Lagos State Chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (Lagos SWAN) has described the demise of Complete Communications Limited Chairman and Publisher, Dr Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase as very sudden and unfortunate.
Reacting to the release by the immediate family, Lagos SWAN Chairman, Debo Oshundun described late Ojeagbase as a pathfinder who dedicated his life to the nation through journalism.
“He was a pathfinder who redefined sports journalism in Nigeria when he established Sports Souvenir weekly newspaper way back in 1984”.
Lagos SWAN chairman hailed the late retired officer of the Nigerian Army who started his journalism journey with Daily Times newspapers as a father figure to many and a symbol of how far sports journalism has evolved in Nigeria.
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“He was an active supporter of Lagos SWAN and was always ready to give young journalists a platform to grow”.
“Complete Sports always participated in all our activities most especially the SWAN week football competition which they have won several times”.
Ojeagbase was editor of Sunday Concord newspapers before taking up a similar role at the Guardian newspapers at inception in 1983 before his resignation in 1984 to go solo.
“We will surely miss him. Nigerian sports reporting terrain will miss him. Retired and active Super Eagles players and many other athletes who became national icons through his platforms will surely miss him”.
“We pray that God grants his soul an eternal repose and give his family and people affected by his death the fortitude to bear this loss”, Oshundun commented.
Amongst the publications he established were Sports Souvenir, Complete Sports newspaper, SuccessDigest, Complete Football magazine, Complete Football International (CFI) and International Soccer Review (ISR).