Tears as NTA Reporter is Buried
LAGOS AUGUST 5TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The remains of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) reporter, Kafaya Odunsi, who died last Friday in an auto crash near Osu, Osun State, have been buried amid tears.
The late Ms Odunsi was among officials of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who were returning from Abuja after a meeting of the union on members’ welfare, when the accident occurred.
Two other officials of the union were seriously injured.
Ms Odunsi was buried at Okesuna Cemetery, Lagos Island, at 5.05pm.
The late NTA reporter’s body arrived at the television station’s premises at Tejuosho, Surulere, from Osogbo, the Osun State capital, at 3.15pm, in an ambulance with registration number OS 67 A30. It was taken to one of the buildings for dressing and prayers.
At exactly 4.30pm, the ambulance left the NTA premises in a long convoy for the Okesuna Cemetery.
The late Ms Odunsi was buried according to Islamic rites amid tears from relations, colleagues and friends.
The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Security, Strategy and Publicity, Mr Segun Olulade, led members of Assembly’s press corps for the last respect to the deceased.
Until her death, the late Ms Odunsi was attached to the Assembly. She was also the Treasurer of the Assembly’s Correspondents’ Association (LAHACA).
Olulade told reporters that the late NTA reporter was a promising woman, who was “dedicated to her job and was a committed member of LAHACA. She is a peace-loving person and very respectful”.
He added: “I am still in shock. I find it difficult to accept her death. She is somebody we will all miss. Besides, Nigeria has missed someone we can look unto in the future. It is very unfortunate.”
NUJ National President Garba Mohammed, who led other members of the National Exco to the funeral, said Ms Odunsi’s death was a sad moment for the media family.
He said: “It is really shocking and very unfortunate.
“All we are doing now is to continue to pray for those who are in the hospital to recover quickly, as well as pray for the repose of the souls of our departed colleagues.
He urged journalists to consider taking insurance seriously.
Mohammed said: “As the profession is associated with a lot of hazards, we want to appeal to the management of media houses to ensure that every journalist in their organisation is insured.”
Also present at the ceremony was a former Chairman of the Lagos NUJ Council, now the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Kwara State governor, Abdulwahab Oba.
Source: Nation