A man’s worth is not measured solely by the position he occupies, but also by how he uses the opportunities that come his way. For Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Chief Press Secretary to Ondo State Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, this offers an interesting perspective on a life that extends beyond the official title.
Much of Adeniyan’s working day revolves around communicating the governor’s activities and the business of government. Alongside that responsibility, however, he has pursued initiatives aimed at supporting individuals and institutions, particularly within the media community. These activities provide another dimension to his public profile and a starting point for examining the man behind the office.
His journey to the Government House in Akure began long before his appointment as the governor’s spokesperson. It was shaped by years of reporting, editing, publishing and engagement with the political and professional communities in which he worked.
Adeniyan began his journalism career in 2000 as a trainee reporter with The Hope newspaper in Ondo State. He subsequently covered the Ondo and Ekiti beats for Treasure News Magazine before returning to The Hope in January 2002. During his time there, he covered the Government House under the administrations of former governors Adebayo Adefarati and Olusegun Agagu.
He rose through the newsroom ranks, becoming chief sub-editor in 2009, before moving to Sunshine Daily Watch, where he served as managing editor and later editor. His career subsequently extended into publishing through TRACE News Magazine, alongside involvement in journalism union activities and political communication.
Before his appointment as Chief Press Secretary in December 2023, Adeniyan served as Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to former Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye. The appointment brought his experience in journalism and political communication into the service of the Ondo State Government.
Yet his professional story is not confined to the responsibilities of the Government House. His reported interventions within the media community offer a further perspective on how he has remained connected to a profession in which he spent years building his career.
A FAMILIAR FACE IN THE MEDIA COMMUNITY
Having worked in newsrooms for years, Adeniyan is familiar with some of the challenges confronting journalists, from working conditions and access to equipment to the financial pressures facing media practitioners.
In February 2025, he donated ₦1 million to the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to support improvements to electricity supply at the union’s press centre in Akure. The contribution addressed a practical need within the professional community with which he has long been associated.
His support has also extended to families connected to journalism. In April 2024, he launched an educational assistance initiative for children of deceased journalists and female journalists who are widows. The first reported disbursement was ₦500,000 shared among 10 beneficiaries.
The initiative was intended to provide continuing assistance at the beginning of school terms while he remained in office. For families dealing with the loss of a breadwinner, support towards educational expenses can help meet an immediate need, even though it cannot remove the wider financial pressures they face.
Adeniyan has also provided equipment to media practitioners. In September 2026, members of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel reportedly received tablets and an iPhone. The following month, another donation of tablets was reported for 12 members of the NUJ Federated Chapel.
The donations involved different groups and should not be interpreted as distributions to every journalist in Ondo State. They nevertheless add to the record of his reported efforts to provide practical support within the profession.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LUCKY SALARY
Beyond the media community, Adeniyan has used social media to run another initiative known as Kajola Kajolowo – The Lucky Salary. Conducted through Facebook, the monthly programme is associated with Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa and the prompt payment of workers’ salaries.
According to the initiative’s stated figures, more than 4,000 people have benefited since it began. That cumulative figure points to the programme’s reported reach, although a full assessment would require independently verifiable records of beneficiaries and disbursements.
In the October edition, Adeniyan announced that two associates had offered additional contributions, bringing the intended number of beneficiaries to 31. He invited interested participants to share their account details in the comments section, stating that ₦5,000 was available to each beneficiary.
The approach gives individuals an opportunity to seek assistance directly through his social media platform. The involvement of associates in the October edition also indicates that contributions can come from people beyond the organiser himself.
There is, however, an important distinction between announcing the number of intended beneficiaries and confirming the final number who received payment. The announcement establishes the stated terms of the initiative, but the actual disbursement figures would be needed to verify the outcome of that particular edition.
Even with that distinction, the programme provides another perspective on Adeniyan’s activities outside his official duties. While his work as CPS centres on communicating government decisions and activities, the monthly initiative creates a separate channel through which individuals can seek financial assistance.
LEADERSHIP BEYOND THE GOVERNMENT HOUSE
Adeniyan’s connection to the media profession also includes service within the NUJ. He previously served as chairman of the NUJ Federated Chapel before handing over to Bayo Olaniyan, then publisher of City Movers.
That experience adds context to his continued engagement with journalists. His relationship with the profession predates his appointment as the governor’s spokesperson and has developed through reporting, editing, publishing and organised professional activities.
His career has therefore moved through several areas of public communication: the newsroom, editorial management, publishing, union leadership, political media work and government service. Each has brought different responsibilities and relationships, helping to explain why his activities continue to intersect with the media community.
WHAT REMAINS BEYOND THE TITLE?
Public appointments are temporary, but the experiences people have with those who occupy them can endure beyond their time in office. In Adeniyan’s case, his professional record includes years in journalism, editorial leadership, publishing and government communication, alongside reported efforts to support media organisations, families connected to journalism and individuals seeking assistance through social media.
These activities do not, by themselves, tell the whole story of his character or establish the long-term impact of every intervention. Their significance will depend on the consistency of the support, the experiences of those who receive it and the extent to which the initiatives continue to meet practical needs.
They nevertheless offer a broader view of a public figure whose identity is often associated with his responsibility as the governor’s spokesperson. Beyond that role is a journalist who worked through the ranks, became a publisher, participated in union leadership and carried his professional experience into government.
For Adeniyan, the story beyond the office is still unfolding. Its lasting significance will ultimately rest not on announcements or titles alone, but on the tangible difference his work and initiatives make to the people and institutions they are intended to support.
