Family of journalism icon marks 80th posthumous birthday
80th Birthday Cake with ChocolateMay 19, 2024
The late Chief Pius Oladapo Odebiyi (Don Debby), first Editor of The Bullion and CENBANK News, a publication of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, came back to life recently through a thanksgiving service and launch of an 8-page booklet of tributes by his children and grandchildren to mark the 15th year of his passage and 80th posthumous birthday.
The Thanksgiving Service was held at St Anthony Catholic Church, AIT Road, Alagbado, where the late journalist and writer’s widow, Chief (Mrs) Flora Abimbola announced a donation of one hundred thousand naira “for the development of the church.”
Speaking on what the widow missed most about her late husband, she said: “I miss the great pieces of advice he always offered. Aside that, he was a great husband and father to his children.”
The late Odebiyi traversed the print, broadcast, and corporate business media landscape, both locally and internationally.
He was at various times at Nigerian Tribune, the defunct Daily Express, expired Parade Magazine, Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, International Press Institute (Kenya), Consulate of Nigeria in New York, USA (as Assistant Information Officer – later promoted to Information Officer), PRMWLCAL, Los Angeles, USA, Wall Street Journal, New York, USA, etc.
