D Chronicle Honours Dayo Awude for Leadership, Compassion and Accountability
– By Babatunde KUYE
AKURE, August 30, 2026 – The Director General of the Sunshine Grassroots Network (SGN), Hon. Dayo Awude, has been honoured by D Chronicle Media Ventures for his contributions to leadership, compassion, accountability and grassroots development.
Awude was the guest speaker and award recipient at the 13th Anniversary Celebration of D Chronicle Media Ventures, held on Sunday in Akure, Ondo State.
The anniversary, with the theme “Agenda 2027: Leadership, Accountability, Progress,” brought together stakeholders who took turns to discuss leadership, good governance and the direction Nigeria should take as the country approaches the 2027 general elections.
Awude, who spoke extensively on the theme, said the real meaning of Agenda 2027 should be about good governance and a better life for Nigerians.
He listed security, healthcare, education, infrastructure, employment and economic opportunities among the areas that should form part of the national conversation, stressing that the success of any government should ultimately be measured by the difference it makes in the lives of the people.
He gave the media a major role in shaping that conversation, describing it as an important platform for setting the national agenda. He, however, cautioned journalists and media organisations against taking sides or turning themselves into opposition platforms.
According to him, the media should report the facts, present the figures, interrogate government policies and give Nigerians the information they need to make informed decisions.
Awude also challenged Nigerians to take a more active interest in the political process. He said citizens should stop merely beating drums and campaigning for aspirants without first asking what they intend to do if elected.
He urged political candidates to make their manifestos and programmes known to the people, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, security and infrastructure.
He reminded Nigerians that although elections are conducted within a few hours, the decisions made on election day can affect the lives of citizens for the next four years.
On electoral reform, Awude expressed concern about the high cost of political participation and what he described as the growing commercialisation of elections. He also challenged media organisations to examine the practice of charging higher rates for political advertisements, arguing that the media should not contribute to making elections expensive and then condemn the influence of money in the electoral process.
Awude further stressed the importance of accountability in governance, saying governments must be more open about the money they receive and how such funds are spent.
He called for greater transparency in the finances of states and local governments, insisting that citizens deserve to know what comes into government coffers and what is done with public funds.
The SGN Director General also spoke in support of local government autonomy, urging governors to allow the third tier of government to function and have access to resources meant for grassroots development.
He said stronger local governments would bring development closer to the people and make the impact of government more visible at the grassroots.
Turning to the economy, Awude acknowledged the hardship Nigerians are currently experiencing but said the country must also consider the difficult economic situation that existed before the current reforms.
He defended the need to move away from an unsustainable fuel subsidy regime, while stressing that the increased revenues available to governments must translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
For him, more revenue is not enough; what matters is what government does with it.
As he rounded off his lecture, Awude urged Nigerians to approach 2027 with greater political awareness and to look beyond political personalities.
He said the central question should be what direction Nigerians want for the country and whether policies being implemented are producing the foundation for sustainable growth and development.
He urged citizens to participate, ask questions, demand accountability and make informed choices at the polls.
“The choice is yours. The decision is yours,” he said.
As part of the anniversary programme, D Chronicle Media Ventures presented Awude with an award recognising him as a “Beacon of Leadership, Compassion and Accountability.”
The award, according to the inscription on the certificate, was presented in recognition of his leadership qualities, compassion and commitment to societal development.
The event also marked 13 years of D Chronicle Media Ventures’ commitment to journalism and public-interest reporting, with the anniversary providing an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on leadership, accountability and the kind of progress Nigerians should expect as the country moves towards 2027.