A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kwara State, Mr Stephen Olushola Owolabi, is dead.
Owolabi died on Sunday evening when his car had an accident along Offa Garage Road, Ilorin, the state capital.
The deceased’s car, a metallic Blue Honda ‘Bulldog’ Wagon, was said to have somersaulted three times.
He was rushed to two private hospitals in the metropolis but was rejected due to the severity of the injuries sustained.
From there, he was taken to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) by ‘Good Samaritans’ who witnessed the incident but doctors lost the battle for his life at the hospital’s Emergency Unit.
He was buried on Monday.
He is survived by his wife, three children and parent.
Owolabi, an indigene of Ogbomoso in Oyo State, was a Senior Reporter with National Pilot before his employment by NAN.
While with the National Pilot, he was also the Coordinating Editor, Pilot Rendezvous, an entertainment magazine of the newspaper.
Until his demise, he was the Assistant Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kwara State Correspondents’ Chapel.
He was a graduate of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), holder of Bachelor of Arts degree (English) from the University of Ilorin and Post Graduate Diploma from International Institute of Journalism (IIJ). He had his youth service in Benue State.
Meanwhile, the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Kwara State NUJ has described the death of its Assistant Secretary, Mr. Olusola Owolabi, as shocking and a sad loss.
In a statement on Monday, and signed by the Correspondents’ chapel’s chairman and secretary, Comrade Layi Olanrewaju and Biola Azeez respectively, the chapel condoled with the family of Owolabi on the irreparable loss.
The chapel, which described Owolabi as dutiful, hardworking and enterprising member, prayed God to serve as fortress to the young family left behind by the late journalist.
The Correspondents’ Chapel said the family of the late journalist should take solace in God and in the remarkable achievements recorded by Owolabi while alive.
It also said that a condolence register has been opened at the secretariat of the Correspondents’ Chapel on No. 25, Murtala Mohammed Way, Ilorin.
