More condolences keeps coming in over the sudden death of the Publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi on July 4, 2023 at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State after a brief illness.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu described Ibiyemi’s death as shocking and a colossal loss to journalism and the media industry in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu in a condolence message issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, said Ibiyemi’s death is painful and heartbreaking, noting that the rich experience and knowledge of the deceased will be sorely missed.
The Governor, who also commiserated with the Ibiyemi family, the management and staff of the Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper over the death of the Publisher, said Dr. Ibiyemi had written his name in gold and the legacies he left behind are immense and indelible.
He said, “On behalf of the Lagos State Government, I sympathise with the Ibiyemi family, the management and staff of Nigerian NewsDirect over the death of an accomplished journalist and Publisher, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi.
“I also commiserate with the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the President, Executives and members of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), the deceased friends, colleagues, and entire journalists in Nigeria over the demise of Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi.
“Dr. Ibiyemi was a brilliant, hardworking and versatile journalist, who had distinguished himself in the media profession as a Reporter, Business Editor and Energy Editor, before establishing his newspaper, Nigerian NewsDirect.
“He made lots of positive impacts during his lifetime, contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria, as well as the economic and political development of the country as an employer of labour and publisher of one of the credible newspapers in the country.
“Dr. Ibiyemi’s death is a great loss to the media industry and Nigeria. He will be greatly missed by all of us. I pray that God will grant the deceased eternal rest and grant his family, friends, colleagues, staff, and media industry the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
Also, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa has expressed shock over the death of Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi, describing it as a huge loss to the family and Nigeria as a whole.
Dabiri-Erewa in a condolence message in Abuja on Wednesday, said late Samuel Ibiyemi was a quintessential gentleman, a great journalists, a servant of God and an asset to the nation.
The NIDCOM boss said that late Samuel was a quintessential gentleman, a great journalists, a servant of God and an asset to the nation.
Dabiri-Erewa prayed unto God to give his family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss and grant his soul eternal rest.
The 56 years old Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi studied Economics at Obafemi Awolowo University and obtained his Masters on Economics at University of Lagos.
He established the Nigerian NewsDirect Newspaper about 13years ago and the paper has contributed immensely to the expansion of the socio-economic development of the nation.