Daily Trust correspondent in Cross River Eyo Charles was on Monday presented with an award for excellence by Abuja-based NGO One Love Foundation International weeks after he was verbally attacked by former minister of aviation Femi Fani-Kayode.
Presenting the award in Calabar, Osemudiamen Ogbidi, programme officer of the foundation, said it was in recognition of the reporter’s bravery and commitment to the journalism profession.
According to Mr Ogbidi, the foundation decided to recognise the correspondent in view of his recent encounter with Mr Fani-Kayode, during a press conference in Calabar.
“Mr Eyo is a symbol of a true journalist who suffers undue oppression in the hands of the privileged in the cause of performing his duties.
“He was insulted, humiliated and downgraded just for asking a simple question. That is why we are here to honour him and to encourage him and other journalists not to give up.
“Gone are the days when people referred to lawyers as the hope of the common man. Today, journalists are the hope of the common man,” he said.
Ogbidi urged the correspondent to continue with his exploits in journalism and encouraged others to emulate him.
Responding, Mr Charles thanked the foundation for the award, saying that he least expected it.
He described the insult and abuse meted out to him by the former minister as unfortunate, adding that he did not mean to embarrass him.
“But I have since forgiven him,” Charles said.
Fani-Kayode, who later apologised to the journalist, has threatened a N6 billion defamation suit against Daily Trust newspapers and columnist Iliyasu Gadu over a critical opinion article written after he insulted Charles.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has ordered a boycott of press conferences addressed by the former minister.
