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Jonathan, Mark, NGE, Others Mourn Ex-NAN MD
The Oyo family has announced the death of a Former Managing Director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dame Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo, in London on Wednesday.
In a statement, issued yesterday, 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.
She began her journalism career in 1973 in the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, now known as the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), as a reporter.
She later joined NAN as a Desk Editor in 1981 and left in 1985 as a Principal Editor, the first woman to attain such a high position in the Agency.
In NAN, she was responsible for editing copies for the General News and Foreign News Bulletin and headed the two desks at different times.
Owing to her professional astuteness, she was put in-charge of the control of news going out of the agency.
In her role as the Control Editor, she had the responsibility for ensuring the standard for which NAN became known.
“All stories transmitted by the Agency had the stamp of Dame Oyo,’’ the statement said.
She worked in NAN up to 1985 when she left to take up an appointment with Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS) as the Nigerian Bureau Chief.
She later became the Chief of IPS West African Bureau.
Oyo was elected President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and served for two consecutive tenures from 1999 to 2003.
She was the first woman to be so honoured and she had also served first as Secretary of the NGE, the professional body of editors running the country’s media industry.
“As President of the Guild, she set up a functional secretariat which still exists today at the NAN complex, Iganmu, Lagos by the National Arts,’’ the statement said.
Oyo was educated at the University of Lagos, where she studied Mass Communication at the Diploma level and graduated with distinction and the best graduating student.
She held a master’s Degree in International Relations from the University of Canterbury at Kent and also earned a post-graduate Diploma in International Relations from the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos.
In honour of her patriotism, the former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, appointed her as a member of the 1999 Constitution Drafting Committee.
She is a recipient of Nigeria’s National honour, the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
She has also received many other awards, including the National Council of Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), and the Nigerian Institute of Peace Administrators.
“On January 7, 2011, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, imparted Apostolic Blessing on her for the prestigious award of Papal Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great,’’ the statement said.
Her union with Vincent was blessed with two children, Otome and Okiemuote, and three grandchildren.
A devout Catholic, Oyo was Vice-Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council of SS Joachim and Anne of the Catholic Church, Ijegun, Lagos.
Her primary education was at St. James Catholic Primary School in Ilorin and she attended St. Louis Girls Secondary School, Bompai, Kano.
In a reaction, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he received with sadness the news of the death of a former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Remi Oyo.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President commiserated with the deceased’s relatives and professional colleagues.
He said Oyo would be remembered for her exemplary professional life, her inspiring leadership qualities and her remarkable transformation of NAN during her tenure.
The statement read, “President Goodluck Jonathan has received with immense sadness, news of the passing away of one of the most eminent Nigerian female journalists and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Dame Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo.
“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.
“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.
“President Jonathan joins them in mourning Dame Oyo who having attained great success in a profession hitherto dominated by men, 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 Head of State until 2007.
“The President believes that although she was already much honoured in life with accolades and awards including Officer of the Order of the Niger, Dame Oyo will always be remembered and continually honoured in posterity for her exemplary professional life, her inspiring leadership qualities, motherliness and generosity, her immense patriotism and her remarkable transformation of the News Agency of Nigeria during her tenure as the agency’s Managing Director.
“He prays that God Almighty will comfort her family and all who mourn Dame Oyo, and grant her kind soul peaceful repose in eternity.”
Also, Senate President, David Mark, yesterday lamented the death of a frontline Journalist and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Mrs. Remi Oyo.
Mark, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Paul Mumeh, in Abuja, said the late Oyo distinguished herself as a professional and a successful administrator of very high repute.
The Senate president said, “As an Editor, she was a pathfinder. As the President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, 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.”
He also recalled Oyo’s role as the Media Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo during which she “exceedingly deployed her professional competence to the service of her fatherland.”
He further noted that Oyo would be remembered for her uncommon patriotism, honesty and commitment to nation building.
He, therefore, urged the bereaved family to take solace in the fact that Remi Oyo lived an accomplished life and left her positive footprint on the sands of time.
Similarly, the Senate through a statement by its spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, in Abuja, described as shocking, the sudden death of Oyo.
The senate recalled Oyo’s contributions to media development, particularly her pivotal role in revolutionising news gathering through wire services as exemplified in her sterling performance in NAN as its Managing Director.
According to the statement, “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 “
The statement also added that the senate would really miss Oyo.
However, the Nigerian media community yesterday mourned the death of Mrs Oluremi Oyo, the immediate past Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who died on Wednesday.
Oyo, aged 61, died in the UK, where she was recuperating, after receiving treatment from an ailment.
Reacting to the news, the President of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Mr Femi Adesina, said “Nigerian editors have lost a pillar.
“She was a pillar to Nigerian journalism and the Guild. She transformed the Guild and will always be remembered.’’
Adesina said these were sad times for Nigerian editors, who had lost three key members in their ranks.
“Within four weeks we have lost Dimgba Igwe, the Vice-Chairman of the Sun Group, we lost Mike Akpan (Editor-in-Chief of Realnews online magazine) and now Remi Oyo.
“It is a sad season for Nigerian journalism and editors; we pray God to spare us,’’ he said.
In his reaction, a former President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Bonnie Iwuoha, described Oyo’s death as a sad loss to the media industry.
Iwuoha described Oyo as a “core professional par excellence. She settled for nothing but the best and encouraged people to put in their best.’’
He said that the NGE was passing through turbulent times, considering the death of three key members, namely, Oyo, Igwe and Akpan, Realnews online media.
Iwuoha prayed God to protect media professionals in the country and to grant the bereaved families fortitude to bear the losses.
The Publisher of Realnews, Ms Maureen Chiggbo, described Oyo as “a good women and a mother.
“She uplifted NAN when she held forte and she lived a good life. I pray God to grant her eternal rest.’’
The President of NUJ, Malam Mohammed Garba, described Oyo’s death as “shocking’’ and described her as a “very senior colleague and a veteran’’, who was very acting in the journalism profession.
Mohammed said Oyo “related very well with the media even when she was a Special Adviser on Media to President Olusegun Obasanjo and President Nigerian Guidld of editors.
“She believed in professionalism and the ethics of the journalism profession.
“We will continue to remember her for her good works in service and the programmes she initiated in NAN when she was the MD and continue to learn from them.’’
Executive Secretary, Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr Claribel Abam (left), showing a document to the chairman of the board, Dr Uriah Etawo at a meeting with the Rivers State House of Assembly adhoc Committee in Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Chris Monyanaga
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.