The immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja Chapter, Chuks Ehirim, is dead.
He died at the Garki Hospitalafter a brief illness.
Ehirim, who died on a day he was due to celebrate his 50th birthday has a wife and five young children.
His former colleagues have been extolling Ehirim’s virtues especially his outspokenness and rich contributions to the journalism profession in his over 20 years practice.
Ehirim was an advocate of the rights of journalists in Nigeria with his campaign for the improvement of the working and living conditions of media professionals in the country, who have been denied salaries and entitlements after many years of service.
He would be remembered for his campaign for the provision of health and insurance covers for journalists, who are exposed to hazards of the profession including threat to health and life which he, ironically, did not benefit from until his death.
Tributes poured in from his colleagues on facebook.
“He turned 50 today and he died on his birthday. His name is Chuks Ehirim, a journalist and immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists, Abuja chapter. May his soul rest in peace”, said Chris Kehinde Nwandu (CKN).
The sun has set on Comrade Chuks Ehirim. Just sad!”, said Emmanuel Ogbeche, immediate past Secretary of NUJ, Abuja chapter, who worked with Ehirim.
“I’m so shocked! I didn’t even know he was ill?!! God!!!! Sleep on in the bosom of the Lord! You were a leader! Old school in your ways but inquisitive enough to digress. I remember taking up the technicalities of your campaign; social media et al. Can’t forget”, said Nicholas Tayo
Adekeye.
