The remains of Aniete Akpan, former South-South Deputy Bureau Chief of The Guardian Newspapers, were laid to rest in Ekpeneobo, Akwa Ibom, on Friday.
Akpan, who died on Aug. 2 at the age of 63, was buried after a funeral and thanksgiving service attended by journalists, family members, friends and community leaders.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the service was held at the community playground in Ekpeneobo, Esit Eket Local Government Area. Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River described the deceased as a thoroughbred professional whose contributions to journalism and the state would remain indelible.
Otu, represented by his Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr Nsa Gill, spoke at the funeral, highlighting Akpan’s years of professional service in Cross River. He said the journalist, an indigene of Akwa Ibom, had lived and worked in Cross River for years, making Calabar his second home.
The governor commended Akpan for upholding journalistic ethics and maintaining balance, objectivity and fairness when sensationalism was becoming increasingly common.
“His reports gave voice to the Niger Delta, projected our developmental challenges and celebrated our people. Cross River has lost a friend, a bridge between the state and the media, and a patriotic citizen who used his pen to promote good governance,” he said.
Otu urged the bereaved family to draw comfort from Akpan’s enduring legacy, which he said would continue to inspire younger journalists. He also prayed for strength for the family to bear the loss.
Similarly, the President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Alhassan Abdullahi, described Akpan’s death as a painful loss to the journalism profession.
Abdullahi, represented by the Chairman of the NUJ Cross River Council, Ms Archibong Bassey, said the deceased was a dedicated professional committed to information dissemination.
He said Akpan’s dedication to keeping the public informed remained an important part of his professional legacy. In his sermon, Pastor Tunde Olaghende of Living Faith Church, Akwa Ibom, urged Christians to live meaningful lives and leave positive legacies.
Olaghende encouraged people to be remembered for their good deeds, stressing the importance of making meaningful contributions to society while alive. A former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commissioner, Mr Aniedi Ikoiwak, also described Akpan as a balanced reporter whose objectivity earned him widespread respect.
Some of Akpan’s former secondary school classmates recalled their lifelong friendship with him, praising his humility and professionalism. Akpan retired from The Guardian Newspapers before establishing his own media platform. He was based in Calabar until his death.
- Source: NAN
