LAGOS – The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said Mrs Remi Oyo, the former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) would be remembered for her professionalism and excellence.
Mr Lateef Ibirogba, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said this at the Media Afternoon of Songs and Tributes for the late Oyo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event took place at the NAN Media Centre in Lagos.
Oyo died on Oct.1 at a hospital in the UK after a brief illness.
“We are gathered here today to celebrate professionalism, excellence and knack for standards.
“We are gathered here to celebrate a woman who came, saw and conquered. She made sure that whatever she laid her hands on prospered,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that the life of Oyo was an example for all journalists to emulate and to pattern their professional journalistic careers after.
Also speaking at the event, Mrs Comfort Obi, the Executive Secretary of the Newspaper Association of Nigeria (NPAN) described Oyo as a friend, sister, colleague, mentor and confidant.
Obi said that since her paths crossed with that of Oyo’s at a meeting in NAN office, Oyo had been a major influence in her private life and her career.
“We (Oyo and I) were a formidable force. As female journalists, for years, we were not looked upon as important in the industry.
“We were only allowed to cover mundane beats, the consequential beats were considered to be for men, but we broke that ceiling on women,’’ she said.
Mr Lanre Arogundade, the former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos state chapter said that Oyo was a dominant and prominent force in the campaign for passage of the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.
Arogundade said that Oyo was one of the journalists who stood to be counted in the 1990s when journalists were being jailed, exiled and persecuted in the country.
“She was a river who never forgot her source, particularly after she became a senior special assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“She kept an open door policy in all her positions.
“She also made NAN a media conglomerate, introduced radio productions and sent journalists to NAN offices all over the world with limited funds,’’ he stressed.
The former NUJ Chief said that Oyo would be remembered for her candour, charisma, love and laughter.
Dr Nwabu Ngbemena, a former General Manager of NAN said that Oyo would be remembered for her hard work and as a very outgoing and friendly person.
Ngbemena said that when she came to NAN for the first time as a staff, he had no idea of the quality of person the agency had just recruited.
“She only needs to meet someone for the first time and before you know it they become fast friends, in fact, the person will be sending messages to you through her,’’ he said.
Oyo’s children, Otome and Okiemute thanked all that were present at occasion, saying that they were moved by the tributes paid to their late mother. (NAN) COF/GY