The Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) has joined other sports-loving Nigerians to mourn veteran sports broadcaster, Adesola “Fabio’’ Lanipekun, who died on March 6, in Lagos, four days after his 80th birthday.
The NFSC National Chairman, Rev. Samuel Ikpea, said in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos that “we at the NFSC were shocked to read about the death of Mr Fabio Lanipekun, only days after we celebrated him for reaching the landmark 80 years.
“This is most painful and sorrowful. It is hard to believe.
“We all read the history of how he blazed the trail in sports broadcasting starting from his time at the Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) in Ibadan, and his stellar career at the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA).
“He was an enigma and a trailblazer of the industry. We are consoled by the fact that he lived an exemplary, fruitful and fun-filled life.
“He was a professional to the core and loved his job deeply. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest and grant the family he left behind the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.’’
Lanipekun celebrated his 80th birthday only four days before he passed on.
He headed the Sports Desk of Western Nigeria Television after studying sports journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London, U.K.
He later moved to the Nigeria Television Authority, where he attended dozens of major international Championships and Games before retiring as Manager, Sports of Nigeria’s leading broadcasting house.
