Area 3 playground located within Garki in Abuja was beehive of soccer activities on Thursday, day late media sage, Olusegun Ogunjimi, was honoured with a novelty match.
Uniquely, three big sporting stakeholders – Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, rising female team Naija Ratels and teaming FCT Coaches Association filed out on the pitch to play for Ogunjimi popularly referred to as Babe Segee.
At exactly 4pm, who is who in Nigeria’s sporting fraternity trooped into the pitch arena with all remembering the life and times of former Nations and Sporting Life Journalist.
Just after a round of photo sessions with the representative of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Director Grassroots Sports, Dr. Ademola Areh, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) bigwigs including its General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, Deputy Secretary General Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, Director Communications Ademola Olajire and officials of Naija Ratels, the business of day – football match kicked off.
First, it was the encounter between SWAN FCT and Naija Ratels which ended 2-0 in favour of the ladies, before FCT Coaches led by Chairman, Mr Godwim Bamigboye, marshalled out tactical skills versus SWAN FCT squad. The second exchanges ended 2-2.
Board members of the FCT FA including its Secretary Coach Haruna Ilerika were fully on ground,
NFF Secretary General Dr Sanusi who spoke afterwards eulogised the personality of Ogunjimi who he described as a professional Journalist to the core.
“Segun was one Journalist who was hardworking and carried out his job professionally. Anything he reports, he balances it. He is such a role model to other upcoming Journalists. May his soul rest in peace.
“I want to commend SWAN FCT for organising this kind of event in his honour. It shows togetherness and care for one another,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Areh said he was still shocked over the demise of Ogunjimi, but prayed God to grant his family and other loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.
Chairman SWAN FCT Comrade Ndubueze Chidoka said no length of honour was too much for Segun who he described as a humble and Johnny good fellow.
He said, “I can’t still believe that Segun is no more. I will many things about him. Segun is one man in SWAN who always show up at all time. He is well known for churning several exclusive stories more than many of us.”
Comrade Chidoka however, enjoined friends and all sporting stakeholders not to abandon the family Ogunjimi left behind.
The final burial rites for Ogunjimi will be conducted on Saturday March 6, 2021 at the Gudu cemetery in Abuja starting from 10am.
Earlier, on Wednesday, his colleagues paid him last respect where many took out time to offer tributes inside the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT council.
