Funeral service of late Chief Kola Toluhi in Kogi

chief Kola Toluhi

Nigerians have been asked to see their stay on earth as one that should be used for positive impact to the society, and not for money making and for acquiring earthly positions.

Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada, gave the charge at the funeral service of late Chief Kola Toluhi, one time energy correspondent of Vanguard Newspaper and until his death the publisher of Kogi Affairs Newspaper, held at the RCCG, Grace Sanctuary, Lokoja.

The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said the State government is saddened by the death, as it happened at a time when his services to help inform the grassroots of government programs and policies was most needed.

The Governor described the deceased as a focus Journalist, who used his profession to impact the society, said he was able to carve a niche for himself in developmental Journalism.

The Governor described late Kola as a partner of government, said he used his medium to help inform the rural communities of government programs and policies.

The Governor described the death as a loss to the state, urged the family he left behind to take solace in his legacies of hard work and commitment to service to humanity, disclosing that the death came at a time the deceased was most vital to helping government make success of its transformation agenda.

While he prayed for God to grant the family he left behind the strength to carry on, the governor assured of the government’s support to recognize the invaluable contribution of the deceased.

Also speaking, Ali Atabor, Chairman Kogi State NUJ, said the death of Kola Toluhi has left a vacuum difficult to fill, described the deceased as a reliable journalist whose interest was to impact the society through developmental journalism.

While he said the Kogi State NUJ would strive to immortalize the good deeds of the deceased, said the death was one too many for the Journalism profession in the state.

Ali prayed for God to protect and guide the family he left behind, said he was a man as much as tasking his profession was, had so much time for his family.

In his homely at the service,Pastor Lanre Ajayi Olumuyiwa, urged christians to see death as God’s plan for man, urged them to live lives that will be edifying to God.

Pastor Lanre, urged Christians to seek for God’s manual on how to live life that will be pleasing, described sin as man’s greatest hindrance to enter the kingdom of God.

Born in July 1963,Late Kola Toluhi attended St Paul Primary School and St Augustine College, both in Kabba. He did his Higher School at School of Basic Studies,Kwara Poly,Ilorin and proceeded to University of Lagos and bagged a Bachelors Degree in Philosophy in 1985.  He completed his NYSC program in Lagos and joined Vanguard Newspapers. He spent six years in Vanguard where he rose to become the Chief Energy Correspondent. He covered several OPEC meetings in Geneva, Austria,Switzerland and France.

The late Journalist also published a compendium titled: Who is who in Kwara and Kogi State. And also Who is Who in Corporate Nigeria. In 1996, he returned to school for further studies and bagged a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Ilorin.

For more than 25 years, Chief Toluhi published Kogi Affairs Magazine and worked so hard on the publication, that it became a must read for most of our elites on Okunland and even in the Eastern part of the State. Kola has also supported several other publications including KABBASCOPE Magazine, where he was a contributory Editor.

In recognition of His contributions to the Okun and Kabba communities, the Obaro of Kabba installed him as the OBAGBORADUN of Oweland.  In 2007, he was appointed Special Assistant(media and publicity) to the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly.

Happily married to Omolade Toluhi and blessed with three children.

Chief Kola Toluhi is a professional colleague, a Development journalism practitioner of note, a Media Consultant of repute, a traditionalist, a man of the people, nice, friendly and full of life, an Owe patriot, an Owe ambassador extra ordinary, Chief Kola Toluhi will be missed by his fellow journalists, his school mates, his numerous readers of Kogi Affairs.