“Champion’s Honour” for Pa Henry Odukomaiya @ 87

For veteran journalist and newspaper builder, his 87 th birthday on 10th July
2021 could not have been more memorable as his former staff at Champion
Newspapers Limited were on hand, at his Ilupeju residence in Lagos, to mark
the occasion. Ace sports reporter now turned administrator, Elder Paul Bassey
was the rallying point for what turned out to be a respectable delegation at a
most edifying occasion.
Obviously, the Champion team had taken a birthday cake along, a delicacy
that, at 87, Odukomaiya is not likely to relish. A stickler for excellence, on his
day as managing director/editor-in-chief, such an act of indiscretion would
have earned the offender a mild rebuttal from Odukomaiya who, at 55, we all
called Baba, at the inception of Champion Newspapers Limited in 1988.
It goes without saying that most, if not all of the Champion workers will be
grateful to God that Odukomaiya is still agile at 87, strong enough to host his
professional children. From the rookie status of many a Champion pioneer,
many have climbed the professional ladder and have become veterans in their
own right (don’t laugh) while others have migrated to other areas of human
endeavour where they have equally recorded impressive achievements.
This is thanking Pa Henry Olukayode Odukomaiya, a man who astutely
deployed the carrot and stick with uncanny equilibrium, for his mentorship,
love and service to humanity and wishing him many happy returns of the day.
Photos:
Prince Henry Odukomaiya and his wife Lydia.
Pa Odukomaiya (middle) with wife Lydia (left) and former general manager,
Administration of Champion Newspaper, Mrs. Ijeoma Enekwa.
L-R: Folu Koyi, former production editor, Charles Iheagwam, former production
manager, Ijeoma Enekwa, former general manager and Victoria Ibanga, former
editor Sunday, all of Champion Newspapers, all in honour of Pa Odukomiaya.
L-R: Sir Charles Iheagwam, Mrs. Odukomaiya, Pa Odukomaiya, Mrs. Enekwa,
Mr. Folu Koyi and Victoria Ibanga
Pa Odukomaiya with members of the clergy