Following the death of Oluremi Oyo, former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), prominent Nigerians have continued to mourn her, agreeing that she would be sorely missed.
For President Goodluck Jonathan, the news was received with immense sadness.
Jonathan described Oyo as one of the news of the most eminent Nigerian female journalists.
He expressed condolence with Oyo’s 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,” the president said through his Aide on media and publicity, Reuben Abati.
“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 prayed that God Almighty should comfort her family.
She was a Trailblazer — Amosun
Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun also expressed sadness at Oyo’s death, describing her as a “frontline female journalist”.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media, Mrs Olufunmilayo Wakama, Amosun said:
“Dame Oyo was not only an icon of an ideal journalist but also a trailblazer in the pen profession who was well respected in the media world. I recall those days at the Villa, when I was a senator, I used to marvel at her energy and dedication to duty as senior special assistant on media and publicity to President Olusegun Obasanjo between 2003 and 2007.
“I used to wonder how a woman could keep up with such a strenuous job as the first female spokesperson to a president.”
Amosun commiserated with her family, management and staff of NAN, the NGE as well as the media industry in Nigeria.
He prayed to the almighty God to grant her soul eternal rest and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
She was a grand oak in the forest of media — Adeyeye
The Minister of State for Works, Prince Adedayo Adeyeye described Oyo’s death 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,” Adeyeye said.
“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.”
She was a role model to professional women — Atiku
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said Oyo’s death was not only a loss to Nigerian journalism, but also to Nigerian women at large.
He noted that Oyo’s rise to prominence in her chosen profession was a testimony to the fact that women could attain any position through excellence, once the opportunity was given to them.
Atiku explained that Oyo was a pride to Nigerian journalism and womanhood at large, adding that she was a role model to many professional women committed to hard-work and excellence.
