The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oladeinde

  • Akara rite: Remembering Yetunde Oladeinde

    Akara rite: Remembering Yetunde Oladeinde

    It has been one month since our dear Yetunde Oladeinde passed away. Today makes it a month since the Nigerian media lost a rare gem,” I told Sexy Lola as she waited for me to get dressed to go out yesterday morning.

    I woke up thinking of the late Oladeinde. A WhatsApp reminder from Mummy Fawaz, intimating me of the seven years remembrance of Mummy Isa’s mother-in-law’s death was happening the same day.  This also amplified my thought on Oladeinde, whom we fondly called “Grandma”. 

    The late Oladeinde had a lot in common with the late Alhaja Sherifat Agunbiade, Mummy Isa’s in-law. They were both strong and loving women who were very supportive of the womenfolk. Both were also committed to their professions – while Oladeinde was a dedicated journalist, Alhaja was a former judge.

    “Who is she…this Madam Oladeinde?” Lola asked me as I decked on my black trousers and a matching t-shirt.

    Yetunde Oladeinde
    Yetunde Oladeinde

    “Grandma was more than just a seasoned journalist and Assistant Editor who manned The Nation newspaper’s weekend titles on women matters. She was very jovial and had a listening ear and a word or two of advice to all who cared to listen. Before the women’s month comes to an end, I am going to write a tribute in honour of this wonderful woman who was so dear to our hearts. It is sad that one has to refer to her in past tense.

    “You see, Lola. She was a kindred spirit and very kindhearted elder Sister and colleague, who inspired me so much. Grandma was a mentor when it comes to writing about women. Joke Kujenya, another mentor of mine, put the vacuum Oladeinde’s death has caused, succinctly, in her article, “Mourning ‘Grandma’ who lived and loved”, “at the dawn of Monday morning, February 19, the world lost a stalwart in journalism’. I remember her holding my hands as I took my baby’s steps when I was asked to handle a woman page on the Daily title of the paper last year. I remember  telling her that I wasn’t cut out for it.”

    The last statement seemed to remind Lola of the fact that I had mentioned Grandma during one of our conversations. “I remember you’ve mentioned her, that she helped give perspective to your column, or something like that.”

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    “Haba Lola, you see that’s why I respect you, you have such a strong memory. Yes, she did. I recall her saying, ‘Evelyn, you don’t have to make it strictly about fashion, you an artist and an advocate, I trust you to give us something unique. You have been given a voice to use for us, women, so use it. And so, the ‘Women Corner’ was born.”

    “I think such a woman truly deserves to be celebrated. I look forward to your write up.

    Just then my phone buzzed. It was Mummy Fawaz, forcing us to end the conversation and join other ladies downstairs. As the usual custom, the ladies of the Women Corner were helping out at Mummy Isa’s occasion. Even though I won’t be around since I was preparing for a very auspicious event in honour of Prof. Wole Soyinka in Lagos, I breezed in with Lola just to say hello to the family before leaving for my work and rehearsals, and met the ladies talking about the importance of leaving behind good memories.

    “We must be intentional in ensuring we leave a life of purpose, impacting the lives of others like Alhaja did,” one woman was saying as   I scanned the floor for the host and other ladies, and learnt they were in her flat.  As Lola and I went up to join them, my mind went back to the late Oladeinde.  May her soul rest in peace.

  • Family, colleagues pay emotional tributes to The Nation woman Oladeinde

    Family, colleagues pay emotional tributes to The Nation woman Oladeinde

    • Association names centre after departed journalist

    The memories of her gentle disposition to life evoked emotions.

    Family members, friends, and colleagues of the late Assistant Editor at The Nation, Mrs. Yetunde Oladeinde, were in a pensive mood as they held a service of songs for her yesterday.

    The management and workers of the newspaper joined family and friends to pay their last respects to the woman they fondly called Grandma.

    The late Mrs. Oladeinde (nee Francis), who reported Fashion/Women for the weekend edition of the newspaper, passed away on February 19.

    She was 56.

    The celebration of her eventful life into eternal glory took place at Power Line Estate in Magboro on the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way in Ogun State.

    Everyone at the sombre event reminisced about the positive impact the departed had on their professional and personal lives.

    The service of songs featured several hymns, heartfelt speeches, and a moment of reflection for the attendees.

    In an emotional tribute, The Nation’s Weekend Editor Festus Eriye described the late journalist as a jovial and friendly person.

    He said: “I have worked with Yetunde for many years and, until she passed away, I was her direct supervisor. She was a beautiful person in the workplace. By nature, the newsroom is a very lively place. You have to be quick-witty to survive. In addition, she was quick-witted, very friendly, very funny person. She caused a lot of laughter in the newsroom.

    Read Also: Burial for The Nation’s Oladeinde March 8

    “But, over the years, I also noticed she had become a very reserved person, carrying herself with lots of dignity.

    “People can speak to all aspects of our life, but I will speak concerning the professional side. Yetunde was a famous Nigerian journalist. She has worked with some of the biggest newspapers you can think of in Nigeria – from the days of Concord to Daily Sun to National Life. And she worked with The Nation.

    “I will say this about her: in all the years she worked with us and, by the nature of the kind of job that we do, we are slaves to deadlines. In all the years she worked with me, her section was never late. That speaks to her professionalism.”

    Sharing her fond memories of the late Oladeinde, the Executive Coordinator of Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation and Chairperson of National Advocacy Committee, Association of Nigerian Women Business Network (ANWBN), Mrs. Foluke Ademokun, announced that the association had named the Women Information and Innovation Centre at Olugbede Market in Egbeda, Lagos, after Mrs. Yetunde Oladeinde.

    She said the centre would be launched today in commemoration of the International Women’s Day (IWD).

    According to Ademokun, the centre will be used to provide financial literacy skills for women operating micro-enterprises within the informal sector and for capacity development on business development, taxation, and credit among others.

    Partners involved include Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation Association of Nigerian Women Business Network Association of Nigerian Women In Business, CISLAC, Tax Justice Network Lagos, WBG Community Connections and Campaign Project International Budget Partnership.

    Oladeinde was the National Secretary of ANWBN and, until her death, the Southwest Zonal Coordinator and Secretary of its Board of Trustees (BoT).

    She was also the National President of Business and Professional Women Nigeria (BPWN) before her demise.

    A church member said the late Mrs. Oladeinde was a great asset to the church.

    Her daughter, Olubusola, said she would always miss her lovely mother.

    “We are deeply touched by the overwhelming support and presence at the service of songs for our beloved late mother. Thank you for sharing in the memories and celebrating the life of an incredible woman,” she said.

    She is survived by her husband and four children.

    Officiating ministers at the service of songs included Pastor Wole Olukunle, Pastor Nwachukwu Emedike, Pastor Tayo Aranmolate, Pastor Ashiri Adesanya, Pastor Rotimi Onasanya, Pastor David Oyekola, and Pastor Ayo Smith.

  • Burial for The Nation’s Oladeinde March 8

    Burial for The Nation’s Oladeinde March 8

    The burial of The Nation Assistant Editor (Life and Style), Mrs. Yetunde Oladeinde, will hold on Friday, March 8.

    Mrs. Oladeinde died on February 19 at the age of 56.

    The burial programme for the late journalist shows that a service of song will hold tomorrow at Lord Build Camp in Magboro at 4 p.m.

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    A funeral service will hold on Friday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Memorial Garden (Camp) at 8 a.m, to be followed by internet.

    Entertainment of guests will follow at Lord Build Camp in Magboro at 12 noon.

    The late Mrs. Oladeinde is survived by her husband and four children.

  • The Nation’s Oladeinde is dead

    The Nation’s Oladeinde is dead

    • Management, workers visit bereaved family

    The management and workers of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation Newspapers, yesterday visited the family of the late Yetunde Oladeinde at Oladeinde Crescent, Onibudo, in Akute area of Ogun State.

    The team was received by the widower, Michael Oladeinde, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), the children and some family members.

    The late Oladeinde (nee Francis), who reported Fashion/Women for the weekend edition of The Nation, passed away on Monday.

    She was 56.

    According to her daughter, Dr. Busola Oladeinde, she took ill at home in the early hours of Monday and suddenly became unconscious before she was rushed to the hospital.

    On getting to the hospital, she was declared Brought-in-Dead (BID).

    She is survived by her husband and children.

    Speaking during the visit, The Nation’s Weekend Editor, Mr. Festus Eriye, described the late journalist as hardworking without gender inhibitions.

    “On behalf of the management, the staff, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (The Nation Chapel) and colleagues of the late Yetunde, whom we all call Grandma, we want to say that we share your pain as a family. Yetunde was more than a colleague: she was our sister and a jolly friend. She was a live of the newsroom. Whenever she was around, there was laughter. Her uniqueness is that she was very hardworking.

    “As her editor, I have worked with a lot of women who always gave different excuses on the job, but I never had Yetunde complained about any assignment or work because of her gender. Today is a day to let you know that we share your pain.

    “She had an impact on her colleagues, and that is why people are together here today to sympathise with her family. I pray that the Lord comforts you (husband), her children, and the entire family. Very soon, there will be laughter in this family.”

    The Chairman of The Nation Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Gboyega Alaka, described Oladeinde’s death as shocking.

    He said: “When I heard about her death, for the first time since my mother departed this world some decades ago, I cried. That is because we didn’t expect her to go so soon. In fact, death was not anywhere around her because we worked together on Saturdays.

    “We loved ‘Grandma’ because she was lovable. When she was in the newsroom, she made people laughed. We console you, as well as we console ourselves. We would hold on to her caring and lovable memory. I pray that God grant her eternal rest.”

    Until her exit, Oladeinde, who graduated from University of Lagos (UNILAG) with B.Ed in English and Literature in 1989, also had Post-Graduate Diploma at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in 1999.

    She worked in different media houses for over three decades.

    Read Also: The Nation loses staff, Yetunde Oladeinde

    The late Mrs. Oladeinde began her journalism journey in 1992 at Concord Press of Nigeria where she was a Staff Writer. She joined Classique magazine as an Assistant Woman Editor in 1995.

    In 1996, she worked as a Chief Correspondent for Weekend Concord, and after two years, was promoted to National Concord as Assistant Woman Editor.

    The late Mrs. Oladeinde was the Editor, Life and Style desk at The Sun in 2002 and joined the defunct National LIFE in 2008. Shortly after, she moved to The Nation newspapers.

    She held different positions in media and other sectors, including Financial Secretary of Nigerian Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Lagos State; Editorial Board Member of NAWOJ; Editorial Board Member of Project Alert On violence against Women, alumnae – Women Leadership Institute (AWLI); Member of Africa Woman Media Foundation; Secretary of Yoruba Women Initiative (YWI); President of Young Business and Professional Women (YBPW).

    In the course of journalism practice, the late Mrs. Oladeinde received different awards and recognitions, including British Council Nigeria (2004), Peak Golden Pen Competition (2005), Gender and Development Action (GADA) in 2006.