The Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, has called on the Ogun State Government and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state to immortalise the late journalist and All Progressives Congress (APC) Publicity Secretary, Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye, by adopting the Oniroyin Support Initiative (OSI).
Adeyemo made the appeal on Sunday during a Day of Tributes organised by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Friends of Tunde Oladunjoye in Abeokuta.
The Oniroyin Support Initiative, a non-profit platform initiated by Oladunjoye before his death, is aimed at supporting widows and children of deceased journalists in Ogun State. It was officially launched on February 27, 2025—marking Oladunjoye’s last public outing before his demise on April 4 at the age of 58.
Describing the late media personality as a “dogged fighter,” Adeyemo praised Oladunjoye’s vision, resilience, and legacy.
“Oladunjoye was a dogged fighter and stubborn towards achieving his dream,” he said. “I thank God for a wonderful life well spent. Tunde Oladunjoye has immortalised himself with the Oniroyin Support Initiative.”
He further appealed: “The best way for the Ogun State Government and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to immortalise him is to adopt the Oniroyin Support Initiative—if they truly love this man of honour. This should not be about working under someone’s platform; rather, it is about letting this initiative grow from strength to strength.”
Adeyemo, also the founder of the Oko Opo Foundation which provides support to widows, orphans and the less privileged, pledged institutional backing for the OSI.
“As a promoter of the Oko Opo Foundation, we will make our hall, The Podium, within Pelican Valley Estate, available for free use by the Oniroyin Support Initiative for any of its activities,” he assured. “Oko Opo Foundation will continue to support the vision.”
In her tribute, Chief (Mrs.) Bola Obasanjo also hailed Oladunjoye’s humanitarian spirit, describing him as someone who lived for others and left an indelible legacy.
“Without serving humanity, you are not serving God,” she said. “Comrade Tunde Oladunjoye was a dogged man who had served humanity and had an impact on people. When you called me for this programme, I remembered his legacy—his foundation, the Oniroyin Supportive Initiative, which he created to help widows of deceased journalists.”
She also recalled a personal encounter with Oladunjoye. “One day, I called Comrade Oladunjoye to help me release a secret story about a girl child, and he said he would do it. Not long after, I met his wife—but now, she’s a widow.”
The solemn event had in attendance notable figures including activist lawyer and State Chairman of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, veteran journalist and activist Richard Akinnola, former NUJ national president Funke Fadugba, and several other media and civil society professionals who paid heartfelt tributes to the late journalist.
