President, Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ), Alhasan Yahya Abdullahi, 2006 CNN African journalist of the year and former Managing Director of Sun Publishing, Shola Oshunkeye, and 1999 CNN African Journalist of the year and Queen of Apomu Kingdom, Olori Janet Afolabi, were among Nigerians who paid tributes to the late founder of CNN Ted Turner.

Turner, who pioneered 24-hour network that revolutionized television news, died on Wednesday peacefully, surrounded by his family. He was aged 87.

To Abdullahi, ‘Turner gave Nigerians and other Africans the platform to showcase their talents. We sympathise with his family. We hope the legacy he left behind will be sustained.’

Oshunkeye said: “He was a trailblazer and phenomenal goal getter. In 2006 when I won the CNN African journalist of the year, I was hosted in Atlanta for a month. Turner also hosted me. He was a fabulous human being.”

He recounted the beautiful moments he had with former president Olusegun Obasanjo. It is a big loss journalism but he left a great legacy.’

On her part, Afolabi recounted, ‘on February 11th, 1999, l received a letter from Turner Broadcasting System saying ” Congratulations, on behalf of CNN International l would like to inform you that you submission has been selected as one of the winning entries in this year’s CNN African Journalist of the Year Competition”

Afolabi, who is also the founder of Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation (OJAF), added, ‘out of excitement, l screamed with a loud voice that attracted colleagues from their offices. Ted Turner legacy is not just CNN. He gave African Journalists a seat at the global table and made their work celebrated at global stage.

For thousands of African Journalists that award was a turning point. It opened doors to international platforms, boosted credibility and confidence. That is a legacy worth honouring.’

The Ohio-born Atlanta businessman, nicknamed “The Mouth of the South” for his outspoken nature, built a media empire that encompassed cable’s first superstation and popular channels for movies and cartoons, plus professional sports teams like the Atlanta Braves.

Turner was also an internationally known yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States.

He even created the Captain Planet cartoon to educate kids about the environment.

In 1991, Turner was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year for “influencing the dynamic of events and turning viewers in 150 countries into instant witnesses of history.”