The Nation Newspaper

Tag: columnist

  • Columnist kidnapped in Port Harcourt

    A columnist with Vanguard newspaper, Dornu Kogbara, has been kidnapped in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    The gunmen, who seized Kogbara Sunday morning, stormed her Nkpogu-Port Harcourt residence in a CRV car, amid gunshots, according to witnesses, who pleaded not to be named for security reason.

    The kidnappers immediately disappeared with the columnist, whose whereabouts remained unknown, while contact for ransom payment had not been established with her family members, as at press time.

  • Ambode to assist blind columnist Falodun

    Ambode to assist blind columnist Falodun

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday directed the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Tunji Bello, to ensure that all promises made to the former Radio Nigeria/Daily Times Ace Columnist Wole Falodun, are fulfilled.

    Falodun, who wrote a popular column, Waka About, in the defunct Lagos Weekend in the 1970s, went blind after a surgeon at the Lagos Island General Hospital made a mistake while treating him for glaucoma.

    The surgeon, Dr. Orekoya, had mistakenly operated on the right eye instead of the left, resulting in Falodun’s blindness.

    Falodun had sought assistance from previous administrations, but his efforts did not yield results.

    Moved by his plight, Ambode told Bello to  contact Falodun and ensure that promises made by his predecessors were fulfilled.

    According to the governor, the promises made to Falodun by his predecessors were not personal but made on behalf of the government.

    A statement from the office of the SSG signed by the Director of Public Relations,  Fola Adeyemi, said Falodun’s family is expected to liaise with the SSG’s office so that the governor’s directive could be carried out.

    “This singular move is a demonstration of the commitment of this administration to the plight of its citizenry and it will ensure that promises made to Lagosians are fulfilled,” the statement said.

  • Igwe, frontline journalist, dies at 58

    Igwe, frontline journalist, dies at 58

    Popular columnist and Vice Chairman, Sun Newspapers, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, died yesterday. He was killed by a hit-and-run driver.

    He was aged 58 years.

    Igwe was jogging in his Okota, Lagos neighbourhood in the morning when he was knocked down by the unknown driver, the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, Mr. Femi Adesina said in a statement last night.

    Igwe was subsequently rushed to a nearby private hospital, and later the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, for surgery.

    He died in the process.

    Chairman of Sun Newspapers, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, described the death as “tragic, shocking, and a dark day in the annals of journalism in Nigeria.”

    He added: “Dimgba Igwe was too much of a gentleman, fine brain and mind to die tragically like this.”

    Before joining The Sun at its inception in 2003, he had worked with his close friend and associate, Mr. Mike Awoyinfa, at the rested Weekend Concord, a publication of the Concord Press.

    At the Sun he first served as Deputy Managing Director/Deputy Editor-in- Chief before becoming Vice Chairman.

    He was Deputy General Overseer of Evangel Pentecostal Church, Okota, Lagos and a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

    He is survived by a wife and four children.

  • I want to be a columnist, what does it entail?

    Ifeoluwa Adewuyi Tosin: Aunty A2, please ma, I want to be a columnist, what does it entails? I wish to b one.I love writing but I wouldn’t knw if its gud enof.

    Please help me out.

    Adeola Agoro: ‘What does it entail?’, you meant to write, I’m sure, not ‘what does it entails?’.

    First of all Ifeoluwa, you have to be very proficient in the language you’re using to express yourself. Then you must find an area of interest that will also interest other people.

    Are you looking at writing on crimes, society, gossips, religions, health, tourism or what? You must decide which area you are very good at and begin to write. To convince any editor about your ability to write, you would be expected to submit up to 10 articles of the piece you’re going to be writing on.

    The next step would be to take your articles to media houses of your choice and talk to editors. If you’re good enough and there is space for you in the paper, you wouldn’t need to worry – you’d be added to their list of columnists faster than you could ever imagine.

    In all, I wish you the best.