By Correspondent in Lokoja
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The late Mrs Lucy Damian
Barely 40 days after they lost one of their own,Alhaji Abdulazeez Ajinomo of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) to death, members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists,Kogi State Council have again lost another member,Mrs Lucy Damian, the Head of Editorial, News and Current Affairs, Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, Lokoja.
Our Correspondent gathered that the late Damian,who celebrated her 50th birthday about two weeks ago, died in Abuja during an illness.
Commenting on the sad development, the Chairman of the council, Alhaji Adeiza Momojimoh, described Damian’s demise as shocking, saying that the deceased would be greatly missed.
Momojimoh described the deceased as a honest and dedicated professional Journalist who used her position to impact positively in the life of those who came across her in her journey of life, especially the youth.
Our Correspondent gathered the deceased was one of the pioneer members of staff of the radio corporation when the state was carved out of Benue and Kwara States on August 27,1991.
Some of the Journalists who spoke with our Correspondent on the issue said they were yet to cone terms with the devastating reality of the demise of Mrs Damian, whom they described as a lovely and lively colleague with peaceful disposition to all,among her conduct.
Our Correspondent who visited the premises of Radio kogi,where the deceased worked before her last day on earth, reports that pensive mood pervaded the atmosphere at the station with every staff spotted mourning, reflective of the sad development.
They prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest,NUJ,and management and members of staff of Radio kogi,her employer and her family, the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
A gaze into the NUJ membership social media platform in Lokoja, by our Correspondent, revealed a showed lamentation galore and grief by the deceased’s colleagues who also paid glowing tribute to her.
One of them said,”My God, ah, she has struggled to live. She was overwhelmed. May God grant her soul sweet repose. May God console her immediate family and the entire NUJ.
Another said,”Life but a walking shadow, mere players we are…am short of words. The Chair, as I always called you. You’ve gone to rest from this world of toiling and wickedness. May God give us, all, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss in Jesus name. Adieu Distinguished Comrade.
Yet another member simply said,”My mentor in journalism, RIP my mummy.
“So, Mummy Lucy is no more, my heart is heavy.
The other added to the lamentation,”OMG! What a sad news. It is well. God would console the family. Rest on Lucy.
However a member gave a vivid description of Lucy’s last moment at the NUJ Press centre recently as he noted: “She came to press centre few days ago and as she sauntered in, we exchanged pleasantries as usual. I however observed she found it pretty difficult to climb the staircase – she had to lobby for a rest mid way.
“And when she had greeted everyone and made a move to go,to descend the staircase was almost a problem. She squirted rather hesitatively like a toddler learning to walk- she picked her steps mindfully.
“It was obvious her huge, adoring athletic frame had caved in to a frail- looking pitiable frame.
“She had managed to come to bid farewell to the profession she so much cherished to belong– she indeed made her marks and she will be solely missed.
“My heart bleeds for her immediate family and members of the union. Adieu adorable Lucy Damian.”
Outpouring of emotion-laden comments by members were still streaming the platform as at the time of this report.
The management of The Reporters join hundreds of colleagues and friends of the deceased in expressing their heart-felt condolences over the sad development.
May Almighty God grant her eternal rest and her family, NUJ, the management of Radio kogi among others, the courage to bear the great loss.
Saying that we are going to sorely and surely miss “Madam Lucy”, as we fondly call her, is a mild word.
We are, however, consoled that she lived exemplary life as exemplified by tributes pouring in over her demise.
The deceased Journalist,who was also an ex-officio of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, is survived by her husband, children and other relations.
