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Dimgba Igwe: The departure of a true humanistSaturday, September 6, 2014, the day a hit-and-run driver killed Dimgba Igwe, the Vice Chairman of the Sun Publishing Company in Okota area of Lagos while jogging for fitness, was one of the darkest days in my living memory. It was Mr. Obioma Ogukwe, our GM, Finance, who brokered the tragic news as met in our neigbourhood. It was a painful and sorrowful day. It was a day of mourning and sadness. It also reminded me of the day my elder brother died in Lagos in 1995 after a careless surgery, a surgery that ordinarily could not lead to death if it was professionally handled. At first, it was like an unbelievable tale that later became true after putting series of calls to our other staffers who also confirmed my fears. Many Nigerians are still grieving over the tragic death of Igwe, a consummate writer and humanist who gave all his life to the development of the nation’s journalism. Igwe was an all rounder in every thing he did. He was a committed journalist, entrepreneur par excellent and a workaholic in the Lord’s Vineyard. He gave equal time to writing and the work of God being a pastor of the Gospel. I did not know that one can successfully combine active journalism with the highly demanding pastoral vocation. But with Dimgba and a very few others like him, it was a possibility.
Before being engaged to work in The Sun Publishing Company, publishers of Daily Sun newspapers and its weekend titles, I have met Dimgba Igwe through his numerous writings as a journalist, writer and columnist of great repute. What struck me first about the deceased author is the name, Dimgba, which I met first on the pages of National Concord Newspaper, Weekend Concord and later The Sun. The name in my part of Igbo land is associated with a renowned wrestler. A combination of his first name and surname in my mind conjures greatness in every dimension one looks at it.
I still have in my collection, copies of National Concord, Weekend Concord where some of Igwe’s articles appeared. The Art of Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines, a book he co-authored with Awoyinfa, was my ready companion when I was posted to the Features Desk in Vanguard newspapers in 1997 or thereabout. Their other works I have consulted include Nigeria’s Marketing Memoirs and 50 Nigeria’s Corporate Strategists.
Dimgba Igwe’s writings had a special place in my heart. He had a style that transcended the literary and the academic. In fact, Dimgba wrote like university professors. He wrote in such a style that compelled compulsion in reading until the entire piece was consumed. I admire his writings, interviews and books.
With his ‘twin brother’, Mike Awoyinfa, the duo had published numerous books and biographies to their credit apart from exploits in creating Week Concord, The Sun and The Entertainment Express newspapers. Their interviews were a must read for every lover of good prose and popular journalism. Even though they have risen to the topmost ladder in the pen profession, they still see and regard themselves as reporters, a good attribute only a few managers of men and resources would like to court.
While Awoyinfa writes mainly on sports literature and other entertainment issues and persons, Dimgba dealt on serious political issues analytically and without minding whose ox is gored. He was not afraid of calling a spade a spade. No issue is too small or too big for him to handle. His Tuesday column in the Sun, Sideview, is a must read for all lovers of good prose and analytical writings. Igwe had great passion for journalism and writing generally. If Dimgba Igwe had chosen the path of academics, he would have been one of the respected professors of his chosen field.
When I met Dimgba Igwe in person in the The Sun newspaper as a staff, he was like a father figure as Dr. Amanze Obi has rightly portrayed him in his column yesterday. The late Igwe I knew was highly unassuming, a good listener who spoke softly with love and care.
Dimgba was also very caring. He was a skilled manager of men and resources. He appreciated workers’ efforts with commendations. He stood for justice, equality and fair treatment to all. His writings showed him as a true humanist who advocated for a human society that works. Unfortunately, when the late crusader for sane society was in dire need of help, the same society he fought for all his life failed him.
The nation’s weak health system failed him and the essential medical help was late in company. As at the time of writing this article, the nation’s security system is yet to apprehend the killer who sped off instead of taking his victim to a hospital. It is tragic that Dimgba died while jogging to keep healthy. It is time the relevant authorities provide pedestrian walkways for those that jog so that Dimgba’s tragedy will not be repeated. It is interesting that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba has ordered a full investigation into the death of Dimgba. We expect the police to fish out the killer and also sanitize the driving culture in Nigeria.
Driving licence can only be issued to those that have had adequate training for driving. It should not be seen as a revenue-generating venture. I hope the officers and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are reading this article and taking note.
Dimgba’s death is a great loss to the nation’s journalism. While death is inevitable, we do not know why death, the grim ripper came for Dimgba at the time it did. Our only solace is that he lived a good life. He lived a purposeful life in the service of humanity. Though dead, he still lives in our collective memory.
In Dimgba Igwe’s death, we lost a rare gem, a committed writer and a true humanist. May Almighty God grant his soul eternal repose and give his family, friends and relatives the strength to bear the irreparable loss. Adieu Dimgba! Adieu the great writer!
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