The Tooro Kingdom in western Uganda is mourning the death of its monarch, His Majesty Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV.

King Oyo ascended the throne in 1995 at the age of just three, following the death of his father, King Patrick Matthew Kaboyo Olimi III.

His ascension made him one of the youngest monarchs in the world and drew considerable attention to the historic Ugandan kingdom. Over the years, however, he grew into the role and became a respected symbol of the rich history, culture and traditions of the people of Tooro.

His reign was closely associated with the preservation and promotion of the identity, heritage and cultural values of the Tooro people. As Omusinga, or King, he represented a cherished institution whose roots are deeply embedded in the history of western Uganda.

His passing has plunged the Tooro Kingdom into mourning, with tributes expected from the royal family, traditional leaders, government officials and members of the public.

King Oyo’s death is a profound loss to the Tooro Kingdom, Uganda and all those who admired his leadership and the cultural heritage he represented.

The Kingdom is now left to mourn a monarch who, despite ascending the throne as a child, grew to become an important custodian of Tooro’s history, traditions and cultural identity.

The post KINGDOM MOURNS AS KING OYO NYIMBA KABAMBA IGURU RUKIDI IV DIES appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

Nigeria’s journalism community has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran journalist and former President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), Mr. Dotun Oladipo, who reportedly died suddenly in Lagos on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. He was 56.

The announcement of his death was made by the President of GOCOP, Danlami Nmodu, mni, through the guild’s WhatsApp platform on Tuesday night.

Nmodu described the development as a deeply painful loss, announcing that Oladipo, who served as an emeritus president of the organisation, had passed away.

The death of Oladipo has sparked grief among colleagues, media professionals and members of Nigeria’s journalism community, many of whom regarded him as a committed practitioner who devoted decades to the development of the profession.

Oladipo was widely recognised for his extensive experience in journalism, having spent about three decades working across different areas of the Nigerian media industry.

Throughout his career, he worked with notable media organisations, including Newswatch magazine, The Punch and the Nigerian Tribune, where he built a reputation for his dedication to news gathering and accurate reporting.

He later founded Premium Eagle Media Limited, the publisher of Eagle Online, an organisation that established itself in Nigeria’s growing digital media space.

Under his leadership, Eagle Online became known for real-time news reporting, online television and data-driven journalism, reflecting Oladipo’s commitment to adapting to the changing nature of the media industry.

Colleagues described him as a journalist with a strong instinct for identifying important stories and an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of truth.

Beyond his professional achievements, Oladipo was also remembered for his relationship with younger journalists and other practitioners. He was regarded as approachable, humble and willing to offer guidance and assistance to those coming behind him.

His contribution to journalism also extended to professional bodies. He was a member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and played an important role in the development of corporate online publishing through his involvement with GOCOP.

His tenure and activities within GOCOP further strengthened his influence in Nigeria’s digital journalism community, particularly at a time when online publishing was rapidly becoming an important part of the country’s media landscape.

The news of his death has therefore been described by many in the profession as the loss of a major figure whose career spanned both traditional and digital journalism.

Oladipo’s passing at the age of 56 has also been viewed as a significant loss to a profession in which he had spent much of his life serving, mentoring and advocating for credible journalism.

As tributes continue to emerge, colleagues and associates are expected to remember him not only for the positions he occupied but also for the values he brought to journalism, including professionalism, humility, courage and a commitment to factual reporting.

The Nigerian media community has lost an experienced journalist and digital media pioneer whose influence will remain part of the country’s journalism history.

May his soul rest in peace, and may his family, colleagues and associates find strength during this difficult period.

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Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, on Friday paid glowing tribute to his late mother, Mrs. Rose Diri, describing her as a virtuous woman whose legacy of love and kindness continues to inspire many.

The governor spoke during the 13th memorial service held in honour of the late matriarch at Ayamasa in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Governor Diri said mothers occupy special places in the hearts of their children because of the care, warmth and sacrifices they make.

He noted that his late mother positively impacted the lives of her children, family members and others who came in contact with her during her lifetime.

According to the governor, her good deeds and enduring values remain evergreen in the memories of the family.

“Mothers occupy very special places in our hearts. We were indeed very close to our mother,” he said.

“We are only remembered by what we have done after our lives on earth. Although she died many years ago, Mama’s memories will remain evergreen in our hearts.”

Governor Diri urged people to reflect on their lives and strive to positively impact others through acts of kindness and service.

He disclosed that he and his siblings had quietly gathered every May 15 since her passing in 2013 to honour her memory, adding that this year’s memorial attracted dignitaries from different walks of life.

The well-attended service was graced by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Dr. Peter Akpe, and his wife, Dr. Favour Akpe, alongside several political leaders and government officials.

Also present were Senator Konbowei Benson, representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District; House of Representatives member, Oforji Oboku; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; and Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere.

Former Deputy Governor Peremobowei Ebebi, former APC governorship candidate Chief David Lyon, and former Director-General of the Department of State Services, Matthew Seiyefa, also attended the memorial service.

Others included the state representative on the Niger Delta Development Commission board, Deinyabofa Dimaro; former presidential adviser, Kingsley Kuku; Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 16, Abubakar Zubairu; and the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Daniel Iyamah.

Governor Diri read the Bible lesson from 2 Timothy 4:6-8 during the service.

Delivering a brief exhortation titled “Mama Rose Came, Saw and Conquered,” the Special Adviser to the Governor on Religious Matters, Rev. Godspower Asingba, urged people to live exemplary lives that would leave lasting positive memories.

He said the late Mrs. Diri touched many lives and left enduring values in her children.

Wreaths were later laid at her tomb by Governor Diri, his brothers Friday and Ebiegberi Diri, as well as Mrs. Damiebi Trust.

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Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has said the late Senator Barinada Barry Mpigi was a man whose life left a lasting impact on people and communities.

Speaking during the outing and thanksgiving service held in honour of the late federal legislator at the Beth-El Anglican Church, Koroma Deanery in Tai local government area of Rivers State on Sunday, Governor Diri urged Nigerians to nurture and value relationship, noting that good memories and legacies were the consolation of the living.

He expressed regret over his inability to attend the his funeral activities due to official commitments, including the recent hosting of the President.

He said: “Senator Mpigi was a friend and a brother. Though I could not be present earlier due to conflicting state engagements, I made it a duty to be here today to honour his memory and speak to his family.”

Reflecting on the inevitability of death, the Bayelsa helmsman stated that while it was the collective wish of many that Senator Mpigi lived longer, fate had taken its course.

He recounted his long-standing relationship with him, which he said began during their time in the House of Representatives and continued into the Senate.

Diri said Mpigi, who represented Rivers South-East Senatorial District until his demise, was courageous, lively, and deeply committed to the development of the Niger Delta region.

“We would have loved him to be with us, even to bury his aged father and not the other way round. But who are we to question God, who knows the beginning from the end.

“We cross-pollinated ideas and worked together for our region while we were in the National Assembly. Barry was always part of us. We became not just colleagues, but brothers,” he said.

The governor emphasised that beyond political office, it is relationship and contributions to humanity that defined a person’s legacy.

“It is not the offices we occupy that matter. Offices are temporary. It is the relationships we build and the value we add to lives that endure.

“Whatever anyone has done to you, learn to forgive. If we do not forgive, how can we expect forgiveness from our Heavenly Father?”

He encouraged the bereaved family, especially the father, the widow of the deceased, Mrs. Patricia Mpigi, and the children to take solace in the impactful life the senator lived.

On behalf of the government and people of Bayelsa State, the governor expressed his condolences to the Mpigi family and prayed for strength to bear the loss.

He pledged to donate a bus to the church, which was built by Mpigi, and a car to the resident minister.

On the governor’s entourage were Senator Konbowei Benson (Bayelsa Central), Hon. Fred Agbedi (Sagbama/Ekeremor Federal Constituency), Hon. Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown (Sagbama Constituency 3), the Commissioner for Youth Development, Alfred Nimizigha, and the Special Adviser on Ijaw Affairs, Chief Erasmus Patrick.

Also present at the service were Senator Magnus Abe and other serving and non-serving national and state legislators from Rivers State among others.

Daniel Alabrah is the Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor

April 12, 2026

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In an emotional tribute, Peters said he was still struggling to come to terms with the loss, noting that the deceased’s influence, spirit, and presence would remain unforgettable.

“You weren’t just a friend, you were my brother,” he said, paying homage to the bond they shared over the years.

The music icon also reflected on the memories they created together, expressing gratitude for the role Prof. Ajao played in his life and career.

“Thank you for everything. I’ll carry the memories always,” he added.

Peters further emphasised that the late Ajao’s legacy would continue to live on through his contributions and enduring impact, particularly in music and personal relationships.

“Your legacy lives on, your music lives on, and you will never be forgotten,” he said.

The tribute has since drawn reactions from fans and associates, who have joined in mourning and celebrating the life and legacy of Prof. Y.K. Ajao.

The post Shina Peters Mourns Late Prof. Y.K. Ajao, Describes Him as ‘Brother and Unforgettable Presence appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

In the quiet dignity of farewell, beneath the solemn echoes of hymns and heartfelt tributes, Lagos stood still to honour a woman whose life was defined not merely by years, but by impact — Olúwakemi Oyeteru James.

Over two deeply moving days, family, friends, and an expansive circle of admirers gathered first at the revered Daystar Christian Centre for a Service of Songs, and later for a Special Farewell Service that was nothing short of majestic in grace and reverence. It was not just a goodbye; it was a celebration — a luminous tribute to a life that burned brightly and beautifully to the very end.

At the heart of the ceremonies stood her beloved husband, Michael Effiong, ace journalist and Special Assistant on Lagos Affairs to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State — a man whose grief was softened, even if only slightly, by the overwhelming outpouring of love that filled the atmosphere.

SERVICE OF SONGS

The gathering itself spoke volumes. Leading the roll call of honour was Umo Eno, whose presence underscored the deep respect and connection the family commands. Alongside him stood eminent personalities including Gbemisola Saraki and media titan Dele Momodu, among many other dignitaries drawn from across Nigeria’s social, political, and professional landscapes.

Yet, beyond the prominence of those in attendance, it was the stories that defined the moment.

Stories of kindness that arrived unannounced but always on time.

Stories of resilience woven into the fabric of family life.

Stories of a woman who balanced strength with tenderness — firm in discipline, yet boundless in love.

Olúwakemi was remembered as a resourceful businesswoman, a woman of quiet enterprise and dignified industry. She was not loud in ambition, yet her results spoke with clarity. She built, she nurtured, she uplifted — often without seeking applause.

But perhaps her most enduring legacy rests in her role as a mother.

Tributes painted the portrait of a woman who raised her children with intention — instilling values, shaping character, and anchoring her home in love. She was described as firm but fair, disciplined yet deeply affectionate — a rare blend that produced not just a family, but a legacy of values.

And in that sacred space of remembrance, one truth became undeniable:

She did not merely live — she mattered.

There was a quiet poetry to the way her life was described — a journey that did not fade into obscurity, but rather culminated in a blaze of glory. Not the loud, fleeting blaze of spectacle, but the enduring glow of a life well lived, a heart well spent, and a legacy firmly etched in the lives she touched.

As the final prayers were said and the curtains gently drawn on her earthly chapter, what lingered was not just grief, but gratitude.

Gratitude for her laughter.

Gratitude for her sacrifices.

Gratitude for the unseen battles she fought and won for the sake of others.

In the end, Olúwakemi Oyeteju James leaves behind more than memories — she leaves behind a standard.

A standard of love that gives without counting.

A standard of strength that does not break under pressure.

A standard of life that reminds us all that true greatness is not in how long we live, but in how deeply we are felt.

May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

FAREWELL SERVICE

The post Mrs Oluwakemi Oyeteju James: She Came, She Loved, She Gave, She Triumphed appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

Oil and gas firm, Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, has eulogised the late Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, narrating how he supported and facilitated the company’s operations in the state.

The company’s Vice President, Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr. Igo Weli, who spoke on Monday when he led a management team to commiserate with Governor Douye Diri and the Ewhrudjakpo family at the Government House, Yenagoa, said the company has had the best of relationship and support from the state government due to the governor’s excellent team that the late deputy headed.

Dr. Weli described Ewhrudjakpo as a

pillar of support and a friend who stood on behalf of government in support of the firm’s operations.

He noted that although Ewhrudjakpo lived 60 years, his achievements were impactful.

His words: “I have always said that we get the best of support as a company from the government of Bayelsa State. Your Excellency has put together an excellent team and the departed deputy governor was a core member of that team.

“It is not about how long one lived but how well that matters. Ewhrudjakpo lived 60 years but one who lived double that number of years would never be able to achieve what he did.”

Weli also pledged the company’s support to the funeral programme to give the departed deputy governor a befitting farewell.

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited is an indigenous oil firm that acquired Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

Responding, Governor Douye Diri thanked the company’s management team for the visit.

He said Bayelsa did not only lose a deputy governor but that he also lost a friend and brother and one that was part of the state’s engine of governance.

He said: “Ewhrudjakpo’s impact and legacies would continue to speak for him. He was part and parcel of our engine of government and the reasons are not far-fetched.

“Looking back at the way we emerged as governor and deputy, we went through what I have always described as the wilderness experience. We stood by each other, we prayed and fasted together.

“This was one of the reasons I related with him differently, not really as a deputy governor. Today, he is no more but that is what life is.”

The four-day obsequies of the late Bayelsa deputy governor begin on Tuesday, January 27, and his remains will be interred at his hometown, Ofoni, in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state on Friday, January 30.

Daniel Alabrah is the Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor.

January 26, 2026.

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to the late Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, Chief Imam of Nghar village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, who gained national and international recognition for sheltering about 300 Christians during the 2018 communal violence in the state.

In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed deep sorrow over the cleric’s death, describing him as an exceptional religious leader whose life embodied faith, courage and an unwavering respect for the sanctity of human life.

Tinubu recalled that at a time when ethnic and religious tensions threatened to overwhelm reason, Imam Abubakar chose peace and humanity over division, placing himself at great personal risk to protect others.

“Mindful of the enormous danger to his own life, the noble cleric chose humanity over division, love over hatred and embrace rather than rejection,” the President said, adding that the Imam’s actions offered a powerful example of true faith and moral leadership.

The President noted that the late cleric’s bravery earned him both local and international recognition for promoting peaceful coexistence among people of different religious and ethnic backgrounds.

He urged religious and community leaders across the country to draw inspiration from Imam Abubakar’s life by promoting tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful living.

President Tinubu concluded by praying for the repose of the Imam’s soul, asking God to grant him eternal rest and reward him for his courage and selfless service to humanity.

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Television presenter Lorraine Kelly has paid an emotional tribute to her father, John Kelly, following his sudden death at the age of 84.

Mr Kelly was found injured on an outdoor path in his hometown of East Kilbride, near St Leonard’s Square shopping centre, on Saturday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards.

In a statement, Police Scotland said the death is being treated as unexplained but not suspicious. Officers are providing support to the family, and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Reacting to the loss, Kelly described her father’s death as a shock, despite his recent health challenges. Writing on Instagram, the 66-year-old ITV presenter said she was mourning “the man who bought me a telescope when I was five years old, who watched the moon landings with me and taught me to always be curious and interested in everything.”

She added: “He was in poor health but it has still been a shock. We will miss you, dad.”

Kelly also shared that she and her brother, Graham, are caring for their mother and requested privacy for the family during the period of mourning.

Tributes and messages of condolence poured in from fans and colleagues across the television industry. Among those offering their sympathies were presenters Davina McCall, Denise Welch and Gabby Logan, whose father, former footballer Terry Yorath, also died earlier this week.

Lorraine Kelly has enjoyed a broadcasting career spanning more than 37 years and has hosted her flagship ITV morning programme Lorraine since 2010.

Confirming the incident, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 7:00am on Saturday, we were called to a report of a man found injured on a path. The 84-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.”

The circumstances surrounding the death remain under review, pending the Procurator Fiscal’s assessment.

The post Lorraine Kelly Pays Tribute to Father Following Sudden Death appeared first on The Lagosian Magazine.

The former Bayelsa West Senatorial District representative in the 5th National Assembly between 2003 and 2007 died on Saturday in a hospital in Abuja at the age of 81.

Governor Diri, in a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, described Senator Brambaifa, who was popularly known as JKB, as an illustrious son of the state.

The Bayelsa helmsman stated that the late Brambaifa was an astute politician, who distinguished himself in public service.

“Bayelsa and Nigeria have lost an elder statesman, amiable gentleman, astute politician and a great community leader.

“Brambaifa left a legacy of unblemished and committed service to Nigeria, the old Rivers State, Bayelsa and indeed his community.

“On behalf of the Government of Bayelsa State, I extend sincere condolences to the Brambaifa family and the Agbere community in Sagbama Local Government Area, where he hailed from.”

The governor urged his family and community to be comforted by Brambaifa’s meritorious service and remarkable public and political career.

Until his death, Senator Brambaifa was the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Counci of the fledgling Federal University of Agriculture in Bassambiri, Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

He was also a past chairman of Sagbama Local Government Council in the old Rivers State as well as a former chairman of the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue.

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