Ex-NAN MD Jide Adebayo Dies At 66

A former Acting Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Chief Jide Adebayo has been confirmed dead.

The Kwara State indigene reportedly gave up the ghost in a Lagos hospital on Thursday after suffering a brief illness.

Naija News understands that the deceased is survived by his wife, Alice Ifedun, children and grandchildren.

An ally to the deceased, Rtd Maj.-Gen. Lasisi Abidoye disclosed the sad news on Friday in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara.

Abidoye who doubles as the President of Omu-Aran Development Association (ODA), described the deceased as “a fine journalist and a community leader par excellence, who will be greatly missed.”

Naija News understands that Adebayo until his death was the Eesa of Omu-Aran, second-in-command to the traditional ruler of the community, which is equivalent to the position of Prime Minister of Omu-Aran.

He also had served as Executive Director in charge of Marketing, one time Head of Lagos Operations, and a Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Kwara State (1999).

“Chief Eesa was a promoter of peace and unbiased community leader. He was an epitome of a good leader, an honest and God-fearing fellow,” Abidoye added while praising the deceased.

The deceased began his educational journey with an elementary education at the SIM/ECWA Primary School, Agamo, Omu-Aran from 1960 to 1968 and Secondary Education at Government Secondary School, Omu-Aran (1969 to 1973).

He had News Reporting Course Certificate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos (1978); the University of Lagos, Unilag’s Diploma in Mass Communication (1979); International Diploma of the International Organisation of Journalism (ION) Julius Fucik School, Prague, Czech Republic (1987) and Masters Degree in
International Journalism (MAIJ) at the University of Cardiff, United Kingdom (UK) in 2004.

Adebayo journalism career is said to have begun with the Nigerian Herald Newspapers in Ilorin in 1974.

He served the organization as a Proof Reader, Reporter, Senior Reporter, and City Editor in Ilorin, Kaduna, and Akure till August 1980, when he joined the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as a Correspondent. Adebayo held many editorial positions as Bureau Chiefs in Ilorin and Minna; Desk Editor (National News), Head of Sports Desk, Director of Marketing, Executive Director of Marketing/Lagos

He retired as an Acting Managing Director of NAN in August 2015, after 35 years in service, Naija News understands.

As an international journalist of repute, Adebayo covered many international assignments including the FIFA Under-21 World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 1989, Inter-Continental FIFA Championship in Saudi Arabia in 1995, FIFA World Cup in Paris in France, in 1998 and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the UK in 2002.

Records also had it that Adebayo before his installation as the Eesa of Omu-Aran in 2018 had journeyed to cover international media organisations in the U.S, UK, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Cairo, Zimbabwe, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and South Africa.

Adebayo had received honorary chieftaincy titles of Otun Gbobaniyi of Omu-Aran (2003); Otunba Gbadero of Olla Land (2011) and Maiyegun of Ogidi Ijumu, Kogi (2014).

A Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE), Adebayo was General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Kwara (1981 -1983) and Chairman NUJ, Niger (1985 -1987).

These are a few among many achievements of the deceased, Naija News reports.