Governor, NUJ, Others Mourn The Sun Correspondent, Layi Olarewaju

The  Sun newspapers correspondent in Kwara State, Mr Layi Olarewaju died on February 13,2026 at the age of 69.

Olarewaju was a one time chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists( NUJ).

In a condolence message, the Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said he was shocked by the death of Olarewaju.

He commiserated with the state Council of the NUJ, the Correspondents’ chapel,  The Sun newspaper, and the immediate family of the deceased.

The governor, in the statement signed by his chief press secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, said Olarewaju was a veteran journalist and media unionist whose legacies span decades of excellent reporting and commitment to the welfare of fellow journalists.

Associations  and institutions that have mourned the passing of Olarewaju include the state Council of the NUJ, Correspondents’ chapel, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Kwara State chapter of the Guild of Digital Journalists and Egbe  Omo Ibile  Igbomina, amongst others.

In its condolence message, the state Council of the NUJ expressed grief over the passing of  Olarewaju.

In a statement issued by the Council’s  secretary, Mahmood Olayinka Alaya,  the NUJ described the transition of Olanrewaju, as shocking, devastating, and a colossal loss to the journalism profession.

The council noted that the deceased was a dedicated, hard working, and committed journalist whose contributions to the growth of the profession and the correspondents’ chapel will be fondly remembered.

The dean, Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Isiaka Aliagan,  expressed deep condolences to the  NUJ,  Kwara State Council, and the entire journalism family in the state and Nigeria on the passing of Olarewaju.

Aliagan, a former editor of The Herald, described the death of Olarewaju as a painful loss to journalism, noting that his professionalism, courage, and dedication to public interest reporting set him apart in the media landscape.

The remains of Olarewaju will be interred on Friday at his Tanke, Ilorin residence after the funeral service at the Redeemed Christians Church of God, F’ Division, Tanke, Ilorin which has been slated for 9am.