Veteran journalist and CEO of The Crest Online Shola Oshunkeye has explained why he became emotional during his colloquium and book launch held to mark his 70th birthday.
The event took place on Thursday, April 23, at the Sir Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Ogba, Lagos.
The programme also featured the launch of his book Byline & Backbone: A Lifetime of Big and Impactful Stories, a collection of his reports over the years.
While speaking at the event, Mr Oshunkeye paused and shed tears as he thanked his wife, Funsho, who joined him on stage.
He said their life together began in a single room in Somolu, Lagos.
“When we started in 1981, it was a room with two adults with nothing, but from the dust God raised us and got us to where we are today,” he said.
He thanked his wife for her support and for raising their children.
“I thank the children that God has given us. They have endured not having their daddy around, thanks to this woman who stood behind me,” he said.
Oshunkeye later explained that his emotions were also linked to the loss of two of his brothers within a short period during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The reason I’m emotional is that we lost two brothers within eight months to COVID,” he said.
He said one of them, Pastor Mike Oshunkeye, died in the United Kingdom after falling ill.
According to him, they spoke the night before his death without any sign that he was unwell.
“The night before he passed, we were together till almost midnight. We spoke and prayed. The next morning, I was told he had died, and I have not recovered from it,” he said.
He added that another brother, who worked as a deputy finance director in Ilorin, also died within the same period.
He said the loss affected him and his family.
Shola Oshunkeye thanked his family, friends and colleagues for their support over the years.
Speaking with journalists after the event, he said journalism requires patience and commitment.
“You have to have patience, you have to have perseverance, you have to endure to do this job,” he said.
He advised younger journalists to focus on building a reputation rather than financial gain.
“If your ambition is to make money, you can go to another industry. In journalism, what you build is your name,” he said.
The event was attended by media and public figures including Olusegun Osoba, Dele Momodu and Gani Adams.
Others present included Clement Haastrup, Olusola Obada, Adedokun Abolarin, Olumide Iyanda, Azuh Arinze, Funke Egbemode, Maureen Chigbo and Femi Adesina.
