MEDIA
Goodnight, sports journalism legend, Ojeagbase
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Nigeria’s sports journalism community has just lost a rare gem, Dr. Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase who was formerly known as Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase. This is barely two months after his 71st birthday.
He was the founder of the longest running all-sports news publication outfit in Nigeria, the Complete Sports Communication which has rolled out more sports publications than any other organization in Nigeria.
His contribution to sports journalism is not limited to the establishment of Complete Sports Communication, he contributed hugely to human capital development. Many big names in journalism generally and sports journalism in particular at one time or the other pass through what is easily the ‘Sunny Ojeagbase School of Journalism’.
His stable has seen the development of notable sports journalists. Standing tall among these is Dr. Mumini Alao, the organisation’s Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Group Managing Director.
As a thorough-bred sports journalist, he is the longest serving editorial member of the organisation which he joined in 1988, making him the Nigerian Lionel Messi of sports journalism.
His long service in just one organisation is teaching other professionals the need for perseverance, dedication and loyalty. Alao in 1996 had the honour of being the first to win both the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) and Diamond Award for Media Excellence (DAME) sport sports writing in the same year.
Ojeagbase’s stable has also produced the likes Simon Kolawole, Tunde Sulaimon, Ehi Braimah, Ejiro Omonode, Taiye Ige and Frank Ilaboya among others.
The former soldier turned journalist, publisher and businessman as well as inspirational figure was born on 31 December 1950 in Oshogbo which is the capital of Osun State in South West Nigeria.
Being born on that day in Yoruba land and as he was very fluent in the Yoruba language even though he was ancestrally from Edo State, he could have been called Abiodun as his birth date coincided with festive period.
He became a trail blazer with his Sports Souvenir which hit the newsstands in November 1984 as Nigeria’s first all sports weekly publication that was unrelated to pools betting unlike the Sporting Record of the then Daily Times of Nigeria.
Yet, the advent of Sports Souvenir was not the beginning of Ojeagbase’s sporting journalism career. He was hitherto unheralded when he was a freelancer for Herald newspapers in Ilorin and the New Nigerian in Kaduna before doing the same for Daily Times in Lagos.
At the time, he was in the Nigerian Army which he joined in 1969, a year to the end of the Nigerian Civil War. In 1979, the soldier journalist voluntarily retired as a corporal to take a full time sports writing job under the celebrated Solomon Babatunde Oshuntolu (ESBEE) in the Daily Times.
That was the launch pad into great fame. The hitherto golden fish can find no hiding place in the waters again. In 1980, he joined the Concord Press of Nigeria and was editing the sports pages of Sunday Concord.
Here, his writings, largely in simple flowing English and in-depth analyses were delightful to read. One of such was the unearthing of the causes of frictions that existed between the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and the then government-ran National Sports Commission (NSC). the Sunday Concord write-up captioned “Strange Doings at NOC” was published on August 8, 1982.
It was a hallmark of investigative journalism and in-depth reporting.
Ojeagbase traced these to 1966 in the days leading to Nigeria’s participation at the Commonwealth Games in Kingston, Jamaica when a newly appointed NSC military helmsman, Colonel Mike Okwechime broke into a meeting of the NOC under the presidency of Adetokunbo Ademola.
Another masterpiece of Ojeagbase in the Sunday Concord was his unearthing the remote and immediate causes of Nigeria’s elimination from the 1982 World Cup qualifying series.
He easily fitted in into the high-profile journalism package that The Guardian set out to achieve when the acclaimed flagship of Nigerian print journalism began in 1983.
At The Guardian, he headed a power-packed sports desk that included Michel Obi, Trigo Egbegi, Chris Okojie, Ikeddy Isiguzo, and Sam John among others. Interestingly, all later became sports editors of notable Nigerian publications.
He left The Guardian and set up Sports Souvenir in November 1984 to begin his illustrious career as a publisher and entrepreneur. A year later, he founded the Complete Football magazine as the first colour sports magazine in Nigeria.
As its title implies, it was devoted entirely to football and profited greatly from Nigeria’s exploits at the inaugural FIFA under 16 World Tournament in China. Six years later, other titles came in quick succession – the International Soccer Review, Complete Football International and Complete Football Extra which was devoted to the domestic Nigerian football.
On 18 December 1995, Ojeagbase’s Complete Communications Limited rolled out the Complete Sports newspaper which has remained not just the market leader, but the longest running daily sports newspaper in Nigeria.
The Secretary General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Tunde Popoola, has commended the organisers of the annual Sportsville Special Recognition Award for sustaining the initiative and maintaining consistency since its inception.
Popoola, a former international hockey player, remarked on Thursday night after receiving a briefing on preparations for this year’s ceremony scheduled for March 28 at the Lagos Country Club.
Speaking during the briefing, Popoola praised the organisers for keeping the awards running successfully over the years.
“I must commend you guys for doing a great job. I can’t believe this is already the sixth edition. I am glad about the sustenance of this laudable initiative,” he said.
He noted that consistency remains a major challenge for many initiatives in Nigeria, adding that the Sportsville Awards have distinguished themselves by staying true to their vision.
“One thing I have seen and observed in Nigeria is that only a few organisations like yours are consistent when it comes to pursuing their vision. I am excited that Sportsville is making all the difference because it is consistency that builds big brands globally,” Popoola added.
In his response, the Chief Executive Officer of Sportsville, Frank Ilaboya, thanked the NOC secretary general for recognising what he described as the organisation’s modest contribution to the nation’s sports ecosystem.
Ilaboya, a former chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State chapter, said the organisers remain committed to building a credible platform that celebrates excellence in Nigerian sports.
“We are here for the long haul. The vision is clear—to build a brand that is not only credible but one that will stand the test of time. I am very positive that the Sportsville Special Recognition Award will achieve this status in a few years to come,” he said.
The sixth edition of the awards ceremony will be chaired by the Chairman of Brila Media Group, Larry Izamoje, one of Nigeria’s foremost sports media entrepreneurs.
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Organisers of one of Nigeria’s most glamorous and credible sports award ceremonies have announced March 28 as the date for this year’s edition of the Sportsville Special Recognition Award.
According to a statement signed by Harry Iwuala, Chairman of the 2026 Award Committee, the ceremony will be held on Saturday, March 28, at the prestigious Lagos Country Club, Ikeja.
Iwuala, who also serves as Media Director of the Nigeria Premier Football League, described the announcement as the culmination of months of meticulous planning and a painstaking selection process.
“We’re delighted to announce a date for this year’s ceremony following a painstaking planning and selection process. It has been months of planning and preparations, and I am glad that we have finally picked a date for the ceremony,” Iwuala said.
He assured stakeholders that the list of honourees — to be unveiled in the coming weeks — would reflect the award’s core values of integrity and credibility.
“We will be unveiling the personalities and corporate organisations to be celebrated very soon, but I can assure you that they are men and women who have done a good job in sports development in the country.
“Our selection process was thorough to keep faith with the Award motto, which is credibility,” added Iwuala, who has also headed the Media Committee of the successful Niger Delta Games in successive editions.
Sixth Edition Promises Innovation
Speaking on behalf of Sportsville Communication Ltd, the organisers of the award, Chief Executive Officer Frank Ilaboya, said preparations are already in top gear for what promises to be an innovative sixth edition.
“This year will be our sixth edition, and I am happy with the impact and progress the award has made in the country,” Ilaboya stated.
He emphasised that credibility remains the cornerstone of the awards.
“One thing that gives me joy is the credibility of the award we give out every year. We ensure that those truly deserving get the award. And we are determined to keep doing this year after year.”
According to Ilaboya, awards will be presented in seven categories this year:
- Sports Icon
- Sports Personality
- Sports Transformative Category
- Special Recognition Category
- Achievers Category
- Innovative Category
- Sports Facilities Category
He added that the long-term ambition is to elevate the Sportsville Special Recognition Award into Africa’s most glamorous and respected sports honours platform.
“We will keep on working hard year in and year out until we achieve our target of making the Sportsville Special Recognition Award the best and most glamorous not only in Nigeria but in Africa.
“The past five years have proven to be exciting, and the level of plaudits from the awardees and non-awardees alike shows that we are on the right course,” Ilaboya said.
Celebrating Two Decades of Sports Broadcasting
The Sportsville Special Recognition Award was initiated five years ago as part of activities marking 20 years of continuous broadcast of Sportsville as an independent producer of sports programming in Nigeria.
Today, Sportsville stands as one of the longest-running independent sports shows on air in sub-Saharan Africa — a testament to resilience, consistency, and commitment to sports development.
With the March 28 date now confirmed, anticipation is building within Nigeria’s sporting community as administrators, athletes, corporate sponsors and media personalities look forward to another evening of celebration at Lagos Country Club.
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Journalists in Akwa Ibom State and beyond are set to converge in Uyo for a one-day workshop on investigative journalism organised by the Committee for the Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism in collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).
The workshop, scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2026, will take place at the NUJ Auditorium, Information Drive, Uyo, beginning at 10 a.m.
Organisers say the training is designed to strengthen investigative reporting skills among journalists, enhance ethical standards, and deepen the culture of accountability journalism in Nigeria.
The keynote lecture will be delivered by Dayo Aiyetan, Executive Director of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), Abuja. Aiyetan, a respected investigative journalist and media development expert, is expected to share insights on contemporary investigative techniques, data-driven reporting, and navigating legal and safety challenges in the field.
Supporting the keynote address will be Ibanga Isine, an investigative reporting veteran based in Uyo. Isine will provide practical perspectives drawn from years of field experience, focusing on story development, sourcing, and sustaining impactful investigations at the local level.
Chairman of the Committee for the Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism, Nsikak Essien, FNGE, described the workshop as part of ongoing efforts to promote excellence and integrity in journalism. He noted that investigative reporting remains a critical pillar of democratic governance and public accountability.
Also lending his voice to the initiative, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Council of the NUJ, Nsibiet John, urged journalists in the state to take advantage of the opportunity to sharpen their skills and reinforce professional standards.
The Ray Ekpu Prize for Investigative Journalism was instituted to encourage rigorous, fact-based reporting and to honour outstanding contributions to investigative journalism in Nigeria.
Participants are expected to engage in interactive sessions, discussions, and practical exchanges to equip them with tools to uncover hidden truths and report with courage and responsibility.
The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to nurturing a new generation of investigative journalists capable of holding institutions accountable and advancing public interest reporting in the country.
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