FORMER MINISTER ALEX AKINYELE IS DEAD

The spokesperson for the Ondo State Government did not immediately return requests seeking comments, as at the time of filing this report, but one of the deceased sons, Akinfolarin, was reported to have announced the death in a statement

Penpushing further reports that, the late former Minister, whose father served in World War II as a member of the elite West African Frontier Force, also had deep professional roots in Public Relations and chaired the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations for many years.

The deceased known for his sense of dress, was born in Ondo State on April 24, 1938 and attended his Primary and Secondary education in the town, while as at the time of announcement of the demise, tributes have been pouring in from some of those who knew him.

Penpushing reports that tributes came from Aliu Olurotimi, a former Editor at Daily Times who on a facebook post described the deceased as a “super orator, mentor and friend for all seasons.”

The Agba Akin Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye ‘Lekan Alabi in his reactions lamented, ’I received the news of the death of Chief Alex Akinyele,with sadness. The late Chief Akinyele, a former Public Relations Director of the Nigeria Customs, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)and former Minister of Information, among other National and International Public offices, was hard to ignore in competence ,flair, delivery and style.

Penpushing also reports that, the first Culture Ambassador of the National Museum and Monument, Ile-Ife wrote, ’He was cut for all his public and private roles, and he made good marks in them all. He never bored grudges. He was my senior in the PR profession, and I am proud to say that I deservedly won a Medal for Professionalism in PR, dedicated by him to the NIPR. I loved, and will forever love, his ebullience, dress sense and great gift of a sense of humour. May his noble soul rest in peace. Amen’.