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Kayode Akintemi, Managing Director of News Central TV, has won the 2026 City People Media Personality of the Year award.
Akintemi received the award on Sunday at the City People Awards ceremony.
“The last two and a half years or so of running News Central has been a very exciting period of my life,” Akintemi said.
He used his acceptance speech to address the current state of the nation, noting that Nigeria is at “an extremely pivotal time right now” and that “people are dying every day.”
“Today makes it 52 days since our children have been captured, kidnapped and they’re not able to see their parents,” he said, referring to the abduction of 46 pupils and staff from schools in Oyo State on May 15.
“What News Central does is to speak truth to power and let the authorities know where things are not going right.”
News Central Managing Director @KayodeAkintemi says independent journalism and voter participation are key to democratic accountability, urging Nigerians to reject… pic.twitter.com/FukiCCZcxy
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) July 5, 2026
Akintemi said News Central’s mission is to “speak truth to power and let the authorities know where things are not going right.”
“I fear no one. News Central has no fear of anybody in or outside of power, but what we do consistently is tell the story of the Nigerian that must be heard,” he said.
Akintemi urged Nigerians to participate in the 2027 elections, dismissing suggestions that votes do not count.
“If anybody tells you that your vote in 2027 will not count, ask them why do politicians spend money to buy your votes if it is not going to count,” he said.
“It’s because your vote counts, that’s why they want to buy it. It’s because your vote counts, that’s why they will make you think you don’t have to get out of your beautiful homes in Ikoyi, in Surulere and other places and not bother to go vote.”
He appealed to Nigerians, “Make sure that you do everything and go out and vote and let’s decide what will be the future of our nation and where it goes. I want my children to live in Nigeria and be happy here.”
News Central also won Television Station of the Year at the same event.
“News Central is arguably the smallest television station in Nigeria, but the one with the greatest impact.”
Following its recognition at the City People Awards, News Central has reiterated its commitment to telling stories from communities across Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/sEtnfvXYnU
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) July 5, 2026
