Anambra State To Give NUJ Former Chairman Tochukwu Udoji-Omelu A Befitting Burial

Late Tochukwu Udoji -Omelu in the middle behind the flag with members of NUJ Anambra council in one of her public outing.

Anambra state government yesterday announced that the late former Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) , Comrade Tochukwu Udoji-Omelu would be given a befitting burial. 

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism , Chief Joe Martins Uzodike announced this when a delegation of the union paid him a courtesy call to officially inform the state government of Udoji-Omelu’s death and preparations for her burial. He reminded that Tochukwu supported the government and endeared herself to the state while in office as Chairman of NUJ.

Uzodike , a lawyer described late Tochukwu as selfless , hardworking and pledged the support of the state government in giving her a befitting burial. He assured that Governor Willie Obiano although from grape vine heard about Tochukwu’s death but would now have the information officially.

He lamented that the N5 Million approved by the former Governor, Chief Peter Obi for travel and treatment expenses abroad for the late NUJ chairman was not assessed by the family despite that they were informed to make every arrangement to take her abroad for treatment.

He further informed that the state government visited late Tochukwu on her sick bed at her home town Onitsha and provided N500,000 to her husband to enable them prepare for her treatment abroad only for the husband to call him three weeks later that Tochukwu was dead.

He said the state is saddened by her death as the state was prepared to do everything it could to save her life but said the only thing the state would do now is to give her a befitting burial probably using the money budgeted for her treatment.

Uzodike said Tochukwu’s last visit to his office was to speak on behalf of National Light and ABS staff for their pension and gratuity which after she left got a favourable nod from  the state government as a committee was set up to look into the situation with the committee giving a nod to her proposal.

He expressed the sympathy of the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano to the late Tochukwu’s family and NUJ for the irreparable lost.      

Chairman Anambra state NUJ, Comrade Henry Nwasike who led the delegation said the Union decided to inform the state government officially about former council chairman, Tochukwu Udoji-Omelu’s death and thanked the state government for the interest they showed in her health although she lost the battle.

Nwasike informed that a committee has been set up led by the Secretary of NUJ , Princess Ify Anumba ,JP to galvanize support for the burial and prayed for their support .

Former Council chairman , Dom Ekpunobi expressed gratitude of the union to the state government and especially Uzodike for doing to late Tochukwu what no other government did to any journalists but reminded that Tochukwu really supported the government and worked hard to actualize feats nobody was able to do in the union by attracting a befitting press center for the union.