Veteran journalist, Alade Odunewu, dies at 85

Veteran journalist, Alade Odunewu, is dead.

Mr. Odunewu, 85, popularly known as ‘Allah Dey,’ died in Lagos Thursday afternoon after a protracted illness.

The late Mr. Odunewu attended St John’s School, Aroloya; St Cyprian, Port Harcourt; New Bethel College, Onitsha, and the Regent Street Polytechnic, London.

Mr. Odunewu, a native of Ikorodu in Lagos State, began his journalism career as a reporter/sub-editor in 1950 at the Daily Times newspaper.

While at Daily Times, he rose to prominence with his satirical essays as well as his popular newspaper column Allah-Dey.

In 2007, Mr. Odunewu re-launched the second edition of his book, Winners Take All, a compilation of some of his writings in his Allah-Dey column.

A co-founder of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mr. Odunewu became the Managing Director of the Nigerian Tribune in 1956.

In 1964, he returned to Daily Times where he became the Group Publications Controller, then the editor, before rising to become Editor-in-Chief of the Times Publications.

Also a past president of the National Press Council, Mr. Odunewu served as a Commissioner for Tourism in Lagos State in 1973.

He will be buried on Friday at Vaults and Gardens Ikoyi, Lagos.

In a tribute, a Lagos-based journalist and media strategist for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Dele Oyewale, said, “Adieu, Alade Odunewu: doyen of Nigerian Media and great inspiration to many generations of media professionals.

“You lived an impactful life. May your soul rest in perfect peace!”