the late former military ruler, was Nigeria’s head of state at a time when many Nigerians, including journalists were clamouring for the actualisation of the annulled June 12 presidential election.

The late MKO Abiola, widely regarded as the winner of the election considered the freest and fairest poll in the history of the country.

He was later arrested and detained by the military government led by Abacha.

Onanuga said journalism was under siege during Abacha’s regime, describing the era as a nightmare for journalists.

He said the award recognised his efforts to uphold the truth during one of the nation’s darkest political chapters.

“I re-read my speech at the Commonwealth Press Union conference in November 1994 in Malta, where I was honoured with the Lord Astor Award. I was the first and only African to earn the award for my work, along with my colleagues in The News/PM News and TEMPO, in fighting for democracy, the restoration of the June 12 mandate and press freedom,” Onanuga wrote.

The presidential spokesperson expressed appreciation to Temitope Olawale for retrieving the 31-year-old report from the archives and Ayo Oyalowo, whom he described as “the Godfather”, for bringing the article to his attention.

“Journalism practice in Nigeria in the 80s and 90s was a nightmare, which I don’t want to relive again, even in my next incarnation,” he said.

I re-read my speech at the Commonwealth Press Union conference in November 1994 in Malta, where I was honoured with the Lord Astor Award. I was the first and only African to earn the award for my work, along with my colleagues in The News/PM News and TEMPO, in fighting for… pic.twitter.com/GMMVAXQHpf

— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) June 27, 2025

The Lord Astor Award was instituted by the Commonwealth Press Union to honour individuals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to press freedom under difficult circumstances.