Female journalist, Kafayat Odunsi, laid to rest amid tears

                                     RIP KAFFY
  THE remains of Kafayat Odunsi, a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and correspondent with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) 10, Lagos, were Sunday laid to rest, amidst tears and grief.
  Late Odunsi, 33, was one of the three journalists that perished in last Friday night’s fatal road accident on Ibadan-Ilesha Expressway, Osun State. Others were Olatunde Oluwanike of the Federal Radio Corporation Nigeria, Ibadan and Adolphous Okonkwo of the Champion newspaper. 
    According to sources, she had travelled with executives of Lagos and Oyo NUJ to Abuja, to explain why dues of the NTA arm of NUJ, where she was financial secretary, were not remitted to the National body as at when due.
  Beginning from 3:15p.m. when her body arrived at the news division of the NTA Tejuoso (where flags flew at half mast), colleagues, family and friends wept freely as the loss gradually dawned on them.
  Both the young and old could not be consoled as they took the last glimpse of their beloved one, covered in white apparel, during the burial rites conducted according to Islamic tradition. 
  The body was interred at Oke-Suna Cemetery, Lagos Island at 4:42p.m.
  Among the crowd of mourners was Odunsi’s immediate younger brother, Ahmed Odunsi, for whom the deceased had been a mother since their mum passed on some 20 years ago.
  Ahmed told The Guardian that Kafayat had played out the role of “our mother and breadwinner” since she came of age, “and it was the role she played till Friday evening when she died.”
  “But what can we do? God giveth and God taketh,” he said with tremor in his voice.
  NTA Lagos Manager of News and Current Affairs, Funke Oga, in mourning mood, also described her exit as unfortunate and least expected.
  Oga said: “Kaffy, as we often call her here, was one of the most diligent hands in this station. She would be remembered for her exceptional handling of assignments. Her death is least expected and so unfortunate,” she said.
Chairman of the Lagos House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA), Okoeki Oziegbe, noted the demise of Odunsi, a member of the association, was indeed shocking.
  According to him: “The news was so sad. I still called her after House sitting on Friday - as our Financial Secretary at LAHACA - discussing with her about packaging a sum of money for two of our members that just put to bed. And she told me that she would be in Lagos by Saturday and we’d see on Monday (today). It’s so unbelievable that she is no more,” Oziegbe said. 
  National President of the NUJ, Mohammed Garba, who led exco members of the union to NTA 10 at 2:30 p.m., described the deceased as a vibrant and young soul that was just coming to limelight in journalism.
  He said: “It is so regretable to have lost Odunsi and two others. Our heart goes to their families and friends. We believe in God and so we pray for eternal rest for them. The seven-day mourning period that NUJ has declared should also be used to pray fervently for those that are still sick in the hospitals,” Garba said.
  The President observed that it was in the light of enormous hazards of the profession that NUJ is advocating insurance for journalists in the country and as one of the conditions of service.
  Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, represented by the Spokesperson, Segun Olulade commiserated with members of the NUJ,  the  Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the management and start of the Voice of Nigeria, Champion Newspapers and the NTA, (where the three deceased workers) and members of their families, on this sad occasion.
  While he urged the NUJ to do everything possible to immortalize the trio, he prayed that the Almighty God grant souls of the departed journalists eternal bliss, and also grant members of their families the fortitude to bear this irreparable and most unfortunate loss.
  Last Monday was late Odunsi’s birthday and in observance of the Holy Month of Ramadan, she had promised to celebrate it with colleagues shortly after the Muslim fasting period.
  Vice Chairman of LAHACA, Dipo Awojobi, one of those she had promised, said her demise was shocking, especially at this time she was just getting out of a protracted illness.