By Etete Enideneze, a Mentee
Everyone has a role to play in society. But, identifying the area of calling, preparing towards it, resilience, and above all, God’s grace are vital determinants of an impactful career.
From Ekpetiama Kingdom, along the River Nun, where renowned creative minds and great writers, such as Dr. Gabriel Okara and King Christian Otobotekere (all of blessed memories) emerged, equally came Elder Union Oyadongha, a renowned journalist .and publisher.
Born August 18, 1953, to the families of Oyandongha of Ayainbiri Compound and Seitiri Weke of Ubabiri Compound, all of Gbarantoru-Ekpetiama in present day Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Union’s destiny was discernable.
The auspicious environment of Ekpetiama; the River Nun providing a cozy atmosphere for literary musing and the presence of Okara and Otobotekere, ignited young Union Oyadongha’s interest in writing.
He developed interest in the arts subjects, especially English Language and Literature in English, during his early education. The foundation was laid at Ekpetiama Group School, where he had primary education from 1962 to 1971, and earned First School Leaving Certificate. Bishop Dimieari Grammar School (BDGS), Yenagoa, which he attended from 1971 to 1975 and obtained West African School Certificate, further nurtured him for his future career exploits.
While in BDGS, he admired news reports and articles in the Nigerian Tide, written by ace writers, including a young reporter, Mr. Tonghan Fiobode, to whom he was a fan, and got inspired to choose journalism as a career.
As fate would have it, he and Tonghan became colleagues, when he was employed by the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of Nigerian Tide, in 1975, as facilitated by his uncle, Chief B.N.S Weke (of blessed memory).
While on the job, the then Rivers State Government sponsored his professional education at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Ogba, Lagos. He obtained a Diploma in Journalism from the NIJ. He later undertook other professional development courses to enhance his career.
Oyadongha was an active member of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), and Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
In the career that spanned 21 years at the Nigerian Tide, Oyadongha began as a proof reader, a position he said gave him ample opportunity to learn grammar and newspaper work.
His brilliant performance as a proof reader, for about seven years, earned him the position of sub-editor, providing another opportunity for mastering the art of journalism and editing. After about eight years, he was promoted to the rank of Senior Sub-editor in 1988, and later as Production Editor, for four years.
Elder Oyandongha was one of the best in the complex aspects of newspaper work, especially manual page planning, layout and design, while working in the Nigerian Tide. He was also widely known in media circles as one of the best in these aspects, in both Rivers State and Bayelsa State, until when digital media technologies eased newspaper production.
Oyadongha’s progressive career in the Nigerian Tide ended in 1996, following mass retrenchment of workers in the Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, a trend common in government-owned media in those days.
He and other affected colleagues, with the support of the NUJ and other labour unions fought to return to work. But, the Rivers State Government did not yield to the demand.
However, the agitation led by Union Oyadongha, sensitized media workers in government employ, to demand for integration of their remuneration into the mainstream of the civil service, as well as pension benefits, to protect their jobs.
The demand was also a ploy to reintegrate Bayelsans laid off in Nigerian Tide, into the media organs of the new state, to enable them earn pension, but it did not materialize.
However, the Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha’s administration integrated serving media practitioners in the state’s outfits into civil service remuneration and pension system.
Equipped with the right training and experience cognitive and theoretical knowledge of print journalism, Oyadongha was undeterred.
In 1996, he became Production Editor in the powerful Independent Monitor tabloid, established by Mr. Evans Osi (of blessed memory), in Port-Harcourt.
Later In the same year, 1996, Oyadongha set up his own newspaper, Banner News, under the stable of Banner Printing and Publishing Company, headquartered in Port-Harcourt, with branch office opposite Ekeki Park, Yenagoa. He brought on board, his colleagues, such as Sabinus Alanwoke, Edward Alyemen (now late), Wellington Johnson (may his soul rest in peace); Kenisuoemei Soo; Jerry Needam; Loveday Herbert; Nnamdi Nwozuzu (pseudonym) and others affected by the retrenchment in Nigerian Tide, to support his newspapering mission.
The newspaper’s Editorial Board was chaired by Pikinipi Kayman, who steered editorial policy decisions, while Ipalibo Karibi-Botoyo Esquire provided legal advice to guide the publication, and respond to litigation threats.
Soon after creation of Bayelsa State, he moved the head office to Yenagoa, which was a fecund ground for journalism practice, and media enterprise.
In Banner News newspaper, Elder Oyadongha the fearless journalist doubled as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, and sustained the paper from inception until his demise.
With a public service-oriented motto, “Mouth piece of the people”, Banner news was one of the pioneers of the press in Bayelsa State. It served as a viable channel for dissemination of news, education and entertainment content. The newspaper provided a platform for government-public communication and corporate publicity, community journalism, as well as public opinion.
Banner news and other pioneer tabloids in Bayelsa State, notably Ijaw Express, Izon Link, Environment Watch and Atlantic Express, competed healthily in playing these mass communication roles, right from when there were no government-owned, nor national media presence in the state. They did so audaciously throughout the military era, and to era of the first civilian governor, Chief Alamieyeseigha. The Alamieyeseigha’s administration supported them with grants, in order to harness benefits of an indigenous press for state development.
Alamieyeseigha also donated printing machine and rented office for common use by the local publishers under the aegis of Bayelsa Indigenous Publishers Association (BIPA), which Union Oyadongha was pioneer president. The financial grant started by Alamieyeseigha was continued by subsequent administrations, up to the time of Chief Timipre Sylva’s era.
Banner news under Oyadongha was reputed for consistently discharging its sacred journalistic obligations. The newspaper maintained standards in aesthetics; grammar, and adhered to law and ethics of journalism. It stood out in truthful, objective and factual reportage, analyses, investigative journalism, critical editorials, feedback, agenda setting, crystallization of public opinion, and spoke truth to power.
In line with social responsibility, development and democratic participant theories of mass communication, Banner News under the watch of Oyadongha, provided access to all class of persons; served public interest; conveyed government policies and programmes and mobilized participation in public affairs and development processes.
He balanced attack journalism with community and development journalism, for society’s good.
Banner News uncompromisingly reported and analysed issues affecting Ijaws, Bayelsa State and Niger Delta in Nigeria’s skewed federalism, amid the exploitation of crude oil and gas and the inherent environmental devastation.
Besides these accomplishments, a number of crack journalists, editors and publishers within and outside Bayelsa, including Samuel Ese, Jones Abiri, and Etete Enideneze, whom he discovered in 1996, grew from his mentorship.
Oyadongha’s media enterprise was not without tough moments. He was occasionally harassed by law enforcement agents, on false allegations. He was also occasionally threatened with libel suits, by those the paper exposed for wrong doings. Yet he remained irrepressible in the interest of the public.
Although he sustained the newspaper, financial constraint common in the industry, and disruptions by social media which have brought about bloggers, and migration of most audience-members and advertisers to online platforms, posed challenges to his business.
Two fire incidents that gut the newspaper’s Ekeki office, were sad moments for him, even though he bounced back to continue publishing.
A motor accident he had, during routine journalism work, affected his limbs; later he battled with other ailments.
Given his communication experience, he was appointed as a member of the Bayelsa State Rumour Management Committee by the then Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, when the administration became apprehensive of the destructive impact of rumour mongering. The committee, and a proposed law fizzled out, due to widespread public criticism, anchored on suspected gagging of free speech and public opinion.
In his private life, he participated in communal activities at home and in Port-Harcourt, where he spent most of his youthful years. For instance, he was pioneer President of Gbarantoru Youths Organization in Port Harcourt, as well as Chairman of Gbarantoru Action Committee for Development (GACD).
He was a footballer and wrestler of delight to spectators on his community pitch and Ojukwu Field at Nsukka/Afikpo in Port-Harcourt.
The prolific print journalist and publisher, Union Oyadongha, died on December 13, 2025, at 72, despite series of medical efforts to maintain his failing health.
He is survived by Mrs. Kate Toinpiri, a staff of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yenagoa; eight children – four boys, four girls; and many relatives, too numerous to mention.
Funeral of the late Elder Union Oyadongha began on November 10, with a Service of Songs and Evening of Tributes held at his Ekeki-Epie residence, Off Osiri Road.
His Funeral Service to be officiated by Foundation Faith Church, holds tomorrow, November 13, at Gbarantoru Auditorium, followed by interment. A traditional wake featuring Ogodoru Obaka, aka, The Music Dynamite, holds at same venue. The funeral ends November 15, with a Thanksgiving Service at the Foundation Faith Church, Osiri Road.
As professional colleagues, relatives and others join the bereaved families to give the last respects to the veteran journalist and publisher, the call is on government, and media professional organisations to immortalize Elder Union Oyadongha. The call is pertinent, considering his pioneering journalistic roles in Bayelsa State, and services to the old Rivers State.
Adieu, Elder Union Oyadongha, seasoned journalists and publisher, adieu. Rest perfectly in the Lord’s bosom.