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From Bimbola Oyesola, Geneva, Switzerland
The death of Mr. Sylvester Enoghase, Labour Editor and Group Business Editor of Daily Independent Newspapers last Tuesday, has continued to draw tributes from leading figures in Nigeria’s labour and business communities, with the managing director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Barrister Oluwaseun Faleye, and the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) describing him as an exceptional journalist whose contributions left an enduring mark on the nation.
Faleye, in a personal condolence message issued on behalf of the management and staff of the NSITF, said the organization received the news of Enoghase’s passing with “profound shock and sadness,” noting that the veteran journalist was widely respected for his professionalism, courage and dedication to labour reporting.
According to the NSITF chief executive, Enoghase distinguished himself as a committed advocate for workers’ welfare and a steadfast ally of the Nigerian labour movement throughout a career that spanned more than two decades on the labour beat.
“Mr. Enoghase was an exceptional journalist, a committed advocate for workers’ welfare and a steadfast ally of the Nigerian labour movement,” Faleye said, adding that his contributions to labour journalism earned him admiration across different sectors of society.
He noted that Enoghase consistently demonstrated remarkable professionalism in reporting labour and industrial relations issues, helping to promote understanding between workers, employers and policymakers through balanced and insightful coverage.
Faleye further stated that the late editor’s work played a significant role in advancing workers’ rights, promoting safe and healthy workplaces and amplifying the voices of ordinary Nigerian workers who often struggled to have their concerns heard.
“His contributions to advancing workers’ rights, promoting safe and healthy workplaces, and amplifying the voices of ordinary Nigerian workers earned him the respect and admiration of colleagues, labour leaders, employers and policymakers alike,” he said.
The NSITF boss also highlighted Enoghase’s leadership role as a former chairman of the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN), describing his tenure as instrumental in strengthening labour journalism and fostering constructive engagement among stakeholders in the world of work.
Faleye observed that Enoghase remained committed to his profession until the very end, recalling that he had only recently returned from Geneva, Switzerland, where he covered the 114th International Labour Conference (ILC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“The fact that he returned only recently from Geneva, Switzerland, where he covered the 114th International Labour Conference underscores his dedication to duty and his passion for labour reporting until his final moments,” Faleye remarked.
He extended condolences to the late journalist’s family, the management and staff of Daily Independent Newspapers, members of LAWAN, the Labour Correspondents Association of Nigeria (LACAN), and the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the wider labour movement.
Similarly, the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) described Enoghase as a business journalism icon whose professional contributions significantly advanced private sector advocacy and economic discourse in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr.Muda Yusuf, the CPPE said it received news of the journalist’s sudden passing with “profound shock and deep sorrow,” stressing that his influence extended far beyond the newsroom.
“Sylvester was more than a journalist; he was a committed advocate of private sector development and a trusted ally of the Nigerian business community,” Yusuf said. “Through his professionalism, diligence, humility, and passion for economic development, he consistently amplified issues that mattered to businesses and helped shape public understanding of critical economic policies and reforms.”
The CPPE noted that Enoghase’s unwavering support for private sector advocacy, his warmth of character, and his dedication to business journalism earned him widespread respect among policymakers, colleagues, and members of the organized private sector. Describing his death as a painful loss to both the media profession and Nigeria’s economic development community, the organization said his friendship, encouragement, and invaluable contributions would be deeply missed. It also extended condolences to his family, the management and staff of Independent Newspapers Nigeria Limited, and members of the Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), praying for the peaceful repose of his soul.
