Renowned journalism guru Lai Oso to be buried July 14

The remains of the late the masscommunication guru, Prof Lai Oso will be buried on July 14, 2023, with the burial service to be conducted by the Victory Life Bible Church(VLBC) International in Sagamu hometown of the deceased.

Penpushing reports that the General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC), where the late veteran journalist was a pastor, Apostle Lawrence Achudume made this known, adding that the burial programme will start on July 13, and interment followed the following day.

The General Overseer of the renowned church accompanied by his wife Rev (Mrs) Fola Achudume had earlier paid a condolence visit to the deceased wife and the children, and prayed for the repose soul of the cleric

Penpushing further reports that it is recalled that Oso lost his life in an auto crash on Saturday while returning from Delta State to Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, when the driver of the car conveying lost control and plunged into a river.

The corpse of the late renowned journalism teacher as at the time of filing this report had been recovered and deposited in the morgue of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu town of the state.

Penpushing also reports that number of sympathizers which include National Officer of United Nations Information Centre(UNIC), Nigeria, Dr Seyi Soremekun, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, founder of Penpushing media, Dr Goke Rauf(journalism teacher),  Gbenga Gbesan(veteran journalist), Yusuph Olaniyonu( media guru),Barrister Kamil Abolade and Mrs Funso Martins of Victory Life Bible Church among others have paid a condolence visit to the family

The General Overseer of Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC) in his condolence message described the deceased as a complete meek and gentleman with no trouble with him, as well as an elder pastor in the church

‘Prof Oso, a man, meek and gentle. No trouble or problem with him. My elder, my pastor. Your counsel, love will be missed. Rest in God’s my Prof’, Achudume, the General Overseer of Victory Bible Church wrote

Penpushing reports that the death of Oso which hit airwave was unbelievable and shocking to many people across the globe, particularly the journalism world and thousands of his mentees in the noble profession.

The sad news was confirmed by Professor Sunday Olayinka Alawode Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies FCMS, Lagos State University, as well as one of his mentee, Dr Sina Aina in a short statement.

Penpushing further reports that following the sudden exit several condolences have hit the airwave in memory of the late professor, describing the demise as unpalatable and prayed for his gentle soul to rest in perfect peace.

The founder of Penpushing Media, Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, who is one of the mentees of the deceased, lamented that he woke up on Sunday morning to hear about the sad development, adding that he finds it difficult to believe

‘I still find it difficult to believe. I just woke up to read this sad and unpalatable news. I became dejected when I called his phone line severally and the phone was switched off. He was one of my journalism mentors’, Kayode-Adedeji wrote

‘A cerebral and authority in journalism, not flamboyant, easy going and simple. If it is true Prof Osho is dead, because I am yet to accept that, may his soul rest in perfect peace. This is a sad day in journalism world’, he added

Penpushing also reports that Professor Sunday Olayinka Alawode, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies FCMS, Lagos State University, while announcing the death said he was constrained to inform about the death

‘I am constrained to inform us of the involvement of Professor Muraino Olayiwola Oso, (we all fondly called Baba Lai Oso) in a ghastly auto accident which claimed his life yesterday 24th June 2023’, Alawode wrote.

‘It’s a rude shock to all of us even as we commiserate with Mummy Oso, the children and his entire family, the Communication family worldwide, LASU Community and all others. Baba, your sudden exit is painful, but we rest in the comfort that you have gone to be with the Lord.  Rest in Peace. Adieu Baba of the Communication family’, he added.

Penpushing reports that another mentee of the late communication guru, Dr Sina Aina said it was with heavy heart to hear of the sudden and shocking demise of his teacher and mentor who died in a motor accident.

‘It is with a heavy heart but total submission to the will of Almighty God that we announce the passing of our Teacher, Mentor, Guardian, Father and Grand Father; Prof. Muraina Olaiwola Oso. He died last night in a motor accident. May Almighty God accept his return. Please, let’s keep praying for his family and associates’, Aina wrote.

The traditional ruler of Akinale Owu Kingdom of Egbaland, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye said he could not bear the loss of Osho, who was his professional colleague in the media industry, stressing that the demise was too much for him

‘Our forebears and bequeathed culture say Obas don’t mourn. Ah Lord, this is too much for me. In three weeks without respite, I have lost three valuable friends, professional colleagues and traditional ruler co compatriot’, Ogunleye wrote.

‘Olugbayo Ogunleye was my co-reporter in New Nigerian Newspapers late sixties and later both in PR practice. A strong Ekiti high chief passed on not too long ago. My great compatriot, traditional ruler and ace golfer, Oba Sabur Babajide Bakree, didn’t wait for me to return from a medical care trip in the UK before he departed without goodbye’, he stated.

‘Now its my friend and teacher of all teachers, Lai Oso. The man who respected me beyond what I think I am. He was one of those regular in my office as PR leader in the defunct Nigeria Airways between 1976 and 2000’, the royal father stated.

‘Our last discussion was my desire to honour him with a chieftaincy title at my next birthday. Now Lai is no more. May the Lord grants him the peaceful passage and makes his soul to rest in perfect peace.  A f’oju sin e, a pada sehin. Ki Oluwa pa asise Lai re, ki o f’ori jin gbogbo wa o. Odun a jinna si arawon o. God will grant his family and friends the fortitude to bear the loss’, Ogunleye said

Penpushing further reports that, a Public Relations expert, Eddy Ademosu while mourning the death, said Osho’s sudden exit was remorseful and shocking to him, as well as a personal loss to him in many aspects

‘Very remorsefuly, it’s a sad day for me, and I’m still shocked Prof’s sudden demise is a personal loss to me in many respects. He was a consummate mentor/role model, a quintessential teacher and scholar of high repute, a trustworthy brother, and an intimate family friend of many decades’,Ademosu wrote.

As if he was pressed for time, Prof called me 3 weeks ago, seeking after the state of my health, and characteristically urging me to press on with my PhD project.  I will surely miss him, and I pray for the repose of his gentle soul. May the good Lord comfort the immediate bereaved family, his many friends, mentees, students and academic community’, he said

Penpushing also reports that former Commissioner of Information and Strategy in Ogun State and former Media Adviser to former Senate President, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu in his condolence message said Oso’s death was a loss to journalism, communication studies and academia

‘What a sad loss to journalism, communication studies and the academia in our nation! A teacher of teachers and scholar’s scholar. My mentor is gone. Your death gives vivid expression to when a great library gets burnt down. Adieu to a great teacher. A perfect gentleman’, he wrote.

The late Oso  was former Deputy Rector, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic(MAPOLY), former Dean School of Communication, Lagos State University(LASU), External examiner for Phd  graduands in numerous Nigerian universities, a reputable communication scholar with numerous publications and had earlier worked with Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation(OGBC) and News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) before he became a lecturer in 1981 as one of the pioneer lecturers in Department of Mass Communications, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic(MAPOLY), Abeokuta.

FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or   event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email [email protected]