The sad news of the sudden passage of Dr Samuel Ibiyemi, the Publisher of Nigeria NewsDirect broke yestarday evening, which again threw the media community into mourning.
NewsBits gathered that the publisher took ill recently and was taken to the hospital where he had been receiving treatment before he passed yesterday. Shortly after his death, the family issued a statement as they should to avoid any rumours. The statement reads in full:
“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 54.
“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.”
