Tribute and Condolence Statement in Honour of Oladotun Samson Oladipo (1969-2026): Steadfast Ally, Professional brother and media titan - ITREALMS

​The DigitalSENSE Africa Team @ITREALMS Media Group expresses deep shock and heavy hearts as we mourn the passing of our dear colleague, brother, and veteran journalist, Oladotun Samson Oladipo.

​Dotun was far more than a celebrated publisher and former President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP); he was a pillar of support and a dependable ally across the Nigerian media ecosystem.

FR. DZUNGWE @DECADE: Tribute on faithful vocation and visionary action in priesthood by Iornumbe Stanislaus - Commentary@ITREALMS

The Catholic Church in Nigeria, and indeed the global Christian community, is united in joyful celebration as Rev. Fr. Simon Peter Msughter Dzungwe, S.C., marks the 10th anniversary of his priestly ordination.

A dedicated member of the Congregation of the Servants of Charity (the Guanellians), this milestone is more than a chronological marker; it is a profound testament to a decade of unwavering dedication, spiritual fruitfulness, and visionary service in the Lord's vineyard.

Celebrating the digital enigma: A 70th birthday tribute to Leo Stan Ekeh by Chris Uwaje - Commentary@ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

To the digital ANTICIPATOR and the "Saint Leo" of all stars from the Ekeh Universe; the oracles of the digital world salute you as you celebrate a milestone of deserved success and profound honor.

Today, February 22, the global digital community does not merely honor your birth; we acclaim and cherish your masterclass contributions to the enterprise of human innovation. Your journey has been served with a rare blend of purpose and resilience that has redefined the Nigerian tech landscape.

Digital Visionary: Uwaje pays tribute to late Prof. G.O. Ajayi, pushes for inclusive IT history - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Former President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), Chief Chris Uwaje, has paid a profound tribute to the late Professor Gabriel Olalere Ajayi, hailing him as a "true cerebral digital enigma" whose vision was instrumental in institutionalizing Nigeria's National IT policy, reports ITREALMS.

The tribute was delivered at the lecture and launch of the Prof. G.O. Ajayi Foundation, an initiative established to honor and "reincarnate the overwhelming vision" of the late Professor.

Tribute to Tayo Adewusi: There goes a digital comet by Chris Uwaje - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Lessons from the demise of a digital enigma at the speed of insightful journalism

First, we pray for Tayo’s gentle soul to rest in perfect peace. 🙏
He came, he saw, and he conquered the digital landscape with incredible performance. ❤️

Tayo was a silent conqueror; an achiever driven by inquisitive humility that dismantled every challenge along the pathways of his mind-blowing journalistic adventure.

Tribute: JOE IGWILO – A Tragic replay of Lysistrata by Chidi Abajue - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


In 411 BC, the great Greek playwright Aristophanes gifted the world Lysistrata—a bold tale of a woman who, in her wisdom and daring, rallied others to wield the power of abstinence in order to end senseless wars in Greece. Centuries later, in 1980, our own Egbema Ozubulu-born son, Obi Egbuna, revisited this motif in The Rape of Lysistrata, laying bare the grotesque dangers of racial segregation in the global community.

Though worlds and centuries apart, these works are bound by a central theme: the eternal struggle over power in human relationships. Power—the ability to sway, to shape, to preserve, or to destroy.

Tribute to ex-president, late Muhammadu Buhari by Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

With a deeply saddened heart and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah (SWT), I pay tribute to a towering figure in our national history, our beloved father, leader and elder statesman, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR. His passing is not only a monumental loss to his immediate family, but to the entire Nigerian nation, which he served with unmatched devotion and dignity.

As a soldier, General Buhari stood tall with courage, unwavering discipline and an incorruptible spirit. As a statesman and former President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he embodied the highest ideals of public service, personal sacrifice and national commitment. His journey through Nigeria’s turbulent political and security landscape remains a testament to his resilience, fortitude and selfless patriotism.

Tribute to Rotimi Olaleye: How I escaped with wife, child but lost mechanic, car to Otedola Bridge tanker fire by Dotun Oladipo - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

I write this from a point of pain and gratitude. Pain because of the death of a hard working and honest man, Rotimi Olaleye, who is both a great father, as attested to by his children who he has been taking care of single handedly since his wife died about five years ago, and an honest and diligent auto mechanic, as confirmed by his clients, including yours truly. We met less than a week before his death, but he left an unforgettable impression on me, even in death.

Gratitude? I was less than 10 seconds away from where Mr. Olaleye was when the fire that took his life occurred with my wife and first child.

From ₦20 to Destiny: A Tribute to late Gen Jerry Useni by Osita Chidoka - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

I arrived in Abuja with my friend Jeff Okoli at about 8 p.m. on the last night of NYSC registration. We arrived at Kubwa camp for registration barely two hours before closing time. With just ₦20 in my pocket—my last card, as they say—I stepped into Kubwa camp with a cloud of uncertainty about how I would survive. I looked around the NYSC camp and decided there was no going back. This was my dream, and I had made it this far.

I arrived in Abuja, my dream NYSC location (I was posted to Abuja without any man know man) full of hope. My hope was to be a public servant, and my ambition was to retire as a Permanent Secretary. Fueled by this ambition, I started inquiring about how to join the public service. I learnt that Gen Abacha, then Head of State, had placed an embargo on employment. Undeterred, I made further enquiries and learnt of a small window; the NYSC Award led to automatic employment. 

Pa Ayo Adebanjo: Anya Ndigbo, 10 others pay tribute - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

Prominent pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, known as Anya Ndigbo, is morning alongside many Nigerians over the passing of Chief Ayo Adebanjo, reports ITREALMS.

Chief Adebanjo is a respected leader of the pan-Yoruba group, Afenifere and an outspoken elder statesman, who died on February 14, 2025, at his home in Lekki, Lagos.

GOCOP, Zenith Bank legal adviser pay tribute to Sundiata Post CEO's father, High Chief Amuchie - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) and Mr. Mike Osilama, Legal Adviser, Zenith Bank Plc, have paid tribute to High Chief Emmanuel Ikonne Amuchie, the late father of Dr Max Amuchie, Chief Executive Officer of Sundiata Post Media Ltd and North Central Zonal Co-ordinator of GOCOP.

GOCOP, the umbrella body of professional journalists in Nigeria who are online publishers, said it was saddened to hear about the death of High Chief Amuchie.

A Tribute to My Sister, My "Little Mum" by Folu Olamiti - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In recent weeks, I have been struck by the profound loss of two remarkable individuals. First, the passing of Justice Emmanuel Olayinka Ayoola, a retired Supreme Court Judge with whom I shared a deep, daily connection. And now, the heartbreaking departure of my closest elder sister, Christie Oluwakaikunmi Adebamiwa.

Writing this tribute to my cherished "egbon," whom I affectionately called my "mama kekere" – my little mum – has been one of the most challenging tasks for my spirit. Mrs. Christie Oluwakaikunmi Adebamiwa (née Olamiti) was far more than a sister; she was a cornerstone of love and sacrifice in my life.

Tribute to late Hajara Mohammed by Haruna Mohammed Salisu - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

This week is the 13th week since I lost my beloved mother Hajara Mohammed. I have tried several times to write this tribute but failed. I found myself struggling—unable to muster the emotional stability to pen down my thoughts. I am never the same again after her death, and there isn’t one bit of her life I could share. She wasn’t just my mom – she was my hero, the basis of all that I stand for as a person and a journalist.

The news of her passing reached me when I was in London for the ACOS Alliance Workshop, where more than 120 journalists and media organisations from across the globe had been meeting. It was great to be able to talk about the journey of WikkiTimes, and the challenges accountability journalists faced in Nigeria.

Tribute to excellence: Celebrating Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal @58 - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

In the tapestry of leadership, few figures emerge whose contributions transcend time, leaving an indelible mark on the canvas of history. One such luminary is Senator Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, (Matawallen Sokoto) a beacon of transformative governance and a statesman par excellence.

As we celebrate his 58th birthday, it is with profound respect and admiration that I pay tribute to a leader whose visionary approach has reshaped the landscape of Sokoto State and inspired the nation as a whole.

Realnews @10: Prominent Nigerians pay tribute - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

As Realnews prepares to mark its 10th anniversary with its lecture series on Thursday, November 17, prominent Nigerians and Africans have been sending goodwill messages to the online publication. 

The goodwill messengers, who have been reading Realnews over the years, have also prayed for its success and advised the pioneer online investigative magazine in Nigeria on how to sustain its good works for the future.

Max Amuchie: Tribute to a worthy journalist - ITREALMS

Commentary@ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!

My Dear Max Amuchie,

Today, I join friends, family and colleagues to celebrate a worthy journalist: a terrific reporter and editor/publisher with eyes for details. 

Max bears the mark of a rounded media professional whose many years of crisscrossing the media ecosystem has endeared him to the hearts of many. 

Tribute to Col Gabriel Ajayi: Yoruba officer 'killed' for asking questions - ITREALMS

ITREALMS ... making leadership SENSE with digital news!


August 19, 2021 is three (3) years after your death. You were detained by Fulani leadership for 5 years. You were detained in the cemetery of the dead.

A day before your arrest, you took Holy Communion with Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi, the then Chief of Army Staff at a Catholic Church in Lagos.

What you should know about Dr Tarek Kamel - ITREALMS

Personality@ITREALMS: 

Dr. Tarek Kamel was born on May 8, 1962 and died on Thursday, October 10, 2019. As African Internet community mourn his exit at the age of 57, there are some facts worthy of note, reports ITREALMS.

Tarek as he is fondly called, started his career as a network support engineer for the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, then an assistant researcher at the Electronics Research Institute.

On returning to Egypt from Germany, Kamel became manager of the Communications and Networking Department at the Cabinet Information and Decision Support Centre (IDSC/RITSEC), and gained a professorship at the ERI. It is during this period (from 1992 to 1999) that he established Egypt's first connection to the Internet, steered the introduction of commercial Internet services in Egypt and founded the Internet Society of Egypt.

Also, Kamel joined the ministry of communications and information technology since its formation in October 1999, where he had been appointed senior advisor to the minister following his pioneering efforts in ICT. He was board member of Telecom Egypt from 2000 to 2004 and a board member of Egypt’s Private Public Technology Development Fund (TDF) to support start ups and incubators in ICT from 2002 to 2004.

Kamel served as the minister of communications and information technology from July 2004 to February 2011.

Besides his ministerial role, Kamel was the chairman of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) and the Information Technology Institute’s (ITI) Boards of Trustees.

Kamel served as a member of the Internet Society (ISOC) Board of Trustees and as vice president for chapters from 1999 to 2002. He is a founding member and a previous board member of the African Network Information Centre (AfriNIC). He acted as Chairman of the Executive Bureau of Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of Ministers from 2004 to 2008 and the Chairman of the Ministerial Conference on Communication and Information Technologies of the African Union from 2006 to 2008. In recognition of his leadership in the ICT sector, the South African Ministry of Communications named him, in 2005, "Top Minister in Africa with an ICT Portfolio".

In August 2012 ICANN appointed Kamel to serve as a senior advisor to its president, making him the first national of a developing country to fill one of ICANN's senior management posts. Prior to joining ICANN, he was a board member of the National Telecom Regulatory Authority of Egypt from April 2011 to July 2012.

May Tarek rest in perfect peace.

*ITREALMS with additional report from Wikipedia.com.

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

African Internet community pays tribute to Dr Tarek Kamel, seeks 100 signatures - ITREALMS

ITREALMS:

The Africa Internet technical community is seeking 100 signatures in honour of Dr Tarek Kamel as tribute to many of his pioneering efforts on the continent, reports ITREALMS.

Kamel, a former Senior Advisor to the president of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), remained the first African to be appointed in that capacity.

“Our goal is to reach 100 signatures and we need more support,” the organisers of the tribute said.

They also urged people to read more about Kamel and sign the petition.

As at the time of filing this report, ITREALMS gathered that over 30 signatures have endorsed the tribute.

ITREALMS recalls that Tarek was a member of the Internet Society (ISOC) Board of Trustees and vice president for his chapter between 1999 and 2002.

A founding member and former board member of Africa Network Information Centre (AfriNIC), Kamel acted as Chairman, Executive Bureau of Arab Telecommunications and Information Council of Ministers from 2004 to 2008 and the Chairman of the Ministerial Conference on Communication and Information Technologies of the African Union from 2006 to 2008.

Based on his leadership in the ICT sector, the South African Ministry of Communications named Kamel in 2005, the "Top Minister in Africa with an ICT Portfolio.”

In August 2012 ICANN appointed Kamel to serve as a senior advisor to its president, making him the first national of a developing country to fill one of ICANN's senior management posts.

This is coming as African Internet community also plans to host a session on Kamel’s honour during the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN66) in Montreal, Canada.

The AGM is slated for between November 2 through 7, 2019.

Chuks Egbuna/Editor

*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*

Tribute to 'Akanda Eniyan' Fayemi @54 - ITREALMS

Tribute@ITREALMS:

His Excellency Dr. John Olukayode Mofolorunsho Fayemi turns 54 today. Without a doubt he is an Akanda – a person who according to Yoruba mythology is unique and a possessor of a special purpose in life. A person whose destiny is linked to that of countless others, and who is imbued with special grace and qualities that help him/her in attaining greatness. One of the distinct qualities of Akandas is that from a very young age, they display rare traits of self-awareness and intelligence, and are sometimes involved in supernatural occurrences that cause the elders to take notice and pay special attention to nurturing them.

This concept has parallels in other parts of the world. In ancient Israel, about the time of Jesus’ birth, events in the heavens conspired to tell the famed wise men from the east that a King had been born, causing them to diligently follow the stars till they arrived at the birthplace of Jesus to pay homage. Furthermore, it is recorded that Jesus as a child displayed such wisdom beyond His years and a huge sense of responsibility for the things of God, that it got Him in the cross-hairs of the religious authorities of the time.

In the same tradition, Kayode Fayemi from a very young age showed exceptional intelligence and appreciation of the world around him. Born the last child of seven children into the Francis Falade Fayemi family of Isan-Ekiti during the penkelemesi years, he was reportedly introverted as a child, spending hours on end reading newspapers and other informational materials which were never in short supply in his house, as his father was at the time an information officer with the old Western Region’s government.

He was outstanding amongst his peers as a student in Christ School Ado-Ekiti. He not only excelled academically, but was tops in extracurricular activities such as debates and quiz competitions. By the time he got to the University of Lagos, he was well grounded in his sense of purpose and mission in life, spending most of his days as an undergraduate participating in student unionism – leading protests and advocacies, and supporting liberation movements all over Africa. Long before he became a regular fixture on Nigeria’s official delegation to annual editions of the United Nations General Assembly, Kayode Fayemi had horned his talents in international diplomacy in ANUNSA - a student and youth association devoted to promoting the goals of the United Nations through its activities.

Following his B.A. in History from the University of Lagos, he went on to earn an MSc. in International Relations from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, before proceeding to the United Kingdom to pursue a doctorate in War Studies from Kings College London. His time in London was defining as he got introduced to a greater theatre for participating in the causes close to his heart, becoming a leading figure in the struggle against military rule. He is credited for establishing several platforms for the opposition in exile to marshal their positions, including the famous Radio Kudirat. It was during this time as a young post-graduate student in his twenties, in the course of the pro-democracy struggle of the 1990s side-by-side much older legends such as Wole Soyinka, the late Anthony Enahoro, e.t.c., that he would build an incredible network of friendships and alliances, earning the trust and respect of highly placed individuals, governments, think tanks, and multilateral agencies all over the world.

It was therefore no surprise that when he was to transition from civil society to politics, he was bold enough to aspire to the highest office in Ekiti state. Defying conventional wisdom to start out aspiring to lower offices, he contested the gubernatorial primaries in the now defunct Action Congress, emerging the unlikely flagbearer amongst 27 other aspirants, many of who decamped from the party in protest. As an Akanda, this was to become a constant feature of his political trajectory – nothing he has attained politically so far has ever been handed to him without stiff opposition. It would take another three and a half years for his mandate to be validated through the courts, thus assuming office as Governor of Ekiti State on October 16, 2010.

As Governor, Kayode Fayemi finally had the executive powers to put to practice all he had advocated, implementing a well thought out social-welfarist blueprint known as the Eight-Point agenda, which concentrated on Governance; Infrastructural Development; Modernizing Agriculture; Education and Human Capital Development; Health Care Services; Industrial Development; Tourism; and Gender Equality and Empowerment. His administration was widely adjudged to have performed creditably which was why the outcome of his first re-election bid came as a surprise to many.

The 2014 elections in Ekiti state was historic. It was to define who we were as a people, or better still redefine who we had become when faced with a choice between Kayode Fayemi an Omoluabi who had done well beyond the limits of the resources available in the state on one hand, and the garrulous self-styled apostle of stomach infrastructure on the other.

That is how the fate of individuals – Akandas – are linked to that of peoples and nations. It was all part of Kayode Fayemi’s destiny to go down that path, and experience the seeming momentary rejection of his people. But that was not the end of the story. He was to glean valuable lessons and re-strategise to regain the mandate. In the interregnum, he was appointed Minister of Mines and Steel Development by President Muhammadu Buhari, which was another case of story before glory.

But Kayode Fayemi was not done with Ekiti state. Again, destiny beckoned, and he answered the call to run for re-election as Governor. This was not to be a stroll in the park, and those familiar with the man’s public service trajectory could see a familiar pattern of very heavy opposition before the glory that lay ahead. This time, Kayode Fayemi had to contend with 35 other aspirants within the APC to earn the party’s ticket, before going on to win the general election.

The road to triumph in the re-election bid is a lesson in several human virtues such as perseverance, forgiveness, fortitude, and courage. More so, it is the ultimate fulfilment of this Akanda’s purpose, which goes beyond him as an individual but affects all Ekiti sons and daughters. Today, his election slogan “Reclaiming the land; Restoring our Values”, has become the central philosophy of his administration – the rallying cry for Ekiti to return to the pristine values we were known for, which had been despoiled by vagabonds who exploited the naivety of the people in the previous election. Kayode Fayemi’s re-election as Governor can therefore be seen as the people’s act of repentance from the mistake of 2014, and an affirmation that never again shall our electoral choices be determined by deceptive retail politics.

Several prophesies have been fulfilled in the life of this passionate patriot who sees public service as an extension of activism. A man of faith who takes his calling to politics and governance as seriously as he took his time of service as an altar boy growing up in Church. A man of courage, yet meek in spirit and deeply respectful to all. Sadly, this is often taken advantage of by some.

Nevertheless, as Kayode Fayemi turns 54 today, as one of the leading trans -generational icons of values based leadership in Africa today, I am sure he would take time to reflect on what lies ahead, especially the urgent task he has often spoken about of actively empowering a new cadre of young leaders – a new breed that would break boundaries and bravely go beyond dallying along the borders of morality and political expediency that ethical leaders today are constrained to do in order to bring about change from within a depraved socio-political establishment.

Kayode Fayemi, my Oga – Akanda Eniyan – Ilufemiloye – loved by the masses; a detribalised nationalist with an enviable track record and an extensive network of friendships and alliances globally. Clearly, your best years are ahead. For you, it’s not just about personal ambitions, it is about God working in and through you to bring about a positive impact on a greater multitude.

Happy Birthday Sir.

·Contributed by Akin Rotimi, a media and communications professional from Lagos, Nigeria
*JOIN our alert's group | Share stories with us | Advert placement: WhatsApp | SMS: +2348033592762 *Twitter: @ITREALMS *Email: itrealms.dsa@gmail.com*