Family members, colleagues, and friends on Friday paid glowing tributes to the late News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Transport Correspondent, Augusta Uchediunor.
They spoke during a requiem Mass and thanksgiving service held in her honour at St. Robert’s Catholic Church, Yaba, Lagos.
The service attracted a large gathering of mourners who celebrated the life, faith, and professional accomplishments of the journalist.
Those who spoke described her as compassionate, hardworking, and dedicated to service.
Speaking during the service, her younger sister, Deborah Eke, described Uchediunor as a brilliant, hardworking, and God-fearing woman whose death came as a painful shock to the family.
Eke said the deceased was the shining star of the family, whose life reflected excellence, faith, and commitment to duty.
She said that the large turnout at the service testified to the positive impact her late sister had on many lives.
Also paying tribute, Roseline, a cousin to the late journalist, described her as an elder sister and best friend who provided unwavering support and care throughout her life.
Roseline recalled the close bond they shared and prayed for the peaceful repose of her soul.
A fellow parishioner, Anthony Achazie, described Uchediunor as a devoted Catholic who took her faith seriously and remained committed to the teachings of the Church.
In his homily, the officiating priest, Rev. Father Clement V. Obidike, urged worshippers to embrace forgiveness, peaceful coexistence, and service to humanity, noting that death remains an inevitable reality.
Obidike, a Lieutenant Colonel, encouraged the congregation to be upright and remain faithful to God’s will, stressing that no one could predict the time of death.
He said: “We do not know when death will come.
“Therefore, we must live each day in love, forgiveness, and reconciliation with others.”
Speaking with NAN, Kevin Okunzuwa, Deputy Editor-in-Chief and Head of Editorial Operations, NAN Lagos, said the memorial and thanksgiving Mass reflected the profound impact Uchediunor made during her lifetime.
Okunzuwa said testimonies shared during the service portrayed her as a loving, kind, and caring individual who touched many lives through her relationships and professional conduct.
According to him, the impressive turnout at the service demonstrated the love and respect people had for the late journalist.
“Augusta lived a life of love and harmony, and the affection shown to her memory today is a testament to the positive impact she had on those around her,” he said.
Also speaking, a former Editor-In-Chief of NAN, Isaac Ighure, described Uchediunor as a dedicated, hardworking, and highly professional journalist who distinguished herself throughout her career.
Ighure said the deceased carried out her assignments diligently and earned commendation for her outstanding coverage of the transport sector.
He recalled that, beyond her professional competence, she was friendly, jovial, and always willing to assist others in resolving challenges.
According to him, the news of her death came as a shock because they had remained in contact, with the deceased reaching out to him only days before her passing.
“Augusta lived a worthy life, and we can only pray that her soul rests in perfect peace,” he said.
Also paying tribute, Superintendent Route Commander Olabisi Sonusi, Unit Head, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ikeja, Lagos, described the late Uchediunor as one of the first journalists to cover FRSC activities when she assumed office as the agency’s spokesperson in Lagos State.
Sonusi said that from their first meeting until Uchediunor was redeployed to another beat, they shared a cordial relationship akin to that of an elder and younger sister.
She said: “She was supportive, professional, and always willing to assist.
“Her encouragement during that period remains unforgettable.
“Her death at this critical time is a painful loss to all of us who worked with her.
“She will be greatly missed by colleagues, friends, and family members she left behind.
“Rest on, my dear big sister.”
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