President Goodluck Jonathan said he received with sadness the news of the death of Oluremi Oyo, a former managing director of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, and presidential spokesperson to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, the President sympathized with Oyo’s family and professional colleagues. Jonathan said the former NAN boss would be remembered for her exemplary professional life, inspiring leadership qualities and remarkable transformation of NAN during her time as the managing director.
“President Goodluck Jonathan has received with immense sadness, news of the passing away of one of the most eminent Nigerian female journalists and former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria, Dame Felicia Oluwaremilekun Oyo. On behalf of his family, and the Federal Government, President Jonathan extends sincere condolences to her husband, Vincent, her children, Otome and Okiemuote, her surviving siblings and other relatives”, the statement read.
Aged 62, Oyo, a veteran media practitioner, was the first female president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. The news of her death was announced by her husband Vincent, to the news agency on Thursday morning.
Oyo started her media career as a reporter, at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation NBC, now Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, where she rose to the position of Principal Editor.
From FRCN, she left for the News Agency of Nigeria NAN, as an editor and also the pioneer Head of the Quality Control Desk. She also worked for many years as Nigeria Bureau Chief at the Inter Press Service Global News Agency.
In 2003, she became the Senior Special Assistant, SSA, to President Olusegun Obasanjo on Media and Publicity, making her the first woman in Nigeria to occupy such office. She served in that capacity for four years before her appointment as the Managing Director of NAN in 2007. In 2006, she was honoured with a national award, Officer of the Order of Niger, OON.
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