BY BABS OYETORO
The pioneer Managing Director of The Sun Newspapers, Mr Mike Awoyinfa, has revealed that all his works after the demise of his bosom friend, Dimgba Igwe, will bear the latter’s name as co-author.
Awoyinfa made this disclosure during the 10th Anniversary Lecture organised by the former staff of The Sun Newspaper and Concord media allies of the duo iconic legends in the media profession.
“This is a promise I have made, and nothing will alter it. The book I authored after Dimgba passed away bore his name as co-author. All other books I am working on will bear his name as co-author, except if such work is my biography or personal book, then his name will not be included,” he disclosed.
The former defunct weekend Concord editor disclosed that life had remained unchanged since Dimgba’s passing.
He summarised his lamentation in a prepared paper he dubbed a “letter to Dimgba, which he read to the audience at the event held at the Colossus Hotel in Ikeja on Saturday.
“Oh, life without Dimgba Igwe is solitude, full of pains and unending grief..”
“How are the mighty fallen! Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph,” as he alluded to the Book of II Samuel chapter 1:19-21 to convey the message of the painful loss of his dear friend over these past 10 years.
Awoyinfa, who miraculously survived a life-threatening sickness, said God, in His infinite mercies, preserved his life, noting that he would have gone to meet his friend in the great beyond.
The matriarch of the Igwe family, Mrs Obioma Dimgba, was full of thanks to the Almighty God, whom she claimed had been the family’s pillar since her beloved husband’s death.
She also commended Awoyinfa as a dependable ally who never abandoned her family, even after her husband’s death.
One of the closest associates of the late Dimgba Igwe, Femi Adesina, the pioneer editor of The Sun Newspapers, referred to Igwe as a boss and a friend.
According to him, Dimgba lived a careful, clean life and died at 58. He lived his life in tabloid journalism.
Aremo Olusegun Osoba, the doyen of Nigerian media, who Mr. Lanre Idowu represented, noted that it would be difficult to talk about Dimgba in the past, adding that the late media icon stood for responsible journalism.
Another legend in the media profession, President of Tell, Nosa Igiebor, described the late Dimgba as a fine journalist with an unquenchable passion for the profession.
“He was humble to a fault. One of the books he co-authored with Mike Awoyinfa- Captains of Industries, remains one of the best books in our contemporary time,” he noted.
The President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors, Eze Anaba, said Dimgba was committed to serving humanity through responsible journalism. He lived an impactful life, mentored superstars, and died as a professional crusader. He will greatly be remembered for his service to humanity. ”
The event’s climax was when Mr Muyiwa Adetiba delivered the lecture paper “Tabloid Journalism: Yesterday, Today, and the Future.””
The former defunct Prime People publisher hilariously dispelled the general misconception about tabloid journalism, which many referred to as yellow or gutter journalism.
He was bold to tell his audience that tabloid journalism is responsible journalism embellished with facts but reported in a lucid manner or form.
