Her death happened a decade ago, but her memories have continued to speak for her among top echelons in the society. SUNNY IDACHABA writes about the woman, the late Mrs. Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo, whose dedication to journalism earned her the highest position in the profession and global reckoning.
Oluremi Oyo (popularly known as Remi Oyo) who died on October 1, 2014, at the age of 61 was not only a journalist, but one of the first generation of women who rose to the apex in journalism thereby breaking gender barriers in the industry. Her dexterity to duties later earned her the plumb position of senior special adviser on media and publicity to former President Olusegun Obasanjo where she was the official spokesperson to the number one citizen for some time.
Asides that, she was one time president of the influential Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) where she served two consecutive tenures from 1998 to 2003, and later as the managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from 2007 to 2013, where she made significant contributions to that agency’s reforms and modernisation efforts.
Her career in journalism started in 1973 as a reporter with then Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) before she joined NAN as a desk editor in 1981 and rose to become principal editor, probably the first woman to attain such position in NAN before she left in 1985.
Mrs. Oyo later joined Inter Press Service (IPS) and later rose to become IPS West African Bureau Chief.
In recognition of her sterling qualities and patriotism to assignments, former Head of State Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar nominated her into the membership of 1999 Constitution Drafting Committee just before the return to democratic governance.
While alive in active service, she refused to be identified with gender-based journalism organisations because she was of the views that one’s professional actions and conduct would speak for the person regardless of sex; no wonder, she always addressed herself as a ‘pressman’.
At her burial, accolades were showered on this woman who had made diverse impacts on the media. Her legacies extended beyond her impressive career as she inspired generations of female journalists and politicians, paving the way for women to take on leadership roles in the country, having blazed the trail. She inspired and mentored many young journalists in order to shape the next generation of media professionals.
After she succumbed to death, several of Nigeria’s former leaders paid glowing tributes for her dedication among men.
Former President Jonathan in his tribute through Rueben Abati, his special adviser on media and publicity said Remi was an exemplary and inspiring trail-blazer. He commiserated with NGE where she served most admirably as a two-term president in the course of her trail-blazing journalism career, the management and staff of NAN as well as her colleagues and friends.
On his part, the man under whom Remi worked as senior special adviser, former President Obasanjo said the demise of Oyo left a ‘sour taste’ in his mouth and others who knew her.
Ibikunle Amosun as governor of Ogun state then expressed shock and described her death as a big loss to journalism in particular and the media industry in general.
The Senate as an institution recalled the late Oyo’s contributions to media development, particularly her pivotal role in revolutionising news gathering through wire services as exemplified in her sterling performance in NAN as its managing director. This is just as its then president, Senator David Mark, described her as an “editor and pathfinder.”
“As the president of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), she provided exemplary leadership that took the guild to a higher level. She was a great asset to the Nigerian media,” he said.
Another institution, the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), said Remi’s passage came at a time the nation was trying to come to terms with the grisly exit of another active member of the Guild, late Dimgba Igwe.
The NGE in mourning the passing of Remi, its former president said she would be long remembered for her exemplary leadership qualities, which brought the guild out of a near comatose state and transformed it into a vibrant association of senior editors with more than 400 members.
“Her tenure marked a new beginning for the guild and laid a solid foundation for its transformation into a force to be reckoned with in the country.”
Perhaps, a more concise tribute in honour of this woman was the one by Dr. Abati 10 years after when family and friends gathered in Lagos to remember her legacies.
He, “She was a journalist of the first rank. She did not want to be identified as a female journalist but as a pressman, and indeed a pressman she was, out there in the forefront of action, inspiring younger journalists both male and female in the process. In one of those ironies of life that no one can explain she was born in the month of October. She died also in the same month, less than two weeks to her 62nd birthday as a result of cancer. But hers was a life of impact, love and influence.”
Continuing, Abati said, “She joined the Inter Press Service (IPS) and rose to become the Nigerian Bureau Chief and later, West African Bureau Chief. It was around this time that our paths crossed. Auntie, as we fondly called her, had become very active in the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Under Mr. Biodun Oduwole, NGE president, 1992-1994, Mrs. Oyo was a member of the standing committee, but she was very influential, known by younger journalists as ‘Mama awon Boys’ because of her generosity.
“In 1998, Mrs. Oyo showed interest in the Presidency of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Garba Shehu who was Oduwole’s deputy president had just completed his term (1994 -1997) and the position was due to return to the South. We the boys were like “Auntie Must Win!” In short, all the boys championed her campaign. She eventually emerged as the president and ended up serving for five years (1998 – 2003). She lifted the profile of the office and was very good at getting support for the media from authority figures. She was, for record purposes, the first woman to serve as president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors since 1961 when Alhaji Lateef Jakande was the pioneer president of the Guild. Mrs. Oyo performed so excellently that it can be said she inspired other women within the profession to take a keen interest in the affairs of both the NGE and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
“In 2016, following in Mrs. Oyo’s footsteps, Funke Egbemode emerged as the president of the NGE and spent three remarkable years in the saddle as the second female president.
“In the west, east and the north, women began to occupy key positions in the media unions. In Lagos, Mrs. Funke Fadugba as chairman of the Lagos NUJ was such a formidable force. She singlehandedly set up two estates for journalists and turned many into landlords. Lagos journalists would be forever grateful to Funke Fadugba as the brain behind Journalists Estate in Arepo and PEN Estate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.”
According to Abati, when he was appointed by Jonathan as his spokesperson, the first advice he got was from Remi who said, “Reuben, my advice to you will be basically three things. Number one, the person you need most for this job is the president, the man who gave you the job. If you have him on your side, you are good and you will survive. This is a very tough job.”
Narrating further, Abati said, “She then went on to tell me about how many people would be interested in the office because of the glamour of being the spokesperson for the president. She mentioned names of persons who would go behind her to President Obasanjo just to malign her, but at every turn, President Obasanjo stood by her.”
Abati said the second thing Remix told him was, “Be very careful with our colleagues. They are the biggest threat to anyone in this office. They will bad-mouth you; they will try to pull you down; they will claim that they know how to do the job better than you; they will envy you and try to undermine you. Just hold on to your principal. Once the president believes you are doing a good job, there is nothing anybody can do to you.”
Finally, he said that Remi charged him to take good care of his health.
“This job drains you from head to toe. You will be busy throughout and yet everybody will criticise you, but you have to keep healthy and safe. If anything happens to you, it is only your family that will be most affected. Stay healthy and alive for your family’, this was her advice,” he said.
Mrs. Remi Oyo, no doubt, lived an impactful life, the reason for which her records cannot be easily erased from history, but as Abati concluded, “Almighty God, we remember with thanksgiving Mrs. Remi Oyo. Thank you for everything we treasure about her, for all that she meant to us. Take care of her, Lord, until we all reach that time and place where every tear is dry, every question answered and all things are made new.”
