Olajide Fashikun
Olajide Fashikun, also known as Olajide Ayodeji Fashikun, was a Nigerian journalist who was arrested in November 2011 over his stories alleging corruption in the Nigerian Football Federation.[1] He was the editor of the National Accord Newspaper[1] and the publisher of Gong News until his death in January 2019.
He was known for his anti-corruption crusade against corruption in Nigerian sports.[2] He was also known for initiating the "Adopt an athlete" idea for promising athletes to be supported by corporate organizations leading to major competitions.[2] [3]
Birth and career
Fashikun was born in Kaduna, Nigeria on 14 September 1965.[4][5][6]
He began as all round sportsman who played football, handball, volleyball, basketball and won victories for his country.[6]
He played handball for Nigeria (1979-1999) when he retired from international duties.[4] He played football for Zabgai of Bauchi (1984); El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri (1985); Zamalek of Egypt (1986-1988) when injuries ruled him out.[4][6]
He was Nigeria's junior 200m winner and record holder in 1979.[4] He was the youngest player in Nigeria handball men national team that won the African Nations Cup in 1979.[6]
Medals
Fashikun won gold medal at African Nations Cup in Lagos, Nigeria in 1980; gold medal at African Nations Cup in Bauchi, Nigeria in 1984; gold medal at NIPOGA in 1985 in Kaduna, Nigeria; bronze medal at Nigeria Universities Games Association (NUGA) in 1988 in Calabar, Nigeria; gold medal at NUGA in 1998 in Kano, Nigeria.[4][5]
Book
- Issues in Nigerian Social Work Administration[7]
Positions
He was the editor of the National Accord Newspaper,[1] the sports editor of the Herald Newspaper and the senior sports reporter of ThisDay Newspaper.[3] He was also the managing editor of Gong News[3][5][6] and was known for his truthful reports.[4] He was a former lecturer at the Kwara State Polytechnic and also a former chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter.[3][6]
He was the director, Sports Development and Marketing with the Nigeria Sports Development Fund Incorporated.[4][8]
Death and burial
Fashikun died in the early hours of Sunday, 27 January 2019 at the Federal Medical Center, Jabi in Abuja, Nigeria after a brief illness.[3][6][9] He was 54 years old.[3]
He was buried on Wednesday, 30 January 2019 in his hometown at Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.[10] He was survived by an aged mother, wife and four children.[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Smith, Karen. Nigeria journalist arrested, faces libel suit over soccer stories (15 November 2011)Cable News Network. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Olamide, Ayo. TRIBUTE: Remembering Jide Fashikun Dogged Nigerian Sports Anti- Corruption Crusader (28 January 2022)Gong News. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Odunsi, Wale. Renowned journalist, Jide Fashikun is dead (27 January 2019)Daily Post. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Fashikun, Olajide AyodejiNigerianWiki.com. Retrieved 2023-03-19.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Kuti, Dare. Olajide Fashikun: I got my first new pair of trainers at Zamalek (25 September 2018)ACLSports.com. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 HFN Mourns Former National Handball Player Olajide Fashikun (28 January 2019)Titan Sports. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ Fashikun, Olajide Ayodeji. Issues in Nigerian Social Work Administration (2006)Haylee. ISBN 978-978-809-013-7.
- ↑ Golden Eaglet captain and Adokiye: The Insanity in a Newspaper Columnist-by Olajide Fashikun (7 November 2009)The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ Babalola, Oluwatomiwa. Jide Fashikun, top Nigerian Sports Journalist dies in Abuja (27 January 2019)Legit.ng. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
- ↑ Atolagbe, Femi. ODSG, others pay last respect to Olajide Fashikun (1 February 2019)The Hope Newspaper. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
- ↑ Shittu, Hammed. Late Fashikun Laid to Rest at Obbo Aiyegunle (31 January 2019)ThisDay Newspaper. Retrieved 1 March 2023.