The remains of Ambassador Joseph Shopade, a frontline member of Penpushing platform who died last Tuesday after he slumped in Maiduguri, Borno State Capital, will be committed to mother earth on Friday May 16, in Abeokuta, his hometown.
Penpushing reports that burial programme released by the family indicated that it will commenced with a candle light procession on Tuesday May 13 at Igbore Community between 6pm – 8pm, and on Wednesday May 14, a service of songs comprising both Muslim and Christian Communities will hold 5pm at Igbore Town Hall, Abeokuta
The statement added that on Thursday : May 15, there will be general Christian wake keep at Cathedral Hall. St. Paul’s Cathedral, by 4pm at Oke-Igbore, Abeokuta, while on Friday May 16,funeral service holds at St. Paul’s Cathedral Auditorium, Oke-Igbore, Abeokuta by 10am and thereafter interment follows immediately.
Penpushing further reports that until his death, he works as monitoring and reporting with United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) as a humanitarian staff in the North-East with operational base in Maiduguri.
The deceased worked at Ogun State University between 1989 and 2005 as a lecturer during which he took a leave of absence in 1999 from the University to work with United States Agency for International Development/Office of Transition Initiative (USAID/OTI) as a Senior Program Officer.
Penpushing also reports that he has worked with various organisations, including Technoserve, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), as well as worked with United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-Nigeria and serves as a National Expert, Democracy and Governance to United Nations Development Programme(UNDP).
The late 59-year-old Shopade during his life time was actively involved in the Peace Building and Reconciliation programs of Ife-Modakeke, Ijaw-Ilaje and Oke-Ogun herder crisis, and equally played major roles in community conflicts across the length and breadth of the country working on humanitarian efforts and disaster management.
Penpushing reports that during the first tenure of Senator Ibikunle Amosun as the Governor of Ogun State, he was appointed a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Multi-Lateral Agencies.
The statement released after his demise said his last social outing was at a birthday event of the wife of a friend at Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday 4th May where he was full of life with old friends, and till death, he was an active member of the Penpushing platform who was noted for his passion in assisting the needy and downtrodden,
Penpushing further reports that the statement stated that Shopade who is survived by children and a wife Mrs. Femi Shopade will be sorely missed.
The Management and Editorial Board of Penpushing Media, owner of Online Newspapers and Television, on behalf of our membership across the globe have condoled the family of deceased member.
Penpushing also reports that in a condolence message signed by Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, founder of the media outlet lamented that the news of the death came as a thunderbolt to the members across the globe.
‘It was difficult to believe when it hit the airwave, it was difficult to believe when the sad news spread like wildfire, indeed, the demise was big blow to the family and our organisation’, the letter reads.
‘No doubt will miss him and his death is a huge loss to the Penpushing Platform where he is a proactive member, while it is indisputable that his legacies are immense and remain indelible in our hearts’.
“His mentorship role to many people which cut across all gender, and ethics as well as religion deployed his Godly wealth of experiences to better the lot of the society, while it is our prayer that God shall grant him eternal rest’, Kayode-Adedeji wrote.
‘Hopefully, we had envisaged that a loving soul and this great man would be with us for a long time, but it has pleased the Almighty God, the unquestionable, to take him home for a deserved rest. Adieu, Shopade good night’, the letter emphasised.
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