“The passage of time must never diminish the value we place on a human life….”
Forty years ago today, on 19 October 1986, Dele Giwa was killed by a parcel bomb at his home in Lagos.
Today, we remember the journalist, the friend and the family man whose life was so violently cut short. We remember, too, the shock of that day and the loss felt by his family, the journalism profession and the nation.
This anniversary invites us to reflect on the courage it takes to ask difficult questions and the importance of protecting the freedom to do so.
Lawyers and journalists share a responsibility to question the exercise of power and to help give voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. Our professions serve the public best when we discharge that responsibility with courage, integrity and care.
As we honour his memory, we reaffirm our commitment to freedom of expression and the dignity and safety of those who inform our society.
Forty years on, Dele Giwa’s life and work remain worthy of remembrance. The passage of time must never diminish the value we place on a human life or our resolve to uphold these principles.
May his soul continue to rest in peace. Amen.
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN,FCIArb
President, Nigerian Bar Association
