In the thrilling culmination of a three-week-long online poll, Mr. Kaka Babatunde, the Publisher of Kakalistiq Media, who emerged victorious as the Youth Influencer of the Year at the Epe Division Community Development Awards (EDCAA), has joined the rest of Epe indigenes to celebrate his co-nominees. The awards, organized by the Concerned NationBuilders Initiative (CNI), saw Mr. Kaka Babatunde and his fellow nominees actively campaigning and soliciting votes from the community.
The awards ceremony, held via a Google Meet seminar on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2023, revealed the winners of various categories, with Mr. Kaka Babatunde being a standout winner in the Youth Influencer of the Year category with a total vote of 1,764 votes while Mr. Yusuf Kassim polled 1,529 votes. He expressed his heartfelt congratulations to his fellow nominees, especially media mogul Otunba TJ Abass, and reflected on the significance of the nomination.
Acknowledging the influence of his mentor and former boss, Otunba TJ Abass, Mr. Kaka Babatunde recognized the unique dynamic of their relationship, describing it as a case of master and apprentice and father and son. He praised Otunba TJ Abass’s passion for using the media to enhance growth and development in the Epe Division.
“I extend heartfelt congratulations to my mentor and father, TJ, for his well-deserved victory. He has been a constant source of inspiration throughout my journey into the media, starting from my secondary school days. Under his guidance, I’ve imbibed the valuable lesson that if we don’t actively share our stories, they may remain untold. Being among the nominees, especially with two formidable contenders, created an uncertain situation with no guarantee of victory. However, I was determined to give my best, viewing the outcome as a win-win for me. I appreciate his dedication to utilizing the media to foster growth and development.”
Mr. Kaka Babatunde extended his appreciation to his mentor, Yusuf Kassim (Leecrown), who was also nominated for Youth Influencer of the Year, highlighting Leecrown’s invaluable contributions to education and youth development in Epe. He emphasized the need for continued support for the youth in their various vocations and called for mentorship to guide them through the inevitable challenges of youthful exuberance.
“It’s regrettable that we had to resort to a poll; personally, I would have preferred a merit-based award. Nevertheless, the organizers opted for a political approach. I take pride in our joint achievements, serving as immediate campaign managers for our nominations and crafting engaging campaign posts across various social media channels. The peaceful and respectful atmosphere maintained during the voting period serves as evidence that we can shift the paradigm by engaging in fair and honorable politics rather than succumbing to negativity such as hate, tribalism, blackmail, ethnicity, social media bullying, and name-calling.”
In the Media Company of the Year category, Ekohotblog emerged victorious with 1,343 votes, while Kakalistiq Media secured 1,207 votes. Mr. Kaka Babatunde expressed gratitude to the organizers, CNI, for the opportunity to be part of the prestigious awards and thanked his bosses, colleagues, friends, families, well-wishers, and students for their unwavering support.
The EDCAA Awards not only celebrated excellence in media but also recognized the impactful influence of youth leaders, fostering a spirit of healthy competition and camaraderie within the Epe Division community
