18 Years Ago: When I Took Journalists To Meet Flt. Lt. Jerry Rawlings In Ghana

By Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq.

Eighteen years ago, I led members of the Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on a professional tour of Ghana—an experience that remains indelible in our collective memory.
A defining highlight of that 2008 tour was our meeting with Ghana’s former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. The expressions on the faces of Oyo NUJ members as they interacted with him spoke volumes—of awe, pride, and deep professional fulfilment. To God be the glory.
During my tenure as Chairman of NUJ, Oyo State (2005–2009), I was privileged to contribute meaningfully to the union’s growth, including the repositioning of the Iyaganku Press Centre and the professional and capacity development of our members. Among the achievements that remain evergreen is the Ghana Professional Tour of 2008, during which 12 journalists from Oyo State undertook a study visit to Ghana.
Remarkably, former President Rawlings was not only gracious to our delegation but also hosted us for four days. For many participants, the journey was historic—their first Nigerian international passport and their first experience travelling beyond Nigeria’s borders. It was more than a trip; it was exposure in its purest form.
Participants on the tour included:

Wale Ojo-Lanre
Mr. Bola Ogunlayi (then of BSES Ekiti)
Mr. Adenrele Ajisefini (now General Manager, Amuludun FM, FRCN, Moniya, Ibadan)
Seye Ojo, The Sun Newspapers
Segun Olawale, NTA
Mrs. Ronke Fajemirokun, BCOS, Oyo State
Mr. Lawal, Oyo State Ministry of Information
Remi Oladoye (then an IIJ student; now Editor-in-Chief, Alárìnká Àgbáyé)
Wale Olapade (then an IT student with Nigerian Tribune; now a Senior Reporter)
Wole Efunuga, Nigerian Tribune
Bisi Oladele, Oyo State Correspondent, The Nation Newspapers
It is important to place on record that the trip was not funded by NUJ Oyo State nor from the union’s purse. It was made possible through my personal relationship with Hon. Folake Olunloyo, who graciously chose to express gratitude for the support I offered as a friend during her journey to becoming a functional member of the House of Representatives.
In retrospect, the Ghana tour was far more than a professional excursion. It was a lesson in leadership through exposure and the quiet power of opening doors and expanding horizons. Watching colleagues obtain their first passports, cross borders for the first time, and engage directly with a former African president reinforced a conviction I have carried ever since: exposure builds confidence, and confidence builds institutions.
The experience also deepened my understanding that tourism, culture, and professional exchange are not luxuries; they are strategic tools for national development, diplomacy, and human capital growth. When people see more of the world, they return better equipped to serve their society.
Today, as I continue to advocate for tourism development, cultural diplomacy, and capacity building, I see a clear and unbroken line connecting that 2008 moment in Ghana to the work I still do. The faces in that photograph remain a reminder that leadership is most meaningful when it creates pathways for others—often quietly, without fanfare, and without expectation of applause.
History is not always written in headlines.
Sometimes, it is written in opportunities given, borders crossed, and lives expanded.
May the soul of Mrs. Ronke Fajemirokun rest in peace.

*Wale Ojo-Lanre, Esq.
Director General, Ekiti State Bureau of Tourism Development