Former NAN MD, Nwabu Mgbemena dies of cancer

A former Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Dr Nwabu Mgbemena, is dead.

Mgbemena, 71, died of cancer on April 22 in New Jersey, U.S.

His close associate Chief Tony Idigo confirmed the death on Sunday in a telephone interview with NAN.

Mgbemena was one of the pioneer editors of NAN, where he rose to serve as managing director for two terms from January, 1985 to January, 1994.

He took over as Chief Executive Officer from Mr Olufemi Adefela, who was then the General Manager of the agency.

Adefela has had a brief stint as general manager after the retirement of Mr Onuora Nzekwu, the pioneer General Manager of NAN.

Mgbemena attended Dennis Memorial Grammar School, Onitsha and later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in journalism.

He became a lecturer at UNN, where he rose to become a senior lecturer at the Department of Journalism, which was later re-named Department of Mass Communication.

Mgbemena also obtained a masters degree from the Syracuse University in New York as well as a doctorate from the Texas Southern University in Houston, U.S.

After his teaching stint at UNN, he joined NAN as senior editor when NAN was established by the Federal Government in 1978.

Mgbemena was one of the `original nine editors,’ employed at the take-off of NAN. They are Olufemi Adefela, Nwabu Mgbemena, Sani Sambo, Wada Maida, Dave Igiewe, Godwin Omole, Toye Olofintuyi, Willie Bozimo and Chukwura Ezebube.