ABUJA – The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity,Dr Reuben Abati, has described the death of Mrs Oluremi Oyo as a great loss to the country’s womenfolk.
Abati made the remark when he led a presidential delegation on a condolence visit to the deceased’s family at her residence in Abuja.
Oyo, 62, was the immediate past Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
She died on Oct. 1 in the United Kingdom following an ailment.
NAN reports that the deceased’s husband, Mr Vincent Oyo, and her son, Otome, received the delegation.
Abati said that President Goodluck Jonathan had excellent recollections of Mrs Oyo’s commitment and devotion to duty while in public service.
Abati said: “I am here to convey to you the heartfelt condolences of Mr President, who has already issued a statement expressing his condolences to the family.
“He knew Mrs Oyo personally before even working with her.
“He always talks about how he was impressed by Mrs Oyo’s dynamism, commitment and professionalism each time he visited the villa, while he was governor of Bayelsa State in those days.
“The president particularly admires the fact she was one woman who was able to break the glass sink in her profession.
“She was the first female president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors; the first Nigerian woman to head an international news agency and the first woman also to head NAN.
“By the time she was the MD of NAN, she had the opportunity also to work directly with President Jonathan.
“The president also has fond memories of the great efforts she made to upgrade operations of NAN and he has asked me to further convey to you, and the children his deep commiserations.’’ [eap_ad_2] The spokesman said that he was also at the family’s residence in his capacity as the head of the Media and Publicity department of the president’s office.
NAN recalls that Mrs Oyo headed the department as the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Abati prayed God to continue to be with the family of the deceased and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
Responding, Mr Oyo expressed the family’s gratitude to the president for sending the delegation, and for his love and personal concern.
Describing his wife’s death as very painful to him, Mr Oyo said that there were many things people did not know about his wife.
“Worthy of mention is her level of humility and the fact that she loved going to the kitchen to make sure that I looked well and was well fed,’’ he said, fighting back tears.
He also expressed gratitude to the media for the “kind words and glowing tributes’’ it had been paying to his wife since her death.
According to him, Mrs Oyo’s death is as much a loss to the country’s media as it is to the family.
On the president’s delegation was the Director of Information in his office, Mr Justin Abuah, and other staff of the department. (NAN) [eap_ad_3]