Labour leaders, journalists and associates of the late Business Editor of Daily Independent newspaper, Sylvester Enoghase, have urged the media to sustain his legacy by holding governments accountable and giving stronger voice to the challenges confronting Nigerian workers.
The call was made in Lagos during a day of tributes organised by the Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN) in honour of Enoghase, who was also Chairman Emeritus of the association. The gathering brought together labour leaders, journalists, family members, friends and other associates to celebrate his contributions to journalism and the labour movement.
Enoghase, a versatile journalist and communicator, died on June 16, 2026, after a brief illness. He was subsequently laid to rest following a funeral service in the Iju area of Agege Local Government Area, Lagos, where mourners described him as a man whose professional and personal impact extended far beyond the newsroom.
Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Tony Masha, described the deceased as a frontline journalist, dedicated professional and workaholic who made remarkable contributions to journalism and the labour movement.
“We are celebrating a life well lived. He contributed immensely to the profession and to his family. We pray that God grants his soul eternal rest and gives his family the fortitude to bear the loss,” Masha said.
He urged labour journalists to preserve the values Enoghase represented by upholding professionalism, maintaining strong relationships with social partners and ensuring that workers’ concerns remain prominent in public discourse.
Masha said journalists owed society a duty to scrutinise government policies and actions, stressing that accountability journalism remained essential to national development.
“If we must continue to serve the memory of Sylvester, we must maintain that momentum of keeping the government in check. We also have the responsibility to continue to highlight the working conditions of the working class,” he said.
Exploring advantage In a tribute delivered on behalf of the Managing Director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Oluwaseun Faleye, LAWAN Chairman, Toba Agboola, described Enoghase as an exceptional journalist and unwavering advocate of workers’ welfare.
Faleye said Enoghase distinguished himself by using journalism to advance the interests of workers and promote social justice rather than pursue personal interests. “He was a thoroughbred professional who used his pen, not for personal interest, but to advance the wellbeing of workers and the Nigerian labour system,” the tribute stated. Strength Lere
According to Faleye, Enoghase’s commitment to fairness and the welfare of working people had earned him a lasting place in the history of labour journalism. He described the late journalist as a dependable ally, friend and mediator to the Nigerian labour movement, adding that his death had created a vacuum that would be difficult to fill.
Former President of the Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI), Oyinkan Olasanoye, also paid glowing tribute to the deceased, recalling his role during an internal crisis within the association around 2005.
“He believed so much in building valuable relationships. During the ASSBIFI crisis, he stood by us and did everything possible to help resolve it,” Olasanoye said, describing Enoghase as a steadfast ally of organised labour and a journalist who valued dialogue and reconciliation.
Representatives of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Precision, Electrical and Related Equipment Senior Staff Association (PERESSA), as well as former ASSBIFI President, Olusoji Oluwole, joined others in describing Enoghase as a bridge-builder, advocate and respected labour reporter whose influence would endure.
At the funeral service, Pastor Nathaniel Oji of Revival Assembly, Ogba, urged the family and mourners not to misinterpret the journalist’s death, saying Enoghase had lived a meaningful life and died according to God’s will. “To everything there is a season and time, time to be born and die,” the cleric said.
Oji said the deceased lived a fulfilled life marked by impact on humanity, family, friends and associates, adding that although no human being was perfect, Enoghase had embraced Christianity and should be remembered for the life of faith and service he lived.
The cleric urged the bereaved family, friends and associates to take solace in the belief that Enoghase had found eternal rest with God, while prayers were offered for protection, goodwill and continued unity among members of the family.
For his children, however, the loss went beyond that of a parent. They remembered Enoghase as a teacher, guide and mentor whose influence shaped their lives. As tributes continue to pour in, his colleagues in journalism and organised labour face the challenge of turning remembrance into action, by defending press responsibility, strengthening labour reporting and ensuring that the welfare of Nigerian workers remains at the centre of national debate.
