Aged 56, Dr Ibiyemi succumbed to death at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan, Ogun State, where he was undergoing treatment.

In a statement on Wednesday by the NGE president, Eze Anaba and its General Secretary, Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the professional body of all the editors in Nigeria described the late publisher as a committed member of the NGE, who made his mark in journalism profession – as a reporter, business editor, editor and publisher.

“Even when Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi was struggling between life and death on his sick bed at the hospital, he was still breathing journalism; he wanted to know from his colleagues the latest happenings in our society; he called to find out the outcome of the national biennial convention of the NGE in Owerri.

‘’We were regularly in touch with him and his family; he assured us of his determination to survive; we were looking forward to him coming out of the Babcock University Teaching Hospital in Ilisan, where he was undergoing treatment.

‘’Dr. Ibiyemi was passionate about journalism profession and played his part in various newspapers before birthing his publication, Nigerian NewsDirect, some 13 years ago. He was a committed member of the NGE, and we take solace in the fact that he made his mark in the profession, as a reporter, editor and publisher, before his home call. His legacy, NewsDirect Newspapers, has continued to make impact with its rich content: informing, educating and entertaining readers, since it was created,’’ the editors stated.

While commiserating with the family, friends, and entire members of the journalism community on the passage of Dr Ibiyemi, the NGE prayed that Almighty God would give them, especially the widow and children, the needed strength at this difficult time and the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The NGE added, ‘’Dr Ibiyemi’s memory will live on through the impact he made on the world. He is now in a better place and watching over us. We are praying for his loved ones and family during this difficult time.

‘’We are wishing his loved ones peace, comfort, courage, and lots of love at this time of sorrow. Our heart goes out to all of them at this difficult time. We will never forget Dr Samuel Ibiyemi.  May God give him eternal rest.’’

The NGE said that if the earth that will cover the late publisher will be light, it is because, he was a true definition of humanity, courage, truth faith and hard work.

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Ibiyemi reportedly died on Tuesday afternoon at the Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan Remo, of pulmonary embolism.

In a condolence message to his family and media colleagues, Governor Abiodun described Dr. Ibiyemi, as a brilliant and versatile journalist, who deployed his wealth of experience in the profession to better the society.

He said the late publisher was a stickler for the truth, noting that through his medium, he contributed his own quota to the economic and political development of Nigeria.

“He was quick to realise the business aspect of journalism, hence, his foray into publishing. Through NewsDirect, a refreshing newspaper, Dr. Ibiyemi brought to bear his professionalism and business acumen.

“His death is a huge loss to his family and the journalism profession. His legacies are immense and indelible.

“We in Ogun State will miss this quintessential and courageous journalist of no mean repute. It is my prayer that God grant him eternal rest,” the governor said.

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The award was conferred on Danbatta at the 12th Anniversary Lecture and Award of Nigerian NewsDirect, one of the long-standing media players in the Nigerian communications industry, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday.

Danbatta, who was represented at the event by the Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, said it was gratifying to have been considered worthy for the award in recognition of the initiatives deployed by the commission in carrying out its statutory mandate.

The EVC stated that the theme “Good Governance: Private and Public Sectors’ Roles in Raising Revenue, Growth and Positive Turnaround of Nigerian Economy” provides the veritable opportunity for all stakeholders to seek better ways of advancing the course of good governance both in public office and in the private sector of the Nigerian economy.

In giving concrete expression to the strategic vision of the commission with respect to the theme of the programme, Danbatta said the commission is ever determined to ensure collaboration with all stakeholders in the Nigerian communications industry and even beyond as it remains one of the surest ways of enabling a positive turnaround of the Nigerian economy.

Danbatta thanked the organisers of the programme for the award and acknowledged that it was a call for more work to be done to push the frontiers of good governance that would ensure national development and economic growth.

While presenting the award, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Nigerian NewDirect, Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, said Danbatta was eminently qualified and deserving of the prestigious recognition on the strength of the huge role he had played in the attainment and surpassing of Nigeria’s national broadband target of 30 per cent in 2018 and that he is currently among those leading the charge for the realisation of the new national broadband penetration target of 70 per cent by 2025.

Ibiyemi added that with the incontrovertible facts on the ground, it was easy for the board and management of his organisation to agree that through an effective regulatory regime and various cutting-edge initiatives, Danbatta has stabilised the telecom industry and strengthened the telecommunications sector as a major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and boosted telecoms investment inflows from $36 billion to over $70 billion between 2015 toll date.

Other eminent Nigerians who were conferred with various categories of awards at the event include the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami; Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun; Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Bello Hassan; and  Executive Chairman, Benue State Internal Revenue Service, Mimi Adzape,  among others.

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Its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, EVC/CEO, Prof. Umar Danbatta, also received the Public Official of the Decade Award.

The combined awards, issued on the heels of a public lecture, titled “Public Sector Financing: The Oil Revenue, Challenges, Solutions and Prospects,” eloquently expressed the significance of telecom sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.

Noteworthy is telecoms’ 12.45 per cent contribution to the nation’s GDP in 2020, which was central and pivotal in taking the nation out of recession.

The awards, issued by Nigerian NewsDirect, a multimedia firm, was presented just two days ago at an impressive event at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, organised by the firm to commemorate its 11th anniversary.

As indicated, the presentation of the awards was preceded by the Nigerian NewsDirect anniversary public lecture,  Delivered by Dapo Okubadejo, Ogun State Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor.

Okubadejo’s paper reflects essentially on the increasing challenges of the nation’s dependence on oil revenues for public sector financing.

The paper offers solutions to better public sector financing from the context refocusing on the opportunities and prospects inherent in the oil sector but particularly in other sectors.

By sheer coincidence, or conscious contextual social intervention, the topic of the lecture and its treatment were not just poignant reflections of the state of the economy, they were fluent and persuasive of the role of NCC in midwifing and enabling the utilisation of telecoms and ICTs applications for economic recovery and growth, a fact that gives concrete expression to the imperative of diversification of the nation’s economy from oil, which is being vigorously pursued by the federal government and which NCC is a key sectoral driver.

The role NCC is mandated to play in enhancing Nigeria’s growth and development is not lost on its Management.

This strategic role and commitment to it was emphasised by Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s Director Public Affairs, who received the awards on behalf of the commission and the EVC/CEO.

Adinde, while conveying NCC’s gratitude for the award, said the commission would not rest on its oars but rededicate itself towards demonstrating its worthiness of the public trust and confidence reposed in it as an agency central to rediversification of the nation’s economy.

These garlands, swelling the repository of awards to NCC would not surprise discerning watchers of national events.

In November 2021, the commission conducted a historic auction of the 3.5GHz spectrum, in preparation for the deployment of 5G services to be activated this year.

It was not the first time NCC would conduct an auction but it was the first time it had completed an auction with the final bid ending at a price more than 30 per cent higher than initial bid offer.

The auction, which started with initial offer of $197.4 million, closed after 11 rounds at $273.6 million.

Two companies, Mafab Communications and MTN Nigeria Plc, won the bid.

Besides it routine activities, just a fortnight ago, the EVC delivered the Convocation Lecture of the Fountain University, at Osogbo, where he emphasised the imperative of youth’s embrace and exploration of the opportunities the ICT revolution had offered them to contribute to the nations growth and development.

Similarly, just a day after the Convocation Lecture, a digital training centre, facilitated by the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, an arm of NCC, was commissioned at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesha, Osun State.

The foregoing shows that the commission is unwavering in its commitment to expanding the nation’s frontiers of growth and development within the context of its mandate.

Many individuals (including Mr. Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Elumelu Foundation; and Ken Nnamani, President of ATCON); corporate organisations (including Ecobank, Chevron, and Polaris Bank); and State Governments (including Osun, Ogun and Benue) received various categories of awards.

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