Media Community Mourns Death of NewsDirect Publisher, Ibiyemi

One of Nigeria’s media personalities and Publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi has died at 56, leaving the media community in mourning.

His family,  in a statement on Wednesday, confirmed that Ibiyemi died on July 4, 2023 at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo after a brief illness.

“We had thought that a beautiful and loving soul that the great Ife Prince was would be with us for a long while, but it has pleased the Almighty God, the unquestionable one to take him home for a deserved rest”, the family statement partly read.

The statement added: “Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, was a thoroughbred journalist, a servant of God and had even started out in life as a soldier with Nigerian Air Force before veering into journalism.

“He established Nigerian NewsDirect about 13 years ago and the paper has continued to be one of the leading newspapers in the country contributing to the expansion of the socio-economic development of the nation.

“Aside being a loving father and very caring boss to his staff and younger colleagues, Dr Ibiyemi was humility personified and a cheerful giver.

“He was no doubt a colossus of some sort who bestrode the media world during his lifetime.

“In submission to God, he planted Great Grace Apostolic Church, Gasline, Sango-Ota about four years back and was the presiding minister until he breathed his last.

“May his loving and caring soul rest in peace.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria, (NAEC), in a statement by its Chairman, Mr Olu Phillips, ddescribed Ibiyemi’s passing as a great loss to the energy sector, media, and Nigeria.

According to Phillips, the Nigerian energy industry and the media would miss his in-depth and balanced reporting of the energy sector.

“The measures he brought to in-depth and balancing reporting of energy sector and newspaper publishing is quite remarkable,” he added.

The NAEC Chairman also commiserated with the entire family of Ibiyemi, and urged them to see his death as the will of God, adding that they should take solace in God for a quality  life spent by the deceased.

Phillips  added: “On behalf of the entire leadership and members of NAEC, I mourn the passage of a proud NAEC, Dr Sam Ibiyemi. His death was a great loss to us all.

“Dr Sam Ibiyemi  was a man who gave life the best shot during his active days, and while he was hospitailed. He  Lifted himself through hard work, unusual courage, extreme doggedness and commitment.  He was a lesson to those that dared to dream and succeed.

“He was a good ambassador of NAEC at every  level and he contributed his quota to the growth and development of energy reporting in Nigeria.

Below are full statements:

With deep sorrow in our hearts and total submission to the will of God, we announce the death, of our father, uncle and Publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi, which sad event occurred on July 4, 2023 at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilisan-Remo after a brief illness. He was aged 56.

We had thought that a beautiful and loving soul that the great Ife Prince was would be with us for a long while, but it has pleased the Almighty God, the unquestionable one to take him home for a deserved rest.

Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, was a thoroughbred journalist, a servant of God and had even started out in life as a soldier with Nigerian Air Force before veering into journalism.

He established Nigerian NewsDirect about 13 years ago and the paper has continued to be one of the leading newspapers in the country contributing to the expansion of the socio-economic development of the nation.

Aside being a loving father and very caring boss to his staff and younger colleagues, Dr Ibiyemi was humility personified and a cheerful giver.

He was no doubt a colossus of some sort who bestrode the media world during his lifetime.

In submission to God, he planted Great Grace Apostolic Church, Gasline, Sango-Ota about four years back and was the presiding minister until he breathed his last.

May his loving and caring soul rest in peace.

Signed,

Wife and Children

The Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria, NAEC mourns the death of its  prominent member and the publisher of Nigerian NewsDirect, Dr. Samuel Ibiyemi

In a statement signed by the Association Chairman, Mr Olu Phillips,  described his paasage as a great loss to the Energy sector, media, and Nigeria.

According to Mr Phillips, the Nigerian energy industry and the media would miss his in-depth and balanced reporting of the energy sector.

“The measures he brought to in-depth and balancing reporting of  energy sector and newspaper publishing is quite remarkable,” he added.

The NAEC Chairman also commiserated with the entire family of Ibiyemi, and urged them to see his passage as the will of God, adding that they should take solace in God for a quality  life spent by the deceased.

He said: “On behalf of the entire leadership and members of NAEC, I mourn the passage of a proud NAEC, Dr Sam Ibiyemi. His death was a great loss to us all

“Dr Sam Ibiyemi  was a man who gave life the best shot during his active days, and while he was hospitailed. He  Lifted himself through hard work, unusual courage, extreme doggedness and commitment.  He was a lesson to those that dared to dream and succeed.

He was a good ambassador of NAEC at every  level and he contributed his quota to the growth and development of energy reporting in Nigeria.

His son, Wale Ibiyemi confirmed  the death of his father to the leadership of NAEC on Tuesday.

He noted that his father  died after a long battle with PULMONARY EMBOLISM (Blood clots) at Babcock Teaching Hospital,Ilisan, Ogun state.

I received the news of the passage of Dr Sam Ibiyemi yesterday with a shock. He was a distinguished Energy Reporter, Analyst and  Publisher of the NewsDirect.

I  first met Sam, an Economist, Journalist, Publisher and a former Military Personnel, when he was Energy Correspondent of the influential Financial Standard. He,  later, rose to Deputy Editor of the Publication. He covered the activities and operations of the NNPC and the Petroleum Industry professionally. His views, at times, were very radical and piercing. The NNPC Management,  however,  cherished such – lots learnt from his constructive and persuasive opinion.

My second coming at the NNPC, Sam was already a Publisher- NewsDirect. Interestingly,  the publication had- still has- a positive slant in energy reporting.

Sam visited us severally at the NNPC- with informed and inspiring ideas . He was a friend of Dr Maikanti Baru, the GMD of NNPC. Dr Baru fondly called him,

” Sam de Sam of radical views”. The NewsDirect gave Dr Baru an Award- an honour truly earned by the gentleman and cerebral Dr Baru.

When I exited the NNPC, Sam was constantly in touch- essence of true and real friendship!

My solace is that Sam lived a fulfilled life. Not the quantum of years that matters, but how impactful. His impact is felt positively in the family , services to God ( an ordained Pastor) and humanity,  the polity – a Gubernatorial Aspirant-, his media profession…

May God grant the soul of Sam safe passage to eternity and comfort his loved ones.

Adieu, Sam!

Ndu Ughamadu,  Esq, MFR