From Joseph Obukata, Warri
The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Onyeme, has expressed shock over the passage of Mrs Ifeoma Okafor, a Nigeria Television Authority’s (NTA) Correspondent attached to his office.
Mrs Okafor was said to have died on Thursday morning.
The Deputy Governor, in a condolence message to the Management of NTA, Asaba and the family of the deceased by Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, his Senior Special Assistant, Media, expressed shock over the death of the hardworking reporter.
He condoled the NTA, the family of the deceased, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and friends of the deceased.
“We heard the sad news about the passage of our colleague, friend and sister, Comrade Ifeoma Okafor.
“Immediately we heard about the sad occurrence, we informed the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, who was almost bereft of words to express himself as Ifeoma as we fondly called her was a hard working person, jovial and always committed to achieving desired results.
“The deputy governor has asked us to send his condolences to the entire management and staff of the NTA, her immediate family, the NUJ and her friends.
“Sir Onyeme recalled that Mrs Okafor was actively involved in the burial of her father in March, just few months ago and was visibly shocked to hear the sad news.
“For us, her colleagues, she will surely be missed, we knew that she never wavered in any course that she was committed to and as an individual, I can recall when we were colleagues as Correspondents who were attached to the Governor’s office, when she was of the NTA, I was writing for The Pointer Newspaper; also, both of us contested for elective positions in the elections of the Nigeria Union of Journalists as members of the Accountability Group; we will surely miss Ifeoma.
“Please, accept our condolences and kindly keep us posted about new developments,” Egugbo said.
Responding, Manager, News, NTA, Asaba, Mr Uche Njoku, thanked Comrade Egugbo and his team for the visit and asserted that Comrade Okafor would surely be missed by the NTA family.
Also, Comrade Egugbo and his team, related the deputy governor’s message to Mr Emmanuel Okafor, husband of the deceased.
Mr Okafor who personally received the team, thanked Sir Onyeme for identifying with him and members of his family.
Those who accompanied Egugbo on the visits include, Comrades Balogun Mabamije, PRO, Office of the Deputy Governor and his assistant, Tega Osoro, Pere Botu of Delta Broadcasting Service, Asaba, Joshua Okpanafe and Collins Ofuafo, both of Delta Broadcasting Service, Warri, among others.