FOREMOST JOURNALIST IS DEAD!

Lagos was hit very hard this morning when news of ace veteran sports journalist, Toyin Makanju’s demise made the rounds. The news has indeed been confirmed by close family circles. Toyin Makanju AKA Makinson who attended Mayflower College in Ikenne, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, joined the foremost Nigerian newspaper, the Daily Times on completion of his secondary school education. He worked for many years at the Daily Times under the expert tutelage of leading Nigerian sports journalists, Cyril Kappo (Ceekay) and Jibade Fashina-Thomas (Jabi), two of Nigeria’s best known and iconic sports writers.

Toyin Makanju, by dint of hard work, love of sports and meticulous attention to details, climbed up the ladder of success and became the Sports Editor of both the Evening Times and Daily Times of Nigeria. He, in turn, saw to the training of able and proficient up and coming writers like Trigo Egbegi who has since proved his mettle as a refined and prodigious sports writer.

Toyin, a most affable and gregarious fellow, managed a mini club and restaurant at his Oshinkalu Close, Surulere residence which witnessed a beehive of activities sometimes till 5am and the night crowd of Lagos always visited the joint. He was married to a lovely bishop’s daughter who bore him several children. His marriage, many decades ago, was almost marred by an incident caused by a claim in the church by late Ms Enitan Alakija who alleged that she was legally married to Toyin Makanju and attempted to put the wedding asunder. This was proved to be false and Toyin and his wife were consequently joined in holy matrimony. Toyin, who is from the highly regarded and respected Makanju family of Lagos is believed to have been afflicted either with leukaemia or severe arthritis which had affected his hands, his legs and his head. He was aged 65.