The remains of Mrs Modupe Oremule, a 36-year-old Defence Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), were lowered into the earth on Thursday amidst tears .
She was laid to rest at noon at the Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG) Cemetery, Redemption Camp.
NAN reports that the burial of the mother of two, who died on Jan. 15, 2021 after a brief illness, was organised by the RCCG Akute, Lagos and graced by members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Lagos Council, clerics, friends and colleagues.
The funeral saw family members, friends and colleagues of the deceased wearing long faces and eyes full of tears as they came to pay their last respect.
At a funeral service which was held before the burial at the premises of the cemetery, the Presiding Cleric, Pastor Akin Onimole said that the corpse of late Modupe Oremule was a message on its own to everyone.
“It shows that everyone has appointment with death some day.
“We are not praying that we die young like Dupe, but when death shall come, where is the last place you shall go?’’
Clerics took turns to pray for the family and children at graveside, after which the corpse was carried by undertakers in white native attires for interment.
NUJ members, relatives and friends of late Oremule paid glowing tributes to the deceased in separate interviews with NAN at the graveside.
The NUJ Chairman, Lagos Council, Mr Adeleye Ajayi described the unexpected death of Oremule as a tragedy not for the family but also for NAN and NUJ family.
“It is a sad moment for the entire staff of NAN and the NUJ, Lagos Council. We pray God to comfort her family members,” Ajayi said.
Ajayi said that late Oremule was unique with a humble and respectful disposition.
According to him, she was diligent in her duties until she breathed her last.
“I advise all of us left behind to concentrate on our health, do regular medical checkup and pray to God to keep sparing our lives,’’ Ajayi said.
Also, Mr Peter Ejiofor, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, NAN, said: “Dupe worked under my supervision when she was on the sports desk. She showed a lot of dedication to duty and motivated others by her actions.
“She was concerned about other people’s welfare and she inspired others to be dutiful. We have lost her and we pray that God will grant her eternal rest and take care of her family,” he said.
Mr Yusuf Yunus, Chairman, NUJ, NAN Lagos Chapel, trying hard to control his tears described the demise of Oremule as unfortunate, saying that the union had yet to recover from the shock.
“It is unfortunate that we lost Modupe at this tender age.
“We pray God comforts her family, her Church members, her friends and colleagues. We pray that God will take care of her two children,’’ Yunus said.
One of the younger brothers of the deceased, Mr Dare Olori, said that they were looking up to their late sister as their mother, having lost their mother in 2020.
Olori said that late Oremule was a loving sister who cared much for him and his two younger brothers.
“I will miss her so much. She has gone to be with the Lord and we are grateful for a life well spent, though short. We pray God will take care of her entire family,” he said in a voice full of grief.
The husband of the deceased, Mr Adesanya Oremule, said that his late wife worked hard to protect the family from every form of disgrace.
“When she was alive, we had aspirations for our family. We had a lot of plans to execute together. She never wanted any disgrace for her family and our children.
“I pray I will be able to achieve all we had planned together and more for our children. When we meet again in heaven, I will be able to gist her everything,” he said tearfully.
NAN reports that the funeral was conducted under strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols and only few people were allowed to participate in the service.
