Okusan, a respected figure in sports journalism, received the honour from the African Table Tennis Federation (ITTF Africa) in recognition of his unwavering commitment to promoting table tennis across Africa and the world through impactful, accurate and consistent media coverage spanning over a decade.
In a congratulatory message made available to journalists, Bada described the award as a fitting recognition for a journalist whose passion, professionalism and dedication have significantly elevated the profile of African table tennis on the global stage.
He noted that Okusan’s exceptional storytelling, comprehensive reporting and commitment to excellence have inspired many young sports journalists while giving African athletes, coaches and administrators the deserved visibility they need to thrive internationally..
According to him, the recognition by ITTF Africa is not only a personal achievement for Okusan but also a proud moment for Nigerian sports journalism, reaffirming the country’s continued contribution to the growth and development of sports media across the continent.
“The ITTF Africa Media Excellence Award is a testament to Olalekan Okusan’s years of hard work, resilience and professionalism. His dedication to documenting the growth of table tennis in Africa has been remarkable, and this honour is richly deserved,” Bada stated.
He further commended Okusan for consistently projecting African sports positively through balanced and insightful reporting, stressing that his contributions have helped preserve the history of table tennis while promoting the achievements of African athletes on the international stage.
Bada expressed confidence that the latest recognition would motivate Okusan to continue setting higher standards in sports journalism and mentoring the next generation of media practitioners. He also urged other journalists to emulate Okusan’s commitment to professionalism, integrity and excellence, noting that sustained dedication to quality reporting remains the pathway to international recognition.
The Herosports Africa publisher prayed for greater accomplishments in Okusan’s career, expressing optimism that the veteran journalist would continue to make Nigeria and the African sports media community proud through his outstanding contributions to the profession.
Okusan was recently presented with the ITTF Africa Media Excellence Award by the President of ITTF Africa, Wahid Oshodi, during the ongoing African Youth Championships in Accra, Ghana, in recognition of his outstanding service to sports journalism and the promotion of table tennis across the continent.
The honour has continued to attract commendations from stakeholders within the sports fraternity, who described the award as well-deserved and a celebration of excellence in African sports reporting.
