Deputy Chairman, Media and Public Affairs of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, has joined other grieving Nigerians in mourning the passage of former Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dame Remi Oyo, Vice Chairman of The Sun Newspapers Dimgba Igwe and Editor-in-Chief of Real News, Mike Akpan as they begin the final journey to re-unite with their creator.
In a statement made available to TheNiche, Ogene who represents Ogbaru, Federal Constituency, Anambra State, remarked that “losing any one of these great professionals was tantamount to a big blow, but the shocking demise of three of them within a space of one month is, without doubt, a huge loss to the industry and those they left behind.
“Remi, as we fondly called her, was a quintessential journalist, a thorough professional, and a remarkable pathfinder and brilliant administrator, whose life and career were painted in glowing colours of humility, exemplary leadership qualities and hardwork.
“Whether as the first – and so far the only one – President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), or the first female presidential spokesperson, and lately MD of NAN, Remi went about her duties with enviable grace, candour and purposefulness.
Igwe, he said, was a trailblazer, as far as modern journalism practice is concerned in Nigeria. He also described him as a visionary, prolific writer, author and a consummate professional who elevated the art of humanising stories and the several issues which he treated in his numerous writings.
“While we mourn these great professionals, who were sadly plucked by death at their prime, we must never fail to celebrate their remarkable imprints in the field of journalism and their selfless service to Nigeria and humanity in general”, the lawmaker stated.