- Lagos govt, IPC, writers, others mourn
The Nation’s Arts and Life writer Evelyn Eseoghene Osagie is dead.
She died on Sunday at a private hospital in Lagos. She was 49.
Evelyn was lively and had passion for her job and devoted to the world of art.
Her death, which occurred in the early hours of that day, was a rude shock to everybody in The Nation and all those who came across her.
She was extremely passionate about her job, declared Victor Ifijeh, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Nation during the editors’ conference yesterday.
A minute silence was observed in her honour at the meeting dominated by discussion of the life and times of the reporter in the organisation
Her sister, Patience Osagie, who broke the news of her demise, said she got a call from her that she was seriously sick on Thursday.
Patience said she went to see her, took her to the hospital on Friday and, by Sunday morning, Evelyn was gone.
Apart from her regular job as a journalist, she was also an actor and a poet.
The late Miss Osagie built a network of friends, contacts and sources in the Art and Life world.
She performed at many events, locally and internationally.
She was an Assistant Editor on the Arts and Life Desk and she handled the Women’s section of the Mid-Week Magazine in the Wednesday edition of this newspaper.
Evelyn also kept a column on feminine affairs and other issues.
The 2003 University of Benin (UNIBEN) graduate had various training locally and internationally during her 17 years career at The Nation.
She won many awards, including Beatrice Bassey’s Prize for Female Report of The Year 2015 of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA).
She was a member of many organisations, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Arts and Culture Writers Association of Nigeria (ACWAN).
The Lagos State government has commiserated with the management and staff of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation on the passage of Miss Evelyn Osagie, a reporter, poet, and cultural advocate.
Beyond reporting, the Lagos-born journalist nurtured a rare passion for poetry so much that she was recognised by the Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka.
She was also an advocate of culture, women and child rights, civil rights and mental health.
One of her major works, the story of Indian Ayuba, a 13-year-old girl who refused to abandon her mentally challenged mother, was an outstanding journalistic work of empathy and resilience, which put Osagie in the limelight. She followed the story till the end.
Winner of the Nigeria Media Merit Award (NMMA) Beatrice Bassey Prize for Female Reporter in Year 2015, Osagie earned many recognitions for her outstanding contributions to journalism and poetry.
A statement by Information and Strategy Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso noted that Miss Osagie was always warm and friendly. Besides, she did her job with a unique display of talent and commitment that made her stand out among her colleagues.
“On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu sends his condolences to the staff and management of Vintage Press. He urged that God to bless Evelyn Osagie’s soul and grant her relations, friends and colleagues the strength they need to bear the burden of this great loss.”
The Society of Young Nigerian Writers (SYNW) described Miss Osagie as a rare blend of artistry and activism.
“Though gone too soon, her voice continues to echo through the stories she told, the verses she penned, and the lives she uplifted,” it said in a statement. Also in a tribute, the creative writer, journalist and critic, Molara Wood recalled that the late journalist was “an intrepid culture journalist, tireless, highly resourceful, full of verve”.
In a statement by IPC’s Executive Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the organisation said the late journalist would be remembered for her commitment to amplifying women’s voices in the media space.
“The death of Evelyn Osagie is a huge loss to the journalism community. She was a renowned journalist who, through her inclusive reports, amplified the voice of women across board,” he said.
Arogundade added that Miss Osagie’s journalism was not limited to reporting events as she also served as an advocate who inspired action and influenced change.
“We will particularly remember Evelyn for her outstanding contributions at the recent European Union-supported IPC and NAWOJ interface in Port Harcourt on creating enabling newsroom environments for the inclusive reporting of women’s issues during electoral processes.
“She made personal commitments in this regard and pledged that The Nation would be a trailblazer in projecting the voices of female politicians ahead of 2027,” Arogundade stated.
The family is expected to announce her funeral arrangement.
