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A
fruitful and eventful life in journalism
By Emmanuel
Ukudolo
Correspondent, Lagos
It was with grief that many journalists
practising and retired, received news about the death of one of the foremost
Nigerian journalists and a senior colleague, Mr. Tunji Oseni. He died at the
age of 61 at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lagos at about 8 pm on Monday where he
was hospitalised for a lung related disease. Born in Abeokuta, Ogun State on
January 5, 1943, Oseni distinguished himself as a role model in journalism.
He was educated at Saje Baptist Day
School, Abeokuta between 1949 and 1955 before proceeding to Baptist Boys High
School also in Abeokuta from 1955 to 1960.
The desire for higher education took him
to University of Nigeria, Nsukka between 1964 and 1966. He was also at the
University of Lagos from 1966 to 1967 and the Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile-Ife from 1972 to 1973 before proceeding to the University of Minnesota,
United States from 1974 to 1975 for his masters degree.
He started his professional career as
Editorial Assistant Daily Sketch and rose through the ranks and file to
the position of Deputy Editor Daily Sketch between 1967 and 1973. He joined Sunday
Times in 1967 as Editor, a position he held till 1980. Between 1981 and 1984,
he was Editor, International Fora OPEC News Agency, Austria. In 1984, he
joined Voice of Nigeria as Director of News and served for five years before
moving over to Daily Times Nigeria Plc., as Managing Director between 1993 and
1995. He also managed TOSEN Consult during the period.
Suffice to add that he was an amiable
personality loved by those privileged to work with him. But like most of his
colleagues he never joked with deadlines, the hallmark of the profession. His
most recent position was as Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo on
Media Matters, a position he handled to the best of his ability.
Oseni was a member of many professional
associations including International Press Institute, Society of Professional
Journalists, Nigerian Union of Journalists, National Advisory Committee on
Information, Radio/Television Directors Association, Sigma Delta Chi,
International Studies Association, Australian Foreign Press Club and Nigerian
Guild of Editors.
Besides, he was Protem Secretary, Nigeria Press Organization
in 1980, Chairman Steering Committee, Nigeria Media Foundation and member DAME
Trust Fund. He is married to Olufunmilayo Oyinkan (nee Onabanjo) and blessed
with a daughter. He loves table tennis, nature and human studies.
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