By Sulaimon Jamiu
The Nigerian sports community has been thrown into mourning following the demise of veteran sport journalist and broadcaster, Fabio Olanipekun, who died just few days after celebrating his 80th birthday.
The distinguished and respected broadcaster breathed his last a week after another iconic sports journalist, Sunny Emmanuel Ojeagbese, died in the United States of America.
Details about the cause of his death are, however, sketchy at the time of filing this report. He was said to have been well and healthy before his passing.
The legendary journalist was born as Adesola Olanipekun, but was said to have adopted the name Fabio from a novel he read while he was a student at the Methodist Boys High School in Lagos.
Fabio was a founding member of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the 1960s.
Confirming the death of the sports journalism icon, Ogun State gubernatorial aspirant, Modele Sharafa-Yusuf, who worked closely with the deceased at Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), took to her Facebook page to extol his virtues.
In her tribute-like message, she revealed how he helped shaped her career, praying for the repose of his soul.
She wrote: “I mourn the death of my former boss and mentor, the legendary Fabio Lanipekun.
“He passed on today – 4 days after his 80th birthday.
“A cerebral, hard-working & no nonsense boss, Fabio encouraged my move from NTA Ibadan to the Headquarters (then in Lagos). He burnished my skills, taught me discipline & hardwork and gave us opportunities to shine – knowing as he did, that our light did not dim his own.
“I was with him on his 79th birthday – along with some of my former colleagues but missed his 80th as I was declaring my candidature on the same day.
“May God grant him sweet repose and bless his devoted wife & other family members.”
