- NPAN expressed sorrow over the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a member and publisher of Champion Newspaper, at age 82
- Iwuanyanwu, an engineer by training, left an indelible mark in various fields and pioneered colour printing in Nigerian newspapers
The Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, a member and publisher of Champion Newspaper, who passed away last week at the age of 82. Iwuanyanwu was also the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide.
In a statement by NPAN Chairman, Malam Kabir Yusuf, the association noted that Iwuanyanwu’s death leaves a significant void in the nation’s socio-development landscape.
The statement reads: “An engineer by training, Chief Iwuanyanwu bestrode the business world, leaving an indelible mark in aviation, insurance, road construction, sports, and newspapering.
“His venture into the newspaper business with the emergence of Champion Newspapers on October 1, 1988, changed the dynamics of newspapering in the country. The paper pioneered colour printing among Nigerian newspapers. It was among the first to set the stage for simultaneous printing, as the paper rolled out from presses in Lagos and Owerri, giving readers in the east the experience of reading the same news as their Lagos/western counterparts.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu was a sports enthusiast and for a long time, his football club, Iwuanyanwu Nationale, rode the crest of competitive football locally and challenged for trophies on the continent.”
The NPAN expressed consolation in the enviable legacies Iwuanyanwu left behind as a solid politician, frontline businessman, and patriot.
“On behalf of the executive council of our esteemed association, we commiserate with you and your entire family. We pray that the Almighty God will console and uphold every one of you.”