By Banji Ayoola
The day was Friday, August 16, 2019, when for the first time ever in the history of the Ondo State Government-owned Owena Press, Publishers of The Hope newspapers, celebrated its ex-staff who had served the company meritoriously.
Remi Aye was among the four former staff of the company who were honoured that day. With this he became the first photographer of the company to be so celebrated.
He was the immediate Chief Photographer of The Hope and the paper’s photographer attached to the Governor’s Crew/Ondo State Government and State House.
The industrious photojournalist, who had been battling partial stroke since 2015, had slumped about two weeks ago and knocked his head against some hard objects and became unconscious. He was rushed to the Trauma Centre, Ondo from where he was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo.
But unfortunately his family could not afford the N400,000 cost of the operation on his broken head and had to be moved home still unconscious, where he gave up last Friday, February 11.
On the day of his finest hours, Aye, dressed in yellow Kaftan, beaming with smiles all through, was celebrated alongside the immediate former Editor of The Hope, Mr Banji Ayoola; former Correspondent, Okitipupa, Mr Igbekele Smile; and former Internal Auditor, Mr Jonathan Omilabu.
Aye, fondly called ‘,Wewe’, danced enthusiastically and mixed merrily with his former colleagues, on his finest day which was the last time most of his colleagues would ever see him in flesh and blood.
It was the most remarkable day since the establishment of the media house by the military administration of the then Navy Captain Bode George, when the company celebrated its ex staff, who, according to the Chairman and Chief Executive, Sir Ademola Adetula, served the Company wholeheartedly, diligently and meritoriously.
Adetula also showered praises on Aye for his dedication to duty at the maiden celebration of the Company’s former staff in the paper’s Newsroom at the Company’s Head Office in Akure, on that memorable day.
