Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State on Tuesday commiserated with the family of the late ace broadcaster, Chief Kunle Olasope, who died in Ibadan on Sunday at 81 years.
A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, quoted Fayemi as describing Olasope as a frontline broadcaster who made Ekiti proud.
He said late Olasope made history as the first person to appear on television in Africa during the maiden broadcast of the Western Nigeria Television Service (WNTS) established by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1959.
Fayemi said he was particularly saddened by Olasope’s death, saying he was a true patriot who served his fatherland, state and community diligently.
“There is no doubt our highly respected Olasope lived a life of selfless service. He gave his very best in the various capacities he served during his remarkable public service life
“He made history in 1959 as the very first face on television in the continent, and thereafter continued to distinguish himself as a man of great intellect, through bred professional and a public servant of repute, ” he said.
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He also said the deceased served with distinction as Chief Press Secretary to the then Ogun State Governor, Olabisi Onabanjo between 1979 and 1983 and later as Chairman of Ekiti State Broadcasting Service during former Governor Adeniyi Adebayo’s tenure.
“We shall miss the wise counsel of this illustrious son of Ekiti who never stopped making useful suggestions to the government until he breathed his last breath,” he said.
Fayemi urged the children of the late Olasope and people of Efon Alaaye to be consoled with the fact that their father and son lived a good life and left a legacy of service.
“Our prayer is that God grants him eternal rest and comfort the family,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the late Olasope on October 31, 1959, alongside Anike Agabje-Williams, were the first broadcasters to read scripts on the first television in the continent, WNTV.
WNTV was established by the western regional government under Awolowo.
He joined the then Radio Organisations of Nigeria (RON) led by Ishola Folorunsho and Earnest Okonkwo to cover the National Sports Festival tagged ‘Oluyole 79’.
Olasope was also the veteran presenter of Evergreen Music where he featured his favourite, Roy Chicago.
The administration of former military president, Ibrahim Babangida, had honoured him with the Member of the Order of the Niger national award.(NAN)