Veteran journalist and ombudsman, Alhaji Alade Odunewu, is dead.
The former Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA), 85 died at the St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, four months before his 86th birthday.
Odunewu was famous for his satirical essays and his ‘Allah De’ column published in the Daily Times and later compiled his newspaper article in a book titled Winner Takes All.
A one- time editor-in-chief of the Allied Newspapers was the president of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), an association he co-founded.
Odunewu , pioneer chairman of the National Press Council was educated at St. John’s School, Aroloya, St. Cyprian, Port Harcourt, New Bethel College, Onitsha and the Regent Street Polytechnic, London.
He started his career in journalism in 1950 as a sub-editor with the Daily Service and became the editor of the paper.
In 1956, he became the managing director of the Nigerian Tribune and later worked with the Allied Newspapers of Nigeria as the editor- in-chief.
He joined the Times group in 1964, became the editor of the Daily Times, and rose to become Editor-in-Chief of the Times Publications.
He also served as a commissioner for tourism in Lagos State in 1973 and was later a member of the Federal Electoral Commission.
