Tributes have been pouring in on the immediate former Chairman of the Ondo State Printing and Publishing Corporation (OSPPC), Sir Ademola Adetula, MFR.
Aged 74, the veteran journalist died in the early hours of Thursday July 30.
His death was announced on behalf of the Adetula family by his niece, Dr Bola Oladipo, who described the incident as a painful shock.
Also, mourners who had been visiting his Akure residence since the incident, expressed shock and paid glowing tributes to his exemplary life.
Among the early callers at his residence was a delegation of OSPPC Management and Staff led by the Corporation’s Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, Mr Kayode Fasua.
Expressing shock at the death, Fasua described the deceased as a visionary and hardcore professional with keen eyes on merit and excellence, who had mentored many journalists including himself.
In his words, “I saw him at the Press Centre recently and promised to visit him in his office. Just yesterday, I was still planning to pay him a visit. We are all in a mourning mood at the office because he was very kind to everyone.
“He employed me in 1996 to begin my career. He employed me on the very day I returned from Ibadan. I did not know that, ultimately, he was still going to hand over the office to me.
“On the day I was appointed, he was the first person to congratulate me. He was liberal-minded and valued brilliant people who could deliver. He placed merit above all other considerations. May his soul rest in peace.
“We share in this grief because it is a shared agony. He was a community leader. I cannot count the number of people he helped. He touched many lives. This should serve as a consolation to all of us.
“Death is inevitable. It is a secret God has kept from us. How and when it will come, we will never know.
“Sir Ademola Adetula came, saw and conquered. In journalism, community service and private life, he was exceptional in human development and value addition. I am a direct beneficiary of his invaluable contributions to human capacity development. Goodnight, my great boss.”
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Also, in his condolence message on behalf of the Ondo State League of Veteran Journalists, Mr Sehinde Omokoba, on behalf of the league, said Adetula’s death was a painful loss.
According to him, “With gratitude to God for a life well spent but with sadness, we announce the sudden demise of our colleague, Sir Ademola Adetula, who passed away this morning.
“Demola was a veteran journalist who was the immediate past Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of former Owena Press, now OSPPC. He was an erudite scholar who once served as Vice President (National) of the Nigeria Union of Journalists.”
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), OSPPC Chapel, also expressed deep sorrow over his passing, describing it as a rude shock and a painful loss to the journalism profession and media industry in Ondo State.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chapel Chairman, Comrade Adekola Afolabi, and Secretary, Comrade Josephine Oguntoyinbo, the union described Adetula as an accomplished journalist, visionary administrator and committed media professional whose contributions to the growth of the corporation remain indelible.
The statement noted that during his tenure as chairman, he worked tirelessly to reposition the corporation through purposeful leadership, infrastructural improvements and policies aimed at restoring its pride of place in the media industry.
It added that his wealth of experience, humility, dedication and passion for excellence inspired many journalists and media practitioners, describing his death as a colossal loss not only to OSPPC, but also to the NUJ family and the journalism profession at large.
The chapel extended its condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, the management and staff of OSPPC, the NUJ Ondo State Council and all associates of the late veteran journalist.
His niece, Dr Bola Oladipo, who spoke on behalf of the Adetula family, expressed appreciation to all who visited to commiserate with the family, and thanked them for their love, prayers and support during the difficult period.
Though she said her uncle’s death was a painful shock, she said the family had accepted it as God’s will, believing that he is now in a better place.
According to her, “On behalf of the Adetula family, I would like to appreciate your presence at this difficult time and thank you for the love and support you have shown during this challenging period.
“It is still a shock to all of us, but God knows best. We understand. God understands. He has a better plan. He understands everything, and I believe he is in a better place.”
Adetula was decorated with the Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) award by former President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday May 28, 2023.
He was born in Owo, Ondo State on August 6, 1952 to the departed Chief George and Madam Alice Adetula.
Between 1968 and 1972, he attended Saint Thomas Aquinas College, Akure between 1968-1972. He was at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism Lagos between 1983 to 1985.
Adetula started his career in Journalism as a reporter in 1978 with The Herald Newspapers in Ilorin, Kwara State, where he rose to the position of News Editor. He later served as Chairman of Kwara State Amateur Squash Association.
He moved to Ondo State in 1985 when the then Military Governor, Col Ahmed Usman appointed him as the Editor of the state-owned newspaper, The Hope, published by the defunct Owena Press Limited.
In 1998, he became the newspaper’s General Manager, and in 1999, the Adebayo Adefarati civilian administration appointed him as the newspaper’s Managing Director.
Adetula retired from Owena Press in 2003 to run his private printing press, Pamma Press. He also obtained a license to run a radio station, Okin FM.
In 2018, the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration appointed him as Owena Press Chairman/Editor in Chief.
Impressed with his superlative performance at the newspaper’s outfit as its head, the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) honoured him with the Distinguished Journalism and Administrative Excellence Award.
Adetula was once the Secretary of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ); and in 1992, he served as the Vice President of NUJ Zone D. Besides, he served as the NUJ National Trustee in 1994.
He participated in the political workshop on Political Journalism sponsored by The Centre for Foreign Journalists, USA and attended the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin in 1992.
Adetula, a Catholic, and former President of All Owo Progressive Forum, became a Knight of St. John International Akure in 2010 and was formerly the Worthy President of Commandery 496, Akure.
