The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has sent a condolence message to the management of sports publishing outfit Complete Communications over the death of its founder, Dr Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase.
Dr Ojeagbase passed on in the United States of America at the age of 71 after a brief illness.
He was one of the nation’s foremost sports writers, his career was impactful and fruitful. He worked with such established media houses like The Daily Times, The Guardian and The Concord before launching into the private publication business in 1984 with such popular and widely read titles like Complete Sports, Complete Football, International Soccer Review(ISR) and a motivational journal, Success Digest.
The Minister prays that God will comfort his family, friends and colleagues and give them the fortitude to bear the huge loss which he says is national.
Also, the Nigeria Football Federation has described as “shocking” the death of Pastor (Dr) Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase.
President of the NFF and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Pinnick stated that the departed oracle of sports writing and sports publishing carved a bold niche for himself in the profession, made a profound impression on the terrain as he tutored and mentored those who came to be the foredogs of the following decades and left his giant footprints in the sands of time.
“Anyone in the line of football, nay sports knew Pastor (Dr) Sunny Ojeagbase. He was the authentic legend of sports writing and sports publishing, and even went into other terrains that people thought was not possible. We are shocked by his death at this time because he still had so much to give. However, God loves him much more and he has taken him at the appointed time.
“Our joy is that he lived a full, fruitful and fulfilled life. On behalf of the Nigeria Football family, we pray that Almighty God will grant him eternal rest and also grant the family he has left behind, as well as the Complete Communications family, the fortitude to bear this great loss.”
While the likes of Peter Osugo (Pecos), Ishola Folorunsho (Mr It’s A Goal), Solomon Babatunde Oshuntolu (ESBEE) and Bisi Lawrence cut the trees in the sports journalism jungle, Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase, at the lead of other illustrious names including Mitchel Obi, Ikeddy Isiguzo, Chris Okojie, Gboyega Okegbenro, Ejiro Omonode, Kunle Solaja, Sam John, Mumimi Alao, Tunde Sulaiman, Muyiwa Daniel and Dave Enechukwu did the hard lifting and put in the hard days to make sports writing and sports reporting a glowingly attractive field.
