No fewer than 500 members of the Nigerian and international media family, yesterday, paid glowing tributes to former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria, Dame Felicia Oluremilekun Oyo, for her indelible marks in the media industry at an event tagged: “The Media Afternoon of Songs and Tributes”.
OBSEQUIES: From left; Mr Vincent Oyo, widower; Mrs Okeiemuote Abudiore, daughter, Mrs Tolulope Abudiore, Mrs Nkem Oyo, and Mr Otome Oyo, during the Media Afternoon of Song and Tributes for Late Oluremi Oyo, Former Managing Director of NAN, held yesterday at NAN Media Centre, Iganmu, Lagos.
The event which was held at the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Media Centre, National Theatre Complex, Iganmu, Lagos, was well attended by publishers, editors, veteran journalists, clerics, staff of NAN, friends, and members of her family.
After several readings from the Bible and hymns, the officiating priests prayed for the husband, children and her larger family.
Roll call
Those who reminisced on her life and times, describing her death as a great loss to the pen profession and the nation at large were Lateef Ibirogba, Commissioner for Information, Lagos State; Gbenga Adefaye, former President Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE and General Manager (Publications) /Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspapers; Femi Adesina, President, NGE; Jide Adebayo, Executive Director Marketing and Lagos Operations, NAN; Comfort Obi, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, The Source Magazine, Lanre Arogundade, Executive Director, International Press Centre, IPC among others.
Mr. Jide Adebayo,executive director and head of Lagos office, News Agency of Nigeria, in his opening remarks said that death is one debt all of us will pay. He urged those present not to wear any forced sobriety as the will of God cannot take us to where His grace cannot keep us.
Adebayo said Remi Oyo came to NAN when the agency was almost collapsing as they were only producing 60 stories per day. “She came and turned things around and we started producing over 300 stories per day”, he said
Oyo broke through the glass ceiling — Adesina
In his tributes, president of the Guild of Editors, Femi Adesina, said: “In a profession where the glass ceiling for women is bulletproof, she simply shattered it. Dame Oluremi Oyo is known for many firsts. The first woman to lead the NGE and for two terms, and how she did it with panache and decorum! The first woman to be SSA media and publicity to a Nigerian President. Is there then still a glass ceiling? No, she dismantled it all. Blasted and shattered it. She was a pride to the womenfolk in journalism. What do we say of her work at News Agency of Nigeria as Managing director? Another glass ceiling she shattered in style, her work will follow her and be a testimony that an Amazon was here.
She was obsessed with milestones —Adefaye
Former President of the Guild, Gbenga Adefaye described her as a team leader who drove a team that believed that hard work only leaves one panting. According to him, “She was obsessed with milestones as she told me about the need to rebrand the Guilds as an institution that is credible, focused and respected by the society. She was the first female President of the NGE, first female MD/CEO of Africa’s premier news agency, NAN. She was the deliberate quintessential leader of men with a followership that was cohesive, united and forceful enough to affect the direction of the association for years after her departure from the leadership of the Guild.”
OBSEQUIES FOR REMI OYO: From left; Mr Frank Aigbogun, Publisher, Businessday newspaper; Mr Gbenga Adefaye, General Manager, Publications/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard newspaper, and Mrs Mary Udochukwu Ifionu, at the event.
Second General Secretary of the Guild, Isaac Ighure, said late Remi will be remembered by the NGE for her exemplary leadership qualities which brought the guild out of near comatose.
Lanre Arogundade in his tribute said late Oyo played a leading role in the passage of the freedom of information law. “Remi Oyo was a veteran journalist who saw tomorrow. She played an active leadership role in encouraging Nigerian journalists to learn foreign languages like French, she urged journalists to acquaint the mselves with computer knowledge and also fought for the passage of the Freedom of Information Bill. She was a journalist who was like the proverbial river that doesn’t forget her source. “
Similarly, Ibirogba, who described the former President of NGE, as a woman who practiced journalism excellently said “She has made her mark. All of us should think what are we going to be remembered for, if we leave today like Remi.”
On her part, Obi, who described the former Managing Director of NAN as a mentor said “It is an irony of life that I stand here talking about her in the past. She is my sister, friend and confidant. A combination of Oyo and I was formidable. We made the powers that be shake.”
No comments:
Post a Comment