Nigerian financial journalist and former energy editor with Daily Times Newspapers, Simon Ugwu, is dead.
Ugwu’s death was announced on the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC) WhatsApp group on Sunday, quoting his wife, Mrs. Ugwu, to have confirmed the news.
The death of the former energy editor with Daily Times newspapers, Mrs. Ugwu was quoted to have said, occured around 3 pm on Sunday.
A statement issued by the General Secretary of NAEC, Peter Uzoho, reads; “Good evening distinguished members. We are deeply pained to announce the death of one of us, Mr. Simon Ugwu, who was with us yesterday at the AI Training. His wife broke this sad news to us by 3pm today.
“Mr Simon had personally called Chairman earlier today, at about 9am, saying he was being moved from Isolo General Hospital to LUTH Idiaraba, where he passed on. Before this unfortunate incident, our late colleague had also complained of having stomach tumor which he had been managing. Right now, his wife said they are making arrangements to move the corpse to the East.
“May his gentle soul find eternal rest. And may God grant his family the fortitude and strength to overcome this trying moment.
We pray God to take away this kind of bad occurrences from NAEC.”
Ugwu, until his death, was the Publisher of Energy Frontier, a energy business-focused online newspapers.
He was also a former Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NAEC.
The late Ugwu was at a training on Artificial Intelligence (AI) organised by NAEC a few hours before his death.
Team Lead of Platforms Africa, Adeola Yusuf, joined friends and colleagues of the deceased to express shock over the news.
“The death of Mr. Simon Ugwu is another mystery of life. He was at a training yesterday and today he is no more. He was jovial, lovable, humble and, above all, a thorough-bred professional who talked about God at every opportunity.
“He will be sorely missed and I pray that may God repose his soul, and grant the wife, his children, family and friends, the fortitude to bear this great loss. Amen,” Adeola Yusuf said.
Editor of The Guardian, Femi Adekoya, who said that the death was a “very sad news,” prayed; “May God console his family and the industry.”
Publisher of TBI Africa, Emeka Ugwuanyi, wrote: “This is sad and unfortunate news. What a life we live, seen today and gone tomorrow. May the almighty God grant his good soul eternal rest and console us all and his young family he left behind.”
Deputy Editor at ThisDay, Ejiofor Alike, added; “May God comfort his family and loved ones, and also grant his soul eternal rest. Adieu, my gentle and easy-going brother, and former colleague in BusinessDay.”
Corroborating Alike’s view, the Energy Editor of The Nation, Muyiwa Lucas, wrote; “OMG! This is very sad. I still interacted with him at NAICE 2024. In the short while interacted with him, he was a Fine gentleman…always encouraging me with scriptures whenever we spoke.
May he awaken to joyful activities in the luminous garden of God.
Rest on, my dear big brother. May God grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss and may the Almighty uphold NAEC.
It’s well.”
On his part, the Energy editor of New Telegraph, Success Nwogu added; “This is devastating and shocking. May God console his family and all of us. May God accept his soul in eternal repose.”
Principal partner at Advisors Report, Oredola Adeola, while expressing a rude shock, inquired; “Why was the Resource person calling his name many times before his arrival yesterday?”
He wrote; “I am pained that no picture was taken yesterday during the training, as I was seated by his side. Atleast to record the moment 😥… shared with a friendly man.
“Mr Simon Ugwu did not show any sign of frailty during the training, he made me do something for him on his phone , he was full of life , except that sometimes we don’t know how healthy some of us are.
“I wished the IT training was a medical check up… Just maybe the story could have been different. Rest well sir @Simon UGWU… why was the Resource person calling his name many times before his arrival yesterday?”