Ex-NUJ president, Ndagene, dead

Ndagene Akwu died at the age of 55.

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The former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Ndagene Akwu, is dead. He died on Friday at the age of 55 after a brief illness.

The National Secretary of the union, Shuaibu Leman, in a statement announced Mr. Akwu’s death.
“We regret to announce the passing away of Ndagene Ndamefe Akwu, the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) 2006-2009. The sad event occurred on Friday, June 20, 2014 after a brief illness”.

Mr. Leman said that some of Mr. Akwu’s remarkable achievements include the 2007 inauguration of Federation of African Journalists, FAJ, in Abuja, and ensuring a smooth congress which left delegates from other thirty-eight countries praising Nigeria when he was the sitting President of NUJ.

The late journalist was born April 1, 1959 in Ogbakiri, Rivers State. He attended Government Secondary School, Ogbakiri, between 1973-1977 after which he proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt where he obtained a Bachelors Degreein Literature (English)

He later moved on to University of Calabar where he bagged a Masters Degree in English and Literary Studies. In his drive for further education and professionalism, he attended the NTA Television College, Jos, and Empire Journalism Centre, Port Harcourt.

He was Chairman, Rivers State Council of NUJ before becoming the President of the union. Mr. Ndagene served the union in various capacities. He was Chairman NUJ Rivers State Television Chapel, 1998-2002, and National Vice-President Zone F (South-South) from 2003 to 2006.

The statement said Mr. Akwu’s burial arrangements will be announced
later by the family.
The union said “we commiserate with the family of this departed colleague, we also pray to the Almighty God to grant him eternal rest”.