PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan,
yesterday, joined other eminent
Nigerians in paying tribute to
former Managing Director of News
Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Mrs Remi
Oyo who died on Wednesday in
London, few days to her 62nd
birthday anniversary.
A statement by Special Adviser to
President Jonathan on Media and
Publicity, Reuben Abati said “on
behalf of his family and the
Federal Government, President
Jonathan extends sincere
condolences to her husband,
Vincent, her children, Otome and
Okiemuote, her surviving siblings
and other relatives.
SOME MANAGEMENT STAFF OF
THE NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA
(NAN), AT THE SIGNING OF
CONDOLENCE REGISTER FOR THE
FORMER MANAGING DIRECTOR,
MRS OLUREMI OYO, AT THE NAN
HEADQUARTERS IN ABUJA ON
THURSDAY (2/10/14).
The President similarly
commiserates with the Nigerian
Guild of Editors who Dame Oyo
served most admirably as a two-
term President in the course of her
trail-blazing journalism career, the
management and staff of NAN as
well as the many colleagues,
friends and protégés she garnered
in her very fulfilled life.
Former President Olusegun
Obasanjo in his tribute said the
demise of Oyo has left a ‘sour
taste’ in his mouth and others who
knew her. In a letter of condolence
dated October 2, signed by the
former president, a copy of which
was made available to our
correspondent, the former
President commiserated with the
widower, Mr. Vincent Oyo and the
entire family. Obasanjo said his
former Senior Special Assistant on
Media, has left an indellible mark
in her chosen profession –
journalism.
Also commiserating with the
bereaved family, Ogun State
governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun,
expressed shock over the death of
the veteran journalist, describing
her death as a big loss to
journalism in particular and the
media industry in general.
In a statement by his Senior
Special Assistant on Media, Mrs
Olufunmilayo Wakama, the
governor described the late Oyo
not only as an icon of an ideal
journalist but also a trailblazer in
the pen profession who was well
respected in the media world.
Senate mourns Remi Oyo, says she
was an accomplished professional
The Senate yesterday mourned the
demise of Mrs. Remi Oyo,
describing her death as shocking.
The Senate in a statement in Abuja
through its spokesman, Senator
Enyinnaya Abaribe, recalled the
late Oyo’s contributions to media
development, particularly her
pivotal role in revolutionizing news
gathering through wire services as
exemplified in her sterling
performance in NAN as its
Managing Director. Abaribe said,
“Senate is really shocked, knowing
that her loss is another blow to
the media industry in Nigeria
coming in quick succession to
other high profile deaths of notable
media professionals in recent
time.”
Late Remi Oyo
Meanwhile, the Senate President,
Senator David Mark has described
Mrs. Oyo as an accomplished
professional and a successful
administrator that made her marks
in the journalism profession.
Senator Mark in a statement
signed by his Chief Press
Secretary, Paul Mumeh said, “As
an editor, she was a pathfinder. As
the president of the Nigeria Guild
of Editors, NGE, she provided
exemplary leadership that took the
Guild to a higher level. She was a
great asset to the Nigerian media
and a worthy daughter of the
nation. We shall miss her robust
and intellectual contributions to
national development.”
NPAN mourns
The Newspapers Proprietors’
Association of Nigeria, NPAN, said,
yesterday, it received the news of
the death of Mrs. Oluremi Oyo with
great shock. NPAN said in a
statement by its general secretary,
Comfort Obi, that Mrs. Oyo’s
passage came at a time the nation
was trying to come to terms with
grisly exit of another very active
member of the Guild, and vice
chairman of Sun newspapers, Mr.
Dimgba Igwe.
NGE mourns Oluremi Oyo
The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE,
joined others in mourning the
passage of the former Managing
Director of News Agency of Nigeria,
NAN. Mrs Oyo, a Fellow of the NGE
and its first female president, died
on Wednesday in London, few days
to her 62nd birthday anniversary,
which would have come on
October12. Prior to her two-term
tenure as the managing director of
NAN, she served as the senior
special assistant, media and
publicity, to former President
Olusegun Obasanjo.
NGE said in a statement by its
secretary general, Isaac ighure,
that Oyo will long be remembered
by the guild for her exemplary
leadership qualities, which brought
the Guild out of a near comatose
state, with about 200 members,
and transformed it into a vibrant
association of senior editors with
more than 400 members. Her
tenure as the NGE president
marked a new beginning for the
Guild and laid a solid foundation
for its transformation into a force
to be reckoned with in the country.
Family announces death
The Oyo family has announced the
death of Dame Felicia
Oluwaremilekun Oyo, in London. In
a statement, issued on Thursday,
her husband, Mr Vincent Oyo, said
she died peacefully on Wednesday,
in London, where she was
recuperating after receiving
treatment from an ailment. Born
on October 12, 1952, Oyo, a
seasoned journalist, served as
senior special assistant to former
President Olusegun Obasanjo from
2003 to 2007.
Maku mourns, describes death as
huge loss to media industry
Information Minister Mr. Labaran
Maku said he received the news of
the demise of the erstwhile
Managing Director of the News
Agency of Nigeria with shock and
sadness. Mr. Maku described her
death as a huge loss to her family,
the media industry in Nigeria, the
womenfolk and the nation in
general, adding that the late Mrs.
Remi Oyo died at a time when the
nation and the media industry in
Nigeria needed her wise counsel
and vast experience
Governor Theodore Orji of Abia
State expressed shock over the
death of Mrs. Remi Oyo. A
statement by his chief press
secretary, Mr. Charles Ajunwa,
described Oyo’s death as a big
loss to the country.
Remi Oyo was a role model to
professional women — Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku
Abubakar said that the death of
former Presidential Spokesperson,
Mrs. Remi Oyo, was not only a
loss to Nigerian journalism, but
also to Nigerian women at large.
Atiku, who disclosed this in a
condolence message said Mrs. Oyo
distinguished herself in her own
profession as an excellent and
hardworking Journalist, rising to
the position of President of the
Nigeria Guild of Editors.
Oyo’s death a great loss, says
Fayemi
Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode
Fayemi, described the death of
former presidential spokesperson,
Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, as a great loss
to the state and Nigeria as a
whole. In a statement by his Chief
Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka
Oyebode, the governor said Mrs.
Oyo’s death is a bitter pill to
swallow at this critical period in
the history of the state and the
country.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo
State who said the death was
shocking and disheartening,
noted,“Mrs. Oyo was a leading
light in the journalism profession
in Nigeria.”
Oshiomhole mourns
Edo State Governor, Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole has
commiserated with the president,
Nigerian Guild of Editors over the
death of a former president of the
Guild, Mrs Remi Oyo in a London
hospital. In a condolence message
signed by his Chief Press
Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria,
Comrade Oshiomhole said: “Mrs
Oyo’s death is a sad loss not only
to her family, the Guild of Editors,
the media industry but to the
entire nation which she served with
vigour and forthrightness.”
Remi Oyo, a worthy role model in
Journalism—Fashola
Governor Babatunde Fashola of
Lagos State described late Oluremi
Oyo as a forthright journalist who
practiced journalism driven by
values and comported herself as a
worthy role model in the profession
throughout her life time.
Fashola who expressed shock and
sadness over the sudden death
said in a condolence statement
that she would be sorely missed by
all.
Recalling the dynamism which Oyo
brought to bear into her national
assignment as Spokesperson to
former President Olusegun
Obasanjo and her leadership of the
Nigerian Guild of Editors and the
NAN, the governor noted that her
passage, though, very painful
should also serve as inspiration to
all media professionals to always
strive for excellence.
While expressing his heartfelt
condolences to the widower, Mr
Vincent Oyo and the family, the
Nigerian Guild of Editors and the
Nigeria Union of Journalists,
Fashola prayed, “May God
Almighty grants the departed soul
peaceful repose and abide with all
family members and the journalism
family she left behind.”
ADEYEYE MOURNS REMI OYO
The Minister of State for Works,
Prince Adedayo Adeyeye has
described the death of former
President of the Nigeria Guild of
Editors (NGE), Mrs Oluremi Oyo as
“the fall of one of the grand oak in
the forest of the media profession
in Nigeria,” saying her death was a
great loss to the nation and Ekiti
State in particular.
Adeyeye said Remi Oyo was a
quintessential media icon, who
injected technocratic wisdom into
her media works.
“It is sad to have lost a rare and
unique woman who contributed
immensely to nation building
through her chosen profession of
journalism.
“No doubt, Remi Oyo’s death is a
loss to the nation in particular,
and the media world in general.
“I express my heartfelt condolence
for the loss of such a media icon
and wish the entire family the
continued support and guidance of
the Almighty God.
“My prayer is that God in His
infinite mercies will console the
family, especially her husband and
children the grace and fortitude to
bear this sad loss,” Adeyeye said.
Also former Minister of Sports and
Special Duties, Prof. Taoheed
Adedoja has described the death of
Mrs Remi Oyo, the Former
Managing Director of News Agency
of Nigeria, aa a big loss to the
whole nation.
According to him, her death has
created a vacuum in the media
that would be difficult to fill.
Adedoja, who is a governorship
aspirant in Oyo State said, ‘’she
was a woman of transformation,
the way she transformed News
Agency of Nigeria during her
tenure as the Managing director, is
incomparable”.
‘’She was an epitome of excellence
in the way she discharged her
duties even as the spokesperson of
former President Olusegun
Obasanjo. There is no doubt that
she will be missed by those who
have worked closely with her and
the Nigerian media at large.
Remi Oyo: Obuh commiserates with
family, NGE
Delta State governorship aspirant,
Sir Tony Obuh, has expressed
shock over the death of the
Managing Director of the News
Agency of Nigeria, Mrs Olluremi
Oyo, who passed on in the United
States, where she was undergoing
treatment for cancer.
Obuh who described Oyo one of the
most eminent Nigerian female
journalists lamented that she died
too soon, noting that she served
the country selflessly.
“Remi Oyo was a special person
who would be deeply missed and
be always remembered as a
hardworking and dependable
professional. As we all mourn her,
we should also have it at the back
of our mind that she lived a
purposeful life in defence of the
truth and public interest as well as
the promotion of the highest
standards in her chosen profession
of journalism,” Obuh said.
He prayed God to give Mr. Vincent
Oyo, husband of the late seasoned
journalist and her two children,
Otome and Okiemute the fortitude
to bear the irreparable loss.
“Although no words can take away
the pain of the family over the loss
of Remi, I want the family to know
that our hearts and thoughts are
with them in this moment of grief,”
he said.
In the same vein, Obuh also
commiserated with the Nigeria
Guild of Editors, which Oyo served
for two terms as president in the
course of her career as a
journalist.
His words: “ I know this must be a
difficult time for the Nigeria Guild
of Editors as well as the
management and staff of NAN and
her many colleagues in journalism
because Remi carved a niche for
herself in a profession hitherto
dominated by men. She
patriotically entered national
service as Senior Special Assistant
(Media & Publicity) to former
President Olusegun Obasanjo in
2003 and served with great
distinction as the first female
Press Secretary to a Nigerian
leader until 2007. Mrs. Oyo cannot
be forgotten in a hurry for her
unquantifiable sacrifice for the
advancement of the journalism
profession.”
Obi Mourns Remi Oyo
The former Governor of Anambra
State, Mr. Peter Obi has
commiserated with the family of
Dame Remi Oyo, the Nigerian Guild
of Editors and the Nigerian Union
of Journalists over the death of
Remi Oyo.
Obi who described Remi Oyo as a
foremost journalists, said she plied
his trade with urbanity, objectivity
and maturity, thus teaching the
younger ones the need to be
guided by the ethics of the
profession at all times.
“Throughout her carrier which saw
her reaching the apex of the
profession, whether as the
President of the Nigerian Guild of
Editors, the spokesperson to a
former President of the Country or
Director General of the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she
represented the best and carried
out her duties with becoming
calmness even in the face of most
challenging odds” She thought us
all the difference between passing
of information and plain
rascality” , Obi said. To the people
that worked with her, Obi observed
that she treated with a mother’s
surpassing kindness.
Obi appealed to the current
President of the Guild of Editors ,
Mr. Femi Adeshina to take heart
over the misfortune of death
visiting some of their members,
saying that “God knows best and
would not be questioned.”
No comments:
Post a Comment