By Dipo Olowookere
The remains of the Chairman of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), Mr Princewill Ekwujuru, would be laid to rest on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at Njaba, Imo State.
This was confirmed in a statement jointly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the burial committee, Mr Goddie Ofoseh and Mr Godwin Anyebe, respectively.
Mr Ekwujuru died last month after he was admitted to the hospital for surgery following an auto accident he had in the Ojo area of Lagos State. He was until his death a reporter with Vanguard Newspaper
Mr Ofose, who handed over to the reigns of BJAN to the deceased, disclosed in the statement that “his family needs all your support,” noting that “details of funeral rites will be made available in subsequent days.”
Meanwhile, more people and organisations are reacting to the death of the respected journalist.
The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Gboyega Akosile, said in a statement that, “I received with shock the news of the unexpected and painful demise of Princewill Ekwujuru, Chairman of BJAN, a thoroughbred professional, veteran brand reporter, personal friend and colleague.”
According to him, “I was actually devastated by the news of his death despite efforts by BJAN and the marketing industry to save his life.”
“My heartfelt condolences to his wife and children as I extend prayer of comfort and relief to them at this trying moment,” he further said, adding that, “May the good Lord ease the pain and grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”
“To the executive and entire members of BJAN, I pray that the association is strengthened at this moment of grief,” Mr Akosile further disclosed.
Also, the management and staff of Chenist United, in their condolence message, expressed shock over the painful exit of Mr Ekwujuru, who they described as a friend of the Chenist family.
In a statement signed by Mr Adebayo Sowemimo, Executive Director, Media Communications, Chenist United, the organisation said, “We carefully monitored the events in the past two weeks when the unfortunate accident happened, hoping that he will survive it. We are saddened that, despite all the efforts put together to help him stay alive, he could not make it.”
“Our heart goes out to the exco and the entire members of the association and it’s our prayer that God will grant the association the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
“In the same vein, we convey our condolences to his wife and children and also pray that God strengthened them at this trying time,” Mr Sowemimo said.
In addition, the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON) expressed shock over the unexpected death of Mr Ekwujuru.
In a condolence card, the advertising regulatory body prayed that God should comfort members of BJAN, the wife, children and friends of the deceased.
On their part, the Executive Council and members of the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) sent their sincere condolences to members of BJAN, family and friends of late Mr Ekwujuru, noting that God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Similarly, British America Tobacco (BAT) asked God to grant members of BJAN and the Ekwujurus the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In his message, the CEO of FoodCo Nigeria Limited, Mr Ade Sun-Bashorun, commiserated “with BJAN on the death of your Chairman, Mr Princewill Ekwujuru.”
“We will always remember Mr Ekwujuru as a remarkable journalist who exemplified the virtues of professionalism and integrity and whose robust reportage helped elevate the discourse in Nigeria’s consumer goods and retail space.
“He was also the rallying point of our engagement with BJAN, an association he was clearly passionate about. Through his efforts, FoodCo was able to forge a strong symbiotic relationship with the body,” he stated.
