S-East senior journalists mourn Ohanaeze Ndigbo general, Iwuanyanwu

By Chinelo Kodilichukwu Enugu

A body of senior journalists of the southeast geo- political zone of Nigeria on the platform of IZUNWANNE on Friday mourned the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a doyen of the newspaper industry in Nigeria.

The Senior Journalists made this known in a statement signed by the Coordinator of the group, Abuchi Anueyiagu and issued to newsmen on Friday in Enugu state.

The statement reads in part: “We were shocked and surprised by the news of his death as we never knew that he was sick. Though he died as the President-General of the apex Igbo organisation, OHANAEZE NDIGBO, Chief Iwuanyanwu will be remembered by us for his unassailable role as a leading light in the newspaper industry in Nigeria,

“With his establishment of CHAMPION newspaper in 1988, a newspaper that became a household name and competed favourably with other prominent national newspapers in Nigeria.

“By the establishment of CHAMPION newspaper, which he located in Lagos, the hub of the newspaper industry in the country, Iwuanyanwu gave the Igbo a strong voice as the newspaper endured the test of time.

“Many members of IZUNWANNE passed through Iwuanyanwu’s newspaper in the course of their journalism practice. His immense contributions in the development and growth of both journalism and the newspaper industry cannot be over emphasised.

“He was a father-figure in the industry and left an indelible mark on the sands of time in both journalism and the newspaper world. He will sorely be missed.

“We condole with his family, the journalism world, the newspaper business community and indeed the country in general on the passage of this giant, philanthropist, patriot, illustrious Igbo son, astute politician, successful business and newspaper proprietor, well known figure in the construction sector, and a quintessential personality.

May his soul rest in peace.

IZUNWANNE, a nonprofit making; nonreligious; nonpartisan; and non political organisation, is a grouping of senior journalists of Southeast geo-political zone origin, retired or serving, living in any part of Nigeria or the world, who are desirous of and are working towards a better economic and socio-political development, growth and progress of the Southeast geo-political zone as an entity.

“We promote the common cause/good of the zone. We can be found in all legitimate fields of endeavour: journalism, broadcasting, public relations, advertising, law, banking, politics, religion, film making, business, corporate management” it stated.