Journalists, Cleric Eulogise Late NAN Editor

The remains of the late Mr Azubuike Onowu, a senior editor with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), were laid to rest last  Saturday in his country home, Obosi, in Anambra.

In his homily, Venerable Titus Umeh, the Vicar of St. Andrews Anglican Church, Obosi, said that life is transient.

”Today, we are gathered in honour of Azubuike, that means that one day it will be your turn. Life on earth is not the goal as it ends in the grave and eternal life continues from there. “You must come to repentance by turning to God for salvation. Heaven is real and hell is real, you do not have opportunity to repent after death.

“Endeavour to be at peace with God and fellow men,” he admonished.

Umeh encouraged the family of the bereaved as well as the NAN family to take consolation in the Biblical assurance that there is resurrection for those who die in the Lord.

NAN’s Acting Executive Director (Editorial Operations), Mr Segun Aribike in his tribute, described the demise of Onowu as a great loss.

“He was a hard worker, interesting fellow. Indeed, I have lost a friend.”It is sad that we have to die one day, but we should be grateful to God in all things,” Aribike said.

He consoled the Onowu family, adding: “My cherished relationship with late Onowu was a symbol of true friendship and honour.

“He was somebody you could trust professionally; he would not do anything that would undermine you.”I am still dumbfounded by the loss. His death was a terrible loss to the journalism profession,” Mr Sunny Ugoh, the Acting Director of Communications, ECOWAS Secretariat, said in his tribute.

Mr Isaac Ighure, the Secretary-General of Nigeria Guild of Editors and the Head of NAN Lagos Office, said Onowu was a forceful personality, who played his role meritoriously.

“I knew him for two decades. He was a team player, easy and outgoing fellow. He respected his superiors and subordinates alike, his death came as a surprise to many of us,’’ he said.

Dr Nwabu Mgbemena, a former Managing Director of NAN, regretted that “Onowu did not live to retirement age and “Ito-Ogbo  Obosi’’. “I was excited that he had reached the position of a senior editor but unfortunately, it is a pity that he died so soon,” he said.