The Nigeria Football Federation has lamented the death of sports broadcasting icon, “Fabio” Lanipekun on Sunday 6th March, describing it as ‘most sorrowful’.
Real name, Adesola Lanipekun, the celebrated sportscaster was 80 years old only four days before his demise.
NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said: ‘To read about the death of Mr Fabio Lanipekun, only days after we celebrated him for reaching the landmark 80 years, was a painful thing. It was hard to believe. We all read the history of how he blazed the trail in sports broadcasting starting from his time at the WNTV (Western Nigeria Television) in Ibadan, and his distinguished and stellar career at the Nigeria Television Authority.
‘He was an oracle of the industry. We are consoled by the fact that he lived an exemplary, fruitful and fun-filled life. He was a professional to the core and loved his job deeply. We pray that God will grant him eternal rest and grant the family he has left behind the fortitude to bear the big loss’.
Lanipekun studied sports journalism at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London, United Kingdom and returned home to work with the sports desk of WNTV, which he headed.
From that station that pioneered television broadcasting in Nigeria, he moved on to the Nigeria Television Authority, where he attended countless international championships and games before retiring as Manager, Sports of Nigeria’s leading broadcasting house.
