Death, the grim reaper, crept into Nigeria’s media industry, Saturday, and plucked one of its brightest stars, Dr Sunny Emmanuel Ojeagbase, founder and executive chairman of Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspapers, SuccessDigest and several online publications.
A statement by his son, Julius Ojeagbase, said the media entrepreneur passed away last Saturday, February 26, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, at the age of 71, following a brief illness.
The Icon, Ojeagbase
Dr. Ojeagbase hailed from Uzebba, Iuleha in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State. Popularly known as Sunny Ojeagbase (or simply “S.O.”) before he added Emmanuel to his names, the late media entrepreneur broke into national consciousness as the pioneer publisher of Nigeria’s first total sports newspaper, Sports Souvenir, a weekly newspaper, which he established in 1984.
Before then, Ojeagbase, a retired soldier of the Nigerian Army, had cut his teeth in sports journalism as a stringer at the Daily Times newspapers in the mid-1970s. Through sheer talent, determination and hard work, he blossomed very quickly and was appointed sports editor of Sunday Concord newspapers at inception in 1980 and sports editor of The Guardian newspapers also at inception in 1983. He resigned from The Guardian in 1984 to pursue his dream as an entrepreneur.
Between 1984 and 1994, Ojeagbase introduced several other pioneering sports titles including Complete Football magazine, Complete Football International (CFI) and International Soccer Review (ISR) into the Nigerian sports market. Remarkably, the Complete Football titles played very prominent roles in ensuring Nigeria’s first appearance at the FIFA World Cup at USA 1994 as well as the country’s football Gold medal win at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, also in the United States. Between those two historic events in Nigerians sports, Ojeagbase, in 1995, introduced Complete Sports as Nigeria’s Number 1 daily sports newspaper.
Also in 1994, Ojeagbase and his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ojeagbase, co-founded the Success Attitude Development Centre (SADC) with a vision and mission to teach young Nigerian entrepreneurs how to start, run and make a success of their businesses. SADC has produced and inspired thousands of successful entrepreneurs who are Ojeagbase’s protégés, and many of whom are now employers of labour.
Dr. Ojeagbase was ordained as a Pastor in March 2003 and he preached the gospel in words and in deeds to everyone who encountered him. His mantra was to do business and live life with the fear of God, integrity, compassion and peace of mind. A totally self-made man, the departed media entrepreneur was passionate about acquiring knowledge as attested to by a huge library filled with books on business management, leadership, entrepreneurship and related fields.
The soldier-turned-journalist had a Diploma in Journalism from the University of Lagos, and was conferred with a honorary doctorate degree by a different institution for his accomplishments as an entrepreneur. He also received tons of awards and recognitions for his contributions to sports journalism, publishing, business mentorship and entrepreneurship.
Pastor Ojeagbase was a rallying point for members of his immediate and extended families and also a benefactor to thousands of people. He created and facilitated breakthrough opportunities and jobs for young journalists and contemporaries alike. His generosity and philanthropy was limitless. He was completely detribalized and, despite being a Pastor, was extremely tolerant and unbiased to people of other faiths. He was a good man at heart and a great man in achievements.
Pastor Dr. Sunny Emmanuel Ojeagbase is survived by his wife, Pastor (Mrs) Esther Ojeagbase, his children, both biological and adopted, as well as grandchildren and other relatives. He will also be sorely missed by friends, mentees and business associates.
Meanwhile, condolence registers have been opened at Complete Sports headquarters at Plot 9, Alhaji Adenekan Street, Okota, Lagos; and at SADC headquarters, No. 36, Esuola Street, Off Ago Palace Way, Okota, Lagos.