By Edwin Nwachukwu
Lagos, June 3, 2024 – Mr Francis N Nwosu, the immediate passed Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Press Council and a former staff of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) passed on almost three weeks ago.
He left from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory after a brief illness in May 2024, while his friend, late Chief Jide Adebayo left from Lagos in 2021.
Today, June 3, 2024 is Francis Nwosu’s birthday. One would have imagined the out pouring of messages that he would have received if death has not struck. What a mystery of life.
Nwosu, the later wrote the below about his relationship with his cherished friend and colleague, Adebayo upon his demise:
Chief Jide Adebayo and I were very close friends during our journalism practice at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), and so we were until the cold hands of death separated us last Thursday night.
He was a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE), and was an accomplished officer and gentleman which enabled him to serve as Executive Director (Marketing) and later Acting Managing Director before his retirement from service.
Until his death, Jide was the Eesa of Omu-Aran (Traditional Prime Minister), in Kwara state.
He’s demise is a personal loss, and devastating blow to all of us that knew and associated with him.
The man I fundly named D’Crown Prince is gone, and I can only pray that God should forgive his shortcomings and grant his soul eternal rest, while granting his family and us all that loved him, the fortitude to bear the loss.
Adieu my brother and friend…..D’Crown Prince, till we meet again.
For Tony Nezianya, spokesperson for the Nigeria Olympic Committee, June 3, is Facebook’s timely reminders of cherished friendships.
Facebook’s incredible memory has once again brought to the forefront the birthdays of two of your dearest friends, Eesa Jide Adebayo and Mazi Francis Nwosu.
Though Eesa has been gone for almost two years now, and Mazi Nwosu has just passed away in the last three weeks, the pain of their loss is still keenly felt.
My tears this morning are shared by millions of your mutual friends and admirers, both at home and in the diaspora.
Eesa Adebayo and Mazi Nwosu’s friendship was remarkable, transcending cultural divides and intriguing their mutual acquaintances. How did Okoroman and Ngbatiman come to form such a strong bond?
Their friendship was forged within the walls of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), founded during the military government of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1978.
It was there that they, along with a host of other colleagues, including Tony Nezianya, Segun Olanipekun, Segun Adeyemi, Vincent Obi, Bunmi Fasonu, Dr. Kingsley Kubenyinje, Vincent Okwor, Yinka Adeyemi, Bulk Ponle, Paul Ejime, Comfort Coleman, Chibuzor, Gody Ikeh, Nasir Mahmoud, Isah Husseini, Lawal Toro, DD Obika, Wada Maida, Mrs Oluremi Oyo, Paul Aduba, Lawrence Cobham, Obi Emekekwue and Austin Akabueze formed a cartel of friendship that transcended tribal affiliations.
The friendships forged within the walls of NAN have endured the test of time, thanks in no small part to the NAN forum created by Tony Nezianya.
As we mourn the loss of Eesa and Mazi Nwosu, we take solace in the knowledge that their legacy of friendship and camaraderie lives on, a testament to the power of human connections that can transcend cultural boundaries.
