By Eno-Abasi Sunday

I was in my sophomore year in the Department of Theatre Arts, University of Calabar (UNICAL), when the late Mr Kunle Johnson of the defunct Comet Newspaper introduced me to the late Anietie Bernard Akpan, who was then the state correspondent of The Guardian in Cross River State.

Fresh from a one-year internship at Sunray Newspapers, where the very good-natured Mr Emmanuel Obe held my hand around as my first boss in the journalism world, the very avuncular and affable Akpan, in the course of the interaction that evening somewhere around Target Road/Nelson Mandela Road in Calabar South Local Council of Cross River State, was swift in deciding my fate.

He said: “KJ (referring to Kunle Johnson) said you want to write” to which I answered in the affirmative. “Okay, have you written before?” Again, I answered in the affirmative, adding that I worked under Obe at Sunray for a year.

Obe, who was magnanimous enough to convince the management of Sunray to leave the Cross River Office of the newspaper in my care for a month as he embarked on his annual leave, later on put in a word for me, vouching that I was hardworking and of good conduct while he was away.

Akpan wasted no time in asking me over to the then Goldie Street, Calabar office of The Guardian in 2002, where he instantly threw me into the fray while watching me commence a journey that ultimately led me to the RUTAM House, the corporate home of The Guardian.

Upon the completion of my programme in UNICAL, I observed my mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at the Benin, Edo State office of The Guardian.

As all this went on, Akpan, who also served out his NYSC at the Lagos head office of The Guardian in 1991, followed my trajectory and was highly elated with every promotion that I earned until he retired on August 1, 2023.

A compassionate mentor and gentleman journalist, Akpan’s warm, approachable and down-to-earth demeanour endeared him to the legion that he encountered on and off the job. His irrepressible cheerfulness, non-temperamental nature and lively spirit saw colleagues and associates consistently describe him as an intelligent and humble leader who possessed an extraordinary capacity to listen. This aspect of him saw many young professional colleagues warm up to him.

Affectionately nicknamed “RoRo Chief” within the media community, his work life was unblemished and unquestionable, just as his go-getter work ethic was something that younger professionals would learn from. He was committed to Mother Earth yesterday, having passed away on Sunday, August 2, 2026, following an illness.

Having been retained after his service year by The Guardian, the sociology graduate from the University of Jos was drafted to the Calabar office, where he, through dint of hard work, left an indelible mark on Nigerian society with his deep knowledge of complex national issues, including the Bakassi Peninsula dispute, resource control, oil pollution in the Niger Delta, maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea, child and women’s rights, and social justice, among others. One of his last awards came from Safe Child Africa, a United Kingdom-based non-governmental organisation, in recognition of his work on child witchcraft issues in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

In his 32-year sojourn at the Flagship of Nigerian Press, Akpan grew from a reporter to become the Deputy Bureau Chief (South-South) of The Guardian. Upon his resignation, he co-founded Pillar Today, from where he furthered his journalism career.

Akpan’s indelible mark on Nigerian society as a veteran journalist was unmistakable; hence, the governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, described him as a man of stature whose contributions to journalism and public life would remain indelible.

Otu, in his condolence message conveyed through his Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Linus Obogo, described Akpan as a respected media professional whose passing was a loss to the journalism community, noting that the deceased had made significant contributions to journalism and public discourse.

For the Managing Editor of The Guardian, Chinedum Uwaegbulam, Akpan was a jolly good fellow, whose cheerfulness and kindness made him a joy to be around.

Testifying to the deceased’s long-standing warm nature, he said:  “We served together as youth corps members and lived in the same lodge in the Shomolu area of Lagos State. Those days were filled with laughter, friendship and unforgettable memories. With Anietie around, there was never a dull moment. His warmth, lively spirit and friendly disposition made our time together truly memorable.

“Even when he became Deputy Bureau Chief, South-South, we remained in constant touch and continued to share memorable moments. I particularly recall my visits to Calabar, where we had opportunities to reconnect and reminisce. During one of those visits, he opened up to me about his health challenges. It was a personal moment that brought me closer to him and gave me a deeper understanding of what he was going through.

Uwaegbulam continued: “Besides his professional accomplishments, he was a friend whose warmth and good humour left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. Though he is no longer with us, the beautiful memories of our youth service days, our friendship and our later encounters will remain dear to me. His passing is a painful loss, but the memories we shared will continue to live on.”

In her tribute, the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Comrade Archibong Bassey, wrote: “I am so glad I never stopped letting you know how much I deeply appreciated you for the fatherly role you played in my life.

“When I was bullied in my early years in the practice,  it was you and Mr Bassey Inyang who always came to my rescue.
The many times I would call you even on your sick bed to tell you my troubles, and you would calmly say “mma mma duo odudu.”I am so broken Mr Anietie Ben Akpan.”

A former Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Orok Otu Duke, recounted the sacrifices made by Akpan and his colleagues at the Correspondence Chapel to protect activists and sustain democracy during the military era. He noted that the survival of many politicians, including himself, was directly tied to the bravery of journalists at the time.

To younger reporters, lawyers, and pro-democracy advocates during critical moments in Nigeria’s history, Akpan was an accessible senior colleague who gladly opened doors and offered national platforms to emerging voices.

His integrity, loyalty, and penchant for helping the downtrodden earned him profound respect across professional, civic, and political circles in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and beyond.

This much was captured by legal practitioner, Okoi Obono-Obla, who wrote: “I am saddened and distraught to hear of the death of Anietie Akpan on 3rd August, 2026. He was a distinguished journalist of many years standing in Calabar, Cross River State, in those heydays when journalism was still noble and elitist…When I arrived in Calabar in 1992 to start my law practice in the law firm of Kanu Godwin Agabi, SAN, it was a period when the country was soaked in revolutionary fervour, manifesting in the agitation for a return to democratic civil rule after years of debilitating military dictatorship that had stunted the progress of the country. I decided to be part of the pro-democracy and human rights community at the forefront of the vanguard for change. It was important to forge an alliance and relationship with journalists based in Calabar in order to catch national headlines and get national media coverage for what we were doing in Cross River State. Anietie Akpan, who had already established himself as a senior journalist with The Guardian Newspaper, was one of the journalists I forged a relationship with. He was very willing to reciprocate and to accept a young rookie like me, and whenever I wrote on national issues, he would always accept my press statements, releases and essays and report them in The Guardian. He was a gentleman to the core — cordial, amicable and accessible. He was quiet, humble and kind.”

Obono-Obla’s views resonate with a NUJ Chairman in Cross River State, Omini Oden, who said of Akpan: “Some individuals leave indelible footprints not because of the positions they occupy but due to the values they uphold, the relationships they nurture and the lives they touched in the course of their professional journey. Anietie Ben Akpan is one such individual, a professional ally, a dependable friend and a consummate journalist whose commitment to the noble ideals of journalism deserves recognition and should be celebrated.

“My association with Anietie Ben Akpan transcends the routine interactions of professional colleagues. It is a relationship enriched by shared experiences, mutual respect, and a common appreciation of the critical role journalism plays in shaping public opinion, strengthening democratic institutions and holding leadership accountable. In him, I recognise not only a colleague in the media practice but an ally whose companionship added value to my professional journey and exploits,” said the former Chief Press Secretary to then Governor Liyel Imoke.

“My tribute to Anietie Ben Akpan is, therefore, a sincere expression of appreciation for a professional ally, a cherished friend and a worthy member of journalism and media practice. May the years ahead bring greater fulfilment, renewed opportunities for service and continued accomplishments in the noble enterprise of informing, educating, and enlightening society,” Oden added.

Akpan, who died at 63, is survived by his wife, Imaobong and children.