The publisher of a leading local tabloid in Ebonyi State, The Voice newspaper, Chief Imo Eze, is dead.
Imo died on Thursday night at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA), Ebonyi state after a protracted illness.
The late veteran journalist served the first civilian governor of Ebonyi state, Dr. Sam Omiyi Egwu, as Chief Press Secretary (CPS).
His second daughter and also a Journalist, Mrs Chinwe Eze Onwosi, confirmed the sad news on her Facebook handle on Friday.
The late publisher worked for many reputable newspapers including Daily Times, Daily Star, and Satelite Newspapers.
He was the Lagos State correspondent for Satellite Newspaper.
When the Satellite relocated to Lagos in 1991 he became the News Editor.
Mr Eze at a time covered the Dodan Barracks Lagos during the Ibrahim Babangida era.
The late veteran Journalist was noted for his nack of discovering and grooming many Journalists in the state and beyond who have gone on to achieve great things in the media world.
Mourning the veteran journalist, the immediate past Chief Press Secretary to Governor David Umahi, Emmanuel Uzor, who is one of the products of the late publisher described him as a great man who made wonderful contributions to development of his state.
Chief Uzor noted that his death was a great loss to the media community in Ebonyi and the state in general.
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Chief Uzor who recalled the pioneering roles of the late journalist in bringing active journalism to the state, further prayed for the repose of his soul and for God to grant the family the fortitude to bear his death.
Mr Chijioke Agwu, the State Correspondent for The Sun Newspaper also eulogised the late publisher for giving him his first break in Journalism after graduation.
He said: “I am saddened by Chief Imo’s demise. He was a great man whose impact was felt till his last breath, and will continue to be felt in the state and beyond because of the abundance of his products within and outside the state.
“He was solely responsible for my foray into journalism. I recall how he invited me to join The Voice Newspaper as a staff writer in July 2013 ,few days after my final exams at the University of Nigeria Nsukka(UNN).
“At the time, I had doubted my capacity to work as a journalist as I had no form of training in journalism. But Chief Imo assured me that I have all the makings of a good journalist.
“Je started by making me the head of paper’s Political Desk. And within a short time,he took me through the trajectory of news identification and news writing.
Acting Vice Chairman, Zone C of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Ken Ofoma also mourned the late Publisher.
He noted that the journalism profession has lost a great gem and a veteran of the highest order.
“He has left an indelible mark in the journalism profession, and we greatly miss him. May God console the family”, Mr Ofoma wrote.
