A veteran journalist and former Deputy Bureau Chief of The Guardian in Nigeria’s South-South region, Anietie Akpan has been reported dead, a development which has drawn tributes from colleagues and public officials.
Penpushing reports that Chairman of Cross River State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Archibong Bassey, made this known in a statement adding that Akpan died on Sunday night,
The council in the statement described the deceased as a respected journalist whose contributions helped shape journalism in Cross River State and the South-South region, describing his death as a monumental loss to the journalism profession and the state.
Penpushing further reports that the union said the late Akpan distinguished himself through dedication, integrity and commitment to excellence during a career that spanned over three decades.
The union in the statement expressed condolences to the deceased family and prayed for the strength to bear the loss, adding that funeral arrangements would be announced later.
Penpushing also reports that, the spokesman to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, Linus Obogo paid tribute to the late journalist in a message shared on Facebook on Monday.
“Good night and rest peacefully in the Lord, Oga Anietie Akpan. You blazed the trail and paved the way for others to follow. The journalism profession just lost a gem’, Obogo wrote.
Penpushing reports that Akpan spent more than three decades in journalism, earning a reputation for his coverage of public affairs and child rights issues before leaving The Guardian to establish his own newspaper, Pillartoday.com.ng.
The deceased received a meritorious award from Safe Child Africa, a United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisation, in recognition of his work on child witchcraft issues in Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.
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