By Oluwakayode Banjo
An American novelist Chuck Palahniuk, once said “We all die. The goal isn’t to live forever; the goal is to create something that will”.
This quote best describes a retired Deputy Director, Training, National Broadcasting Academy, Lagos, Alhaji Salim Wole Abioye, who died on Thursday.
When the news of the demise of Alhaji Wole Abioye, broke, it did not take long before one could easily deduce that the media profession had lost a rare gem.
Torrent of tributes began to pour in on the life and times of the late staff of Radio Nigeria, especially from those who worked with him during his time in service.
In his words, the Zonal Director, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN Ibadan Zonal Station, Mr Dominik Mokikan described Alhaji Abioye as a thoroughbred editor, who remained dear to the FRCN family till his last breath.
“He was of the News extraction. He was a material, very thorough in whatever he did to the extent that when he was to retire, if we had our way, we wouldn’t have allowed him to go because we knew we were missing something”.
Also, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, FRCN Ibadan chapter, Mr Sola Ogunmola said the late Abioye was an encyclopedia, whose leadership qualities would be greatly missed.
“What a great loss! I regard Alhaji Wole Abioye as an encyclopedia of a person. He was highly intelligent and his death is a brain drain of a kind. I pray that GOD grant the rest of us pensioners the Grace of longer lives in Excellent Health. May Allah grant him ( Alhaji Abioye ) Aljanah Fridaus amin.”
To a retired Deputy Director, Deacon Femi Oladipo and retired Assistant Director, Venerable Jerry Fayomi, both of the News and Current Affairs Department where Alhaji Abioye worked, the deceased was indeed a good teacher and his death, great loss to the journalism profession.
“Very serious, serious loss of a great Pen Pusher, plenipotentiary Editor, Teacher…..
Adieu Alhaji Abioye.” Deacon Oladipo penned.
“SWA, Salim Wole Abioye, a name that sent jitters in us at our daily editorial conference, where duty editors bulletins were X-rayed and dissected to highlight errors to guide against future occurrence.
SWA, was one of our best senior editors, professionally meticulous and a superb trainer who made an indelible mark in the three arms of the News and Current Affairs Division then. May his soul rest peacefully in the Lord.” (Ven. Jerry Fayomi).
Other colleagues of the late Abioye, including Mr Abiodun Odunuga, Venerable Tayo Adebayo and Mrs Veronica Osaighe, who also penned their tributes, described him as an advisor extraordinary and mentor.
“SWA….a Journalists Journalist, an erudite Teacher and Advisor extraordinary. May his soul rest in Peace and May Allah forgive his sins and give those he left behind the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.” – Mr Abiodun Odunuga.
“So Wole is no more? We thank God for the grace of our togetherness while in service and the privilege of modern technology through which we were able to chat occasionally recaling our work-life experiences and even analysing current national issues. May his soul rest in peace, Adieu Wole!” – Ven. Tayo Adebayo
“May his gentle soul rest in peace; He will be sorely missed. He was my mentor”. – Mrs Veronica Osaighe.
SWA, as he was fondly called, joined Radio Nigeria Ibadan in the 1960s and worked as a Senior Editor in Ibadan, Correspondent in Ijebu Ode.
He was transferred to Lagos FRCN Ikoyi, in the 1980s as a member of the National Network newsby programme called “The Newsreel”.
He was also a correspondent during the military era at the State House, Dodan Baracks where he covered various assignments including the Hajj ,Muslim pilgrimage for FRCN in I984.
Born in Okoh village, Ghana in 1945, Alhaji Abioye retired from the services of Radio Nigeria in the 1990s and died on Thursday at the age of 78 years.
He is survived by a wife and 5 children, one of them, Mrs Halima Orunsolu, a current staff of Radio Nigeria Ibadan.
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