IZUNWANNE, a body of senior Journalists of South-east geo- political zone of Nigeria origin, mourns the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a doyen of the newspaper industry in Nigeria.
We received the news of his death with surprise, as we never knew he was sick, let alone to the extent of going to be fatal.
Though he died as the President General of the apex Igbo non-political but socio-cultural organisation, OHANA EZE NDI IGBO, but Chief Iwuanyanwu is more remembered by us for his unassailable role as a leading light in the newspaper industry in Nigeria, with his establishment of CHAMPION newspaper in 1988, a newspaper that made a household name and competed favourably among other big national newspapers in Nigeria.
By the establishment of CHAMPION newspaper, which he located in Lagos, the hub of newspaper industry in Nigeria, Chief Iwuanyanwu gave the Igbo a strong voice as the newspaper endured the test of time. Many members of IZUNWANNE passed through Iwuanyanwu’s newspaper in the course of their journalism practice. His immense contributions in the development and growth of both journalism and the newspaper industry cannot be over emphasised. He was a father-figure in the industry and left an indelible mark on the sands of time in both journalism and newspaper world.
He will surely be missed.
We condole his family, the journalism world, the newspaper business community and indeed the country in general for the death of this towering a giant, a philanthropist, a kind man, a patriot, an illustrious Igbo son, an astute politician, a successful business and a newspaper proprietor of note, a well known figure in the construction sector, and a quintessential personality.
May his soul rest in peace.
Coordinator, IZUNWANNE.
25/7/2024.
