Nigerian motoring media has lost into the cold hands of death one of its foremost motoring writers. Popularly known as Manny Philipson, Mr Emmanuel Owolagba, Chief Executive Officer of Media Advocate Limited, publishers of Travel Mate, passed away recently after a brief illness and was on Wednesday laid to rest in Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he interment followed a funeral mass held at the St Leo Catholic Church at the early morning of Wednesday 23rd October, 2019 in Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking at the funeral mass, Roman Catholic priest from Kabba Diocese in Kogi State, Rev Father Oladele Pius extolled the virtues of late Emmanuel.
According to Rev Father Oladele, things that are painful will always remain with us in this world, stressing that life is full of ups and downs.
The priest however, gave thanks for the life of Emmanuel being born as a catholic and was able to remain in the fold till death.
“Some of his mates have left Catholic but Emmanuel did not leave until he passed on. When he was young he was always in the church. He likes to always be with Christian Youth Organisation of Nigeria (CYON) in the Kabba district”.
In his first reading taken from the Old Testament, quoting from the Book of Wisdom. (3:1-9), Rev Oladele said “The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them. In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, like annihilation; but they are at peace”.
The man of God emphasized that God that has given Emmanuel to us has called him, advising that it is only the cross that can answer the numerous questions that may crop up concerning late Emmanuel’s transition.
Eulogising the deceased, Augustine Owolagba, a brother of late Emmanuel said “your untimely death is a blow to us all. I am yet to come to terms with the brutal fact that you are dead. You have created a vacuum that will take our family years to fill”.
“I still can’t believe and come to terms with the death of my good friend and brother.. Rest in peace Manny, such a nice fellow”, he added.
A colleague and a transport writer, Anthony Awunor, Assistant Business Editor of Leadership newspaper described late Emmanuel as one of the best hands in motoring journalism in Nigeria.
“I worked with Emmanuel in Autotrader and he was somebody that a colleague can be proud of. His death is a big loss to the industry”.
The mass was well attended by members of the Nigerian Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) led by the Chairman, Mr Mike Ochonma. Bukunola Ogunusi, Public Relations Manager, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL); Olu Ibironke of Stallion automobile group as their company representatives and a host of other players inside and outside the automotive industry attended the funeral service.
Emmanuel, until his death was a very vibrant auto journalist and has worked in Financial Standard, BusinessWorld and many other publications before he set up his media outfit-Media Advocate 2 years ago.
Late Emmanuel from Kabba in Kogi State is survived by wife, a daughter, 4 brothers, his parents and grandmother.
