Former Minister of Communications dies at 83

Family of former Minister of Communications, Olawale Adeniji Ige, has announced his passing on May 9 at 83 years.

A statement by his daughter, Mrs. Atinuke Olashore, said the deceased was Director-General, Ministry of Communications before his appointment as minister in 1990. He was reappointed to coordinate the Ministry of Transport, Aviation, and Communications in 1992.

Between 1999 and 2010, Ige served as member of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and pioneer Director of Digital Bridge Institute, Abuja. He was also a member of the First World Telecommunications Advisory Group of the International Telecommunications Union with headquarters in Geneva and first Chairman of Nigeria Internet Group.

Born on October 13, 1938 in Lagos, Ige began his career with Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, Ibadan as Engineering Assistant in 1957 before proceeding to the United Kingdom to study Electrical Engineering in 1961.

Upon his return to Nigeria in 1967, he pitched a tent with the Federal Ministry of Communications (Posts and Communications Department) as Engineer and rose to become the first Coordinating Director (Internal), NITEL and subsequently, General Manager, Long Distance Communications, in 1985.

He started his consultancy practice in 1993 and was appointed a consultant on Regional African Satellite Communications Implementation. In 1979, the late Ige was conferred with the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contribution to national development.

The ex-minister got married to the late Mrs. Aderonke Ige (Nee Fetuga) and the union was blessed with four children. He was an ardent Baptist and member of First Baptist Church, Lagos where he served as member of the Diaconate Board.

Besides Mrs. Olashore, the other three children are Mr. Babasola Ige, Mr. Adegbola Ige and Mrs. Banke Laycock. The departed octogenarian, who was native of Ile Seedu, Ijeru in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, had eight grandchildren.