Veteran journalist, author and public relations practitioner, Oloye Lekan Alabi, is dead.
Alabi, who held the traditional title of Abese Olubadan of Ibadanland, died on Saturday morning in Lagos at the age of 75.
His death was announced in a statement issued by the Media Aide to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Adeola Oloko.
According to family sources, the late journalist will be buried on Sunday in accordance with Islamic rites.
He was born on October 27, 1950.
Oloye Alabi is the Abese-Olubadan of Ibadanland and Cultural Ambassador of the National Museum and Monuments in Ile-Ife, Osun State.
He began his journalism career at the defunct Sketch newspaper. He later moved to the Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation, which later became the Nigerian Television Authority, Ibadan. He subsequently joined Odu’a Investment Company Limited as Public Relations Manager.
Oloye Alabi had the rare privilege of serving as Chief Press Secretary to four governors in the old Oyo State, and he also served for many years as Corporate Affairs Manager of Odu’a Company.
He has authored several books. A festschrift was recently launched in Ibadan to celebrate his 75th birthday.
He has authored several books. A festschrift was recently launched in Ibadan to celebrate his 75th birthday.
He attended African Church Grammar School, Apata Ganga, Ibadan (1964 to 1969). He was a class teacher at St John’s Anglican Primary School, Akinajo near Arulogun, Ibadan, from 1971 to 1972, after which he took employment as the first Editorial Assistant at Onibonoje Press Limited, Ibadan.
In 1973, he was employed by the Sketch Publishing Company Limited, Ibadan, as a Reporter/Writer/Reader Grade 2. He became the company’s youngest and first dual columnist, also in Nigeria.
He went to the famous College of Journalism, ‘Fleet Street’, London, in 1976 and graduated in 1978. He returned to Sketch and resigned to join the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Ibadan. He was there from 1978 to 1982.
In 1982, when the present Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State Television was established – it was then known as Television Service of Oyo State – he was one of the pioneer editorial staff when the station started transmission on October 30, 1982. He was the first reporter to appear on the Channel and also the first chairman of the station’s chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Further details on the burial arrangements and funeral activities are expected from the family.
