Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Veteran journalist and Reverend Mobolade Omonijo, a member of The Nation Editorial Board and former Group Political Editor of the newspaper, has died at the age of 63.
Omonijo died on October 15, 2026, after a brief illness, the Diocese of Lagos West announced in a statement made available on Monday.
The late journalist served as Vicar of the Church of Pentecost, Dopemu, Lagos, and was also a member of the diocese’s Media and Publicity Department. He combined his Christian ministry with a journalism career spanning approximately four decades.
The diocese described him as “very meek, lovely, conscientious, articulate, assiduous and meticulous”, praising his communication skills and dedication to his responsibilities.
The statement, signed by the Administrative Assistant to the Bishop, appealed to the public to remember Omonijo’s children and family in their prayers.
“May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace, and rise in glory. Amen,” it added.
In a separate tribute, The Nation Editorial Board Chairman, Sam Omatseye, expressed grief over the journalist’s death, describing the loss as difficult to comprehend and praising his professional standards and contributions to the newspaper.
“Omonijo’s loss is impossible to wrap one’s mind around,” Omatseye said.
He described the deceased as someone who was “at once sober and full of life’s humour”, adding that Omonijo had been deeply religious even before becoming a reverend.
“As a man, he was a friend. As a reporter, he was thorough and unsparing in rigour,” Omatseye said.
Omatseye also praised Omonijo’s contributions to editorial discussions, noting that he challenged partisan positions and sought balanced perspectives on issues. Although health challenges had prevented him from continuing as political editor, he remained a valued member of the editorial team.
According to Omatseye, Omonijo attended an Editorial Board meeting the week before his death and was assigned two topics to write about, underscoring his continued involvement in the newspaper’s work.
Omonijo studied at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and worked with The Economist and Vanguard before joining The Nation in 2008. He subsequently served as the newspaper’s Group Political Editor and contributed to its editorial coverage of national affairs.
The Nation said the family would announce funeral arrangements at a later date.
