The Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muideen Akorede, did not disappoint his intellectual community when he told Hammed Shittu that the only thing that gives him comfort is reading.

Image making is by every means a tedious job. Apart from the fact that it requires a lot of time, publicists, especially those working with public office holders must possess intellectual ability and capability to lead the way so that their jobs would serve as a veritable platform for the projection of a positive media and public image of their principals.

Hence, the incumbent governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed made no mistake in picking a versatile, articulate and intellectually sound assistant in the person of Dr. Muhideen Femi Akorede out of many contenders to serve him as Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication.

By that portfolio, Akorede has been handling all media matters, including packaging and image laundering for the governor in the last three and half years.

Akorede who hails from Offa town, the headquarters of Offa local government council area of the state has been working tirelessly since he assumed the office as the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication by bringing policies and programmes of government to the doorsteps of the people - including the rural populace and he does that using both local and national media to sell the agenda of the administration to the people of the state and outside world.

The media guru, who bagged his first academic excellence from University of Lagos in Mass Communication, also has Masters Degree in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom and PhD in International Development. He worked in Guardian Newspapers, Lagos; Independent Weekly; Clapperboard TV; Assistant Editor, Society Editor and Deputy Editor, Saturday of the THISDAY Newspaper, Lagos.

Having been appointed as the SSA Media and Communication to Governor Ahmed, the media expert who has dedicated all his time to ensuring a perfect understanding of the activities of government and the governor, often takes out time for leisure and what he does is read books, which is partly for relaxation and also to enrich his intellectual capability is carrying out his assignment.

It is on record that, since he assumed office as SSA Media and Communications, he has been very accessible, approachable, accommodating and ready to listen to reaction from whoever calls on him for comment and reactions on government policies and programmes.

This development has continued to be of immense assistance to him in doing his work, endearing him to journalists and thereby helping him in creating a good image for his principal because he works with journalists as companions and stakeholders in his assignment.

Only the deep can call to the deep, so says a popular quote. To be able to call to deep, you must be a good reader. Also, a good reader is a good leader. In that wise, Dr. Akorede has been able to use his reading habit cultivated through long time reading culture to shape his thoughts, human relations and productivity.

But aside reading books which is his regular pastime, Akorede said "I do watch films too. Walking too helps me relax."

He added that whenever time permits him, he also love to use his leisure time to attend to his family matters. More so, his work schedule demands a lot of time with his boss.

According to the journalist-turned publicist, who is reputed as having worked well to create a good image for Governor Ahmed and the government, "the chairman and publisher of THISDAY Newspaper, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena, Mr. Toyin Munnis, Mr. Tony Onyima and late Mrs. Amaka Igwe are my major mentors in life."