Personality in Focus
Family Sets Sept 7-9 for Doyin Abiola’s Burial
The final burial rites of Dr Doyinsola Hamidat Abiola, former Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of the defunct Concord Press of Nigeria, have been tentatively scheduled for September 7–9, 2025, in Lagos.
Nigeria’s first female Editor of a national newspaper, Dr. Abiola, passed away on August 5, 2025, at the age of 82 after a brief illness.
Her daughter, Mrs. Doyin Abiola-Tobun, disclosed the three-day plan when a delegation of former Concord Press staff under the banner of The Great Concord Family, led by Coordinator Aliu Mohammed, paid a condolence visit to the family’s Ikeja home on Sunday.
Expressing gratitude for the visit, Mrs. Tobun described Concord Press as a defining chapter in her mother’s illustrious career, noting that the organisation played a key role in her professional achievements.
“The visit is so significant to the family. Concord Group meant so much to my mother, and it contributed to whatever she achieved in life,” she said.
Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has approved the nomination of Oba Rashidi Ladoja as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The approval was sequel to a meeting on Wednesday between the government delegation and Oba Ladoja as well as members of the Olubadan Advisory Council.
Confirming the approval, Oba Ladoja’s media aide, Chief Adeola Oloko, said the installation of the traditional ruler has been fixed for September 26, at the Mapo Hall, Oja-oba, Ibadan.
He said: “Oba Ladoja will be enthroned as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland on Friday, September 26, 2025.”
Ladoja, a former Governor of Oyo State, returned to Ibadan on Monday after weeks of absence from home.
His nomination by the Olubadan Advisory Council on August 4 followed the demise of the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin on July 7.
President Bola Tinubu has announced a major shake-up at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), replacing the current management team with new leadership.
Veteran media executive, Rotimi Richard Pedro, has been appointed as the new Director-General of the government-owned broadcaster.
Other key appointments include Karimah Bello as Executive Director of Marketing, Stella Din as Executive Director of News, and Sophia Essahmed as Managing Director of NTA Enterprises Limited.
Pedro, a Lagos native, is an accomplished media entrepreneur and consultant with nearly three decades of leadership experience in broadcasting, sports rights, and marketing communications across Africa, the UK and the Middle East.
A trained entertainment and intellectual property lawyer, he also holds an M Sc in Investment Management & Finance from City University Business School, London.
In 1995, he founded Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), which became one of Africa’s leading sports content providers, distributing premium events such as the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF competitions to audiences in more than 40 countries.
His career includes leading roles at Bloomberg Television Africa, Rapid Blue Format, and consultancy work for FIFA, UEFA, Fremantle Media, and the African Union of Broadcasters. Notably, he helped the AUB secure exclusive pan-African free-to-air media rights for all CAF competitions.
Industry analysts credit Pedro with building commercially viable broadcast platforms, boosting sponsorship revenues, and delivering world-class content to African audiences.
His appointment marks one of the most significant leadership changes at NTA in recent years and signals the Federal government’s intention to modernise the broadcaster and reposition it in an increasingly competitive media market.
Nigeria’s former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has passed away at the age of 78.
He died on Saturday, August 9, 2025.
A statement from the Ogbeh family confirmed his death, adding that, “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather; Chief Audu Ogbeh.
The family described him as a man who departed peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of integrity, service, and dedication to our nation and community.
“We are comforted by the many lives he touched and the example he set,” the statement added.
The statement said details of his funeral would be released later and thanked friends, colleagues, and well-wishers for their support.
“We will appreciate some privacy at this time while we mourn the loss of our patriarch,” the statement concluded.
Ogbeh was born 28 July 1947. As a prominent Nigerian farmer, playwright and politician, Ogbe served as the minister of ”Agriculture and Rural Development from 2015 to 2019.
In addition, he was the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2001 until January 2005 when another leadership took over. During the second republic, he was appointed as the minister of communications. He stayed briefly in office from 1982 to 1983.
As a literary icon, Ogbe had written five plays that have become reference points in literature.
Ogbe is from Efugo-Otukpa in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State.
DailyPost
