Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, dies at 60
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funmilayo
Sep 24, 2008, 1:21:08 AM9/24/08
to USA Africa Dialogue Series
Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, dies at 60
By Abimbola Adelakun
Published: Wednesday, 24 Sep 2008
After a two-year battle with cancer, ace broadcaster and sports
journalist, Mr. Yinka Craig, has passed on.
Olabisi Deji-Folutile and Akeem Lasisi
A statement posted to his website by one of his sons, Lamide, said
Craig died at 6am on Tuesday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota, United States.
He was 60.
The statement reads, “It is with a heavy heart, and joy at God‘s
perfect will that I announce the passing on to glory of my father,
teacher, mentor and friend, Mr. Olayinka Babasanya Craig, who went to
be with the Lord at 6.00am this (Tuesday) morning.
“He was a pioneer radio and television broadcaster, sports journalist
extraordinaire and a national icon.”
Craig was flown to the US in May 2008 for a Stem Cell transplant, a
medical procedure that became necessary as a result of cancer of the
bone marrow.
Last week, on the same website, www.yinkagraig.org, Olamide called for
prayers for his father, explaining that he was currently in the
Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, as a result of some complications
arising from the procedure.
A radio and television broadcaster with about 40 years experience,
Craig had, for the past two years, struggled to survive the disease.
His condition reportedly worsened because doctors had consistently
misdiagnosed it in Nigeria. His type of lymphatic cancer, the Non-
Hodgkin Lymphomas, is, according to doctors, more problematic.
He was reported to have been treated twice in the United Kingdom
before he later returned to Nigeria only to relapse.
It was the quest for survival that took him to the US where he
eventually passed on.
Earlier in the year, an appeal fund was launched on his behalf to
raise about N38m needed for his treatment. The Lagos State Government
gave N15m.
Other eminent Nigerians, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa‘adu
Abubakar III, and some industrialists also offered assistance.
Craig is survived by his wife, Kehinde, a medical doctor, Olamide,
Olayinka and a daughter, Temilola.
A statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, said Fashola received the news of the
ace broadcaster’s demise with shock.
According to him, the governor and the entire people of Lagos State
feel the pain of the loss particularly because Craig lived in Lagos
virtually all his life.
The statement reads in part, “It was here(Lagos) that he attained
professional excellence as a first-class broadcaster and sports
enthusiast.
“He was a mobile encyclopaedia of sports and one of the most versatile
journalists of his generation who was a mentor and role model for
millions of youths,” Bamidele said.
While Fashola expressed his condolence to his widow, children and all
his loved ones, he also assured that the state government would
support the family in ensuring that he was given a befitting burial as
a great, accomplished and patriotic Nigerian.
A member of the House of Repsentatives and Craig’s former colleague at
the Nigerian Television Authority, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the
news of his death was a terrible one.
She said,“It is very unfortunate that he died at this time. I spoke
with his doctor two weeks ago and he assured me there was hope. But it
is unfortunate that he died.
“My husband and I were with him at the National Hospital, Abuja,
before he left the country. Even on his sick bed, he was full of life
and humour.”
www.cafeafricana.com
“By virtue of being human, each of us has the capacity to choose, to
change, to grow.”
– Eknath Easwaran
www.indigokafe.com
Portal for African Literatures, Writers, and Films
“Books and all forms of writing have always been objects of terror to
those who seek to suppress the truth.” -Wole Soyinka
By Abimbola Adelakun
Published: Wednesday, 24 Sep 2008
After a two-year battle with cancer, ace broadcaster and sports
journalist, Mr. Yinka Craig, has passed on.
Olabisi Deji-Folutile and Akeem Lasisi
A statement posted to his website by one of his sons, Lamide, said
Craig died at 6am on Tuesday at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,
Minnesota, United States.
He was 60.
The statement reads, “It is with a heavy heart, and joy at God‘s
perfect will that I announce the passing on to glory of my father,
teacher, mentor and friend, Mr. Olayinka Babasanya Craig, who went to
be with the Lord at 6.00am this (Tuesday) morning.
“He was a pioneer radio and television broadcaster, sports journalist
extraordinaire and a national icon.”
Craig was flown to the US in May 2008 for a Stem Cell transplant, a
medical procedure that became necessary as a result of cancer of the
bone marrow.
Last week, on the same website, www.yinkagraig.org, Olamide called for
prayers for his father, explaining that he was currently in the
Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, as a result of some complications
arising from the procedure.
A radio and television broadcaster with about 40 years experience,
Craig had, for the past two years, struggled to survive the disease.
His condition reportedly worsened because doctors had consistently
misdiagnosed it in Nigeria. His type of lymphatic cancer, the Non-
Hodgkin Lymphomas, is, according to doctors, more problematic.
He was reported to have been treated twice in the United Kingdom
before he later returned to Nigeria only to relapse.
It was the quest for survival that took him to the US where he
eventually passed on.
Earlier in the year, an appeal fund was launched on his behalf to
raise about N38m needed for his treatment. The Lagos State Government
gave N15m.
Other eminent Nigerians, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa‘adu
Abubakar III, and some industrialists also offered assistance.
Craig is survived by his wife, Kehinde, a medical doctor, Olamide,
Olayinka and a daughter, Temilola.
A statement by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and
Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, said Fashola received the news of the
ace broadcaster’s demise with shock.
According to him, the governor and the entire people of Lagos State
feel the pain of the loss particularly because Craig lived in Lagos
virtually all his life.
The statement reads in part, “It was here(Lagos) that he attained
professional excellence as a first-class broadcaster and sports
enthusiast.
“He was a mobile encyclopaedia of sports and one of the most versatile
journalists of his generation who was a mentor and role model for
millions of youths,” Bamidele said.
While Fashola expressed his condolence to his widow, children and all
his loved ones, he also assured that the state government would
support the family in ensuring that he was given a befitting burial as
a great, accomplished and patriotic Nigerian.
A member of the House of Repsentatives and Craig’s former colleague at
the Nigerian Television Authority, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the
news of his death was a terrible one.
She said,“It is very unfortunate that he died at this time. I spoke
with his doctor two weeks ago and he assured me there was hope. But it
is unfortunate that he died.
“My husband and I were with him at the National Hospital, Abuja,
before he left the country. Even on his sick bed, he was full of life
and humour.”
www.cafeafricana.com
“By virtue of being human, each of us has the capacity to choose, to
change, to grow.”
– Eknath Easwaran
www.indigokafe.com
Portal for African Literatures, Writers, and Films
“Books and all forms of writing have always been objects of terror to
those who seek to suppress the truth.” -Wole Soyinka
olayinka agbetuyi
Sep 24, 2008, 7:49:09 PM9/24/08
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com
I think it will not be amiss to say that millions of Nigerians stand with the Craigs in their hour of grief. Yinka Craig almost single handedly popularized television sports broadcasting across the nation, so much so that when I was an undergraduate some Igbo friends who became familiar with the name Yinka because of this national icon via NTA network programming would fondly call out to me as "Yinka Craig." He stands tall with other legends of broadcasting like Fabio Lanipekun, Anike Agbaje Williams, Yisa Adimi (FRCN Kaduna), and Isola Folorunso.
And as a veteran broadcaster my pain is doubly poignant in view of the recognized demands of this 24/7 profession.
Olayinka Agbetuyi
> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:21:08 -0700
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, dies at 60
> From: arow...@aol.com
> To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
And as a veteran broadcaster my pain is doubly poignant in view of the recognized demands of this 24/7 profession.
Olayinka Agbetuyi
> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:21:08 -0700
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, dies at 60
> From: arow...@aol.com
> To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
olayinka agbetuyi
Sep 24, 2008, 7:49:09 PM9/24/08
to usaafric...@googlegroups.com
I think it will not be amiss to say that millions of Nigerians stand with the Craigs in their hour of grief. Yinka Craig almost single handedly popularized television sports broadcasting across the nation, so much so that when I was an undergraduate some Igbo friends who became familiar with the name Yinka because of this national icon via NTA network programming would fondly call out to me as "Yinka Craig." He stands tall with other legends of broadcasting like Fabio Lanipekun, Anike Agbaje Williams, Yisa Adimi (FRCN Kaduna), and Isola Folorunso.
And as a veteran broadcaster my pain is doubly poignant in view of the recognized demands of this 24/7 profession.
Olayinka Agbetuyi
> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:21:08 -0700
And as a veteran broadcaster my pain is doubly poignant in view of the recognized demands of this 24/7 profession.
Olayinka Agbetuyi
> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 22:21:08 -0700
> Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Ace broadcaster, Yinka Craig, dies at 60
> From: arow...@aol.com
> To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
> From: arow...@aol.com
> To: USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
Folu Ogundimu
Sep 25, 2008, 5:11:18 PM9/25/08
to USAAfric...@googlegroups.com
Well-spoken. His life was testimonial to good journalism and all that
is decent about humans. May his soul rest in peace and his loved ones
find comfort in the many joys of his memory.
folu Ogundimu
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 24, 2008, at 7:49 PM, olayinka agbetuyi <yagb...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
is decent about humans. May his soul rest in peace and his loved ones
find comfort in the many joys of his memory.
folu Ogundimu
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 24, 2008, at 7:49 PM, olayinka agbetuyi <yagb...@hotmail.com>
wrote:
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