Family members, friends and fellow broadcasters have gathered in Lagos for a requiem Mass held for the late Ben Egbuna, the pioneer Executive Director of News of Voice of Nigeria, VON and a former Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.
Dozens of mourners also paid tributes to the late veteran Broadcaster at the Mass held in Catholic Church of the Transfiguration, Victoria Garden City in Lekki, Lagos State.
Some of them spoke to Voice of Nigeria on what they remember and miss most about the late veteran broadcaster.
A retired Director of News of Voice of Nigeria, Mr Frank Ilogu said; “We had a very good working relationship.
“He is somebody who is highly disciplined and he never believed in cutting corners. We shall really miss him.”
Mr. Egbuna was described as one of the most accomplished broadcasters Nigeria ever had.
Many remember him as a thorough-bred broadcast journalist with an uncompromising disposition to the ethics and standards of the profession.
“He doesn’t go out of his way to say you are doing a good job, except you are really doing it,” a Senior Officer in VON, Mrs Monica Nwabuze stated.
Mrs Nwabueze said; ”I will really miss him. He made me a better person because he was a perfectionist. He wants you to be your best and he keeps pushing you until you are refined.”
“He lived a life of integrity,” Chike Wumem, a close friend and associate told VON at the end of the requiem held in Lagos.
”I was a co-author of a book with him. I miss him a lot,” he added.
The late Ben Egbuna was among the staff of the External Service of the then National Broadcasting Corporation, now the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, who pioneered what is known today as the Voice of Nigeria, the nation’s external broadcasting station.
The ace broadcaster was also a former President, African Union of Broadcasting (AUB).
Mr. Ben Egbuna, died in Lagos on 28th of January, 2021 at the age of 71.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
