NPAN Condoles With Former Newswatch CEO, Ray Ekpu Over His Wife’s Death

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has mourned the death of Uyai Ekpu, the wife of former Chief Executive Officer of Newswatch Magazine, Ray Ekpu.

Ray Epku, renowned journalist and columnist, announced his wife’s death in a statement on Wednesday, revealing that Uyai, aged 73, succumbed to a brief illness on Sunday, April 21, 2024.

She was a senior staff member of the Centre for Management Development (CMD), where she retired in 2011 as acting director, Management Education and Training.

A condolence letter sent to the grieving family by NPAN President Kabiru Yusuf, expressed the shock felt by newspaper proprietors upon learning of Uyai’s demise.

NPAN hailed the late Uyai as an exemplary figure in management, training, and administration, stressing that her passing has left a significant void in Nigeria’s social and developmental fabric.

Yusuf said, “Though she is no more, we are consoled by the enviable legacies she left as a professional, the value she held as a bridge builder, and her exemplary disposition for community service.”

“On behalf of the Executive Council of our esteemed association, we commiserate with you and your entire family. We pray that the Almighty God will console and uphold every one of you.”

In his statement announcing his wife’s passing, Ekpu lauded Uyai’s embodiment of familial values, community service, and inclusivity, highlighting her profound compassion and devotion to spirituality.

She is survived by her husband, Ray Ekpu, and their three children – Elu Ray Mbakwe, Mfoniso Ray Ekpu, and Edikan Ray Osho.

Details regarding Uyai’s funeral arrangements will be communicated in due time, according to Ekpu.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has announced that 118 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger state, during heavy rainfall.