Eddie Aderinokun, veteran journalist, is dead

Eddie Aderinokun, former vice-chairman, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), is dead.

Aderinokun, who was a journalist, poet, and sports administrator, was said to have died on January 3 at the age of 80 after a brief illness.

“With great sadness, but with submission to the will of God, we announce the passing on to glory of our beloved Father, Grandfather, Husband, Brother, Otunba Eddie, Olayiwola Aderinokun on the 3rd of January 2021, following a brief illness,” a statement by Kayode Aderinokun, the deceased brother, said.

“Funeral arrangements will be announced by the Family.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, in a statement by Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, condoled with the family and friends of the deceased.

The president said the late Aderinokun’s successful career will be “recorded in his favour by posterity”.

“The President salutes the more than 60 years of vibrant journalism practice by Aderinokun, which saw him rise to editorship of the then reputable Daily Express Newspaper, and his contribution to literature through many books, particularly on poetry,” the statement said.

“Also unforgettable are his footprints in sports development, particularly volleyball, where he made his mark as a very successful Chairman of the Nigerian Volleyball Federation.

“The President lauds the fact that Aderinokun, as President of Nigeria League of Veteran Journalists, shared his wealth of experience, and guided younger professionals on the path of ethics and good conduct, adding that all these would be recorded in his favour by posterity”.

The president also asked the deceased family, friends, the media, and sporting fraternity, to strive to keep Aderinokun’s memory alive.

The late Aderinokun worked for the Daily Express Newspaper in the 1960s and later became its editor.

He also served as the president of the Nigerian volleyball association in 1994.

The deceased is among those who paved the way for pop music in Nigeria.

The late Aderinokun, in the late sixties, founded The Clusters, a pop group in Lagos, which featured talents such as Berkeley Jones (guitarist), Tony Amadi, Linus Okechi and Jibade Thomas.