The Nigerian Guild of Editors has expressed shock and sadness over the death of a former Abia State Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha.

Iwuoha, a Fellow of NGE, died on Monday.

The NGE, in statement on Tuesday, signed by its President Mustapha Isah and General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, described Iwuoha’s passage as ‘’devastating, painful and a huge loss’’ to the journalism profession in Nigeria.

‘’Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha was a committed Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

He served in various committees, and was the chairman of the Electoral Committee of NGE on several occasions, including our last convention in May 2021 in Kano.

“His last outing in the Guild’s activities, was the All Nigeria Editors Conference in Abuja two months ago, where he was a discussant.

‘’This was typical of him: He never missed any of our activities. He was a man of deep conviction, honest, very principled and lively,” the Guild said.

The NGE said that just last week, the former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists called some of its Standing Committee members, including the President and the General Secretary, to discuss the affairs of the Guild.

‘’He said he was very proud of the present leadership of NGE, and advised us to keep up the good work and never to relent.

“That was how dear our professional body was to Mr. Iwuoha.

“He was an accomplished administrator, unionist and humanist – who struggled for over three decades to improve the welfare of journalists in the country’’, the NGE stated.

The Guild commiserated with friends, his immediate family, the government and the people of Abia State.

He prayed to the Almighty God to give his loved ones the fortitude to bear the immeasurable loss.

‘’We will miss Mr. Iwuoha greatly. As a mark of honour, the NGE has opened a condolence register at our Secretariat in Ikeja, Lagos. Fare Thee Well, Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha’’, the guild said.

NAN