The Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Lagos Chapter has expressed shock at the demise of the Association’s Founding President, Pa Joseph Adebayo Ologbenla Thompson, who breathed his last on Tuesday at the age of 99.
The Lagos Chapter’s Chairman, Mr. Debo Oshundun in a statement said the demise of Pa Thompson is a big blow to sports journalism in Nigeria.
“Though, Pa Thompson died at a ripe age but no matter how long they lived we still don’t like to lose them.
“Pa Thompson deserves to be celebrated for living a fulfilled life and we also salute him for his vision for SWAN that we all have today.
“Our prayers and condolences however go to his family at this time.
“We also pray for the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Oshundun stated.
Late Thompson was the founding President of SWAN, and he was in charge for 8 years between 1964 and 1972.
He was Secretary of Nigeria Boxing Board of Control, NBB of C, and he later became Vice President of NBB of C.
He was the Public Relations Officer of Nigerian Referees Association (NRA) and was a Grade ll referee.
The deceased was the vice chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council.
Pa Thompson was appointed leader and Team Manager of Nigerian Team to the first International Youth football contest between Nigeria and Ghana held in 1958.
The deceased acted as Editor of the Sunday Post in 1968 and 1969 before his appointment as Production Editor of the Morning Post, and subsequently Deputy Editor until the company was wound up in May 1973 by Federal Military Government.
He and four other senior Editorial staff were deployed to the Federal Ministry of information in August 1973 as Information Officers. He held positions of the Press Secretary in the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Mines and Power, and the Supreme Courts at various times.
He was appointed Editor of the ministry’s first grassroots newspaper, ‘Town Crier” published in 21 loval languages and also of the Civil Service Matters.
He became Editor-in-Chief and later Consulting Editor in the Publications Division of the Ministry. He was also Editor of the Nigerian Scouters Magazine.
Late Prince Tony Momoh, the erstwhile Federal Minister of Information, appointed Joseph Adebayo Ologbenla-Thompson the first News Manager and also Head of Press.
He won the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations Merit Award for Print Media in 1990 as Editor of the Civil Servant Newspaper. He retired the following year as Chief Information Officer but stayed on contract for two years before he finally disengaged from the Civil Service in 1993 after 40 years of cognate meritorious service to the profession of journalism
Pa Thompson will be laid to rest in Lagos next month.
