NPAN mourns late Iwunanyanwu

The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has joined other stakeholders to morn the death of Chief (Dr) Emmanuel Iwunanyanwu, a frontline businessman and publisher.
NPAN described late Iwunanyanwu as a colossus of no mean repute, whose passage has created a deep void in the nation’s socio-development landscape.
This was disclosed in condolence message from NPAN’s President, Mal Kabiru A. Yusuf, to the Iwunanyanwu’s family, which was addressed to Dr. Nwadiuto Iheakanwa, Group Managing Director, Champion Newspapers.
The state read : “It is with great sadness that we received the news yesterday, of the death of your father, frontline businessman , publisher and an esteemed member of our Association, Chief (Dr.) Emmanuel Iwumanyanwu, the Ahaejiagmba Ndigbo. He was aged 82.
“An engineer by training, Chief Iwunyanwu bestrode the business world leaving an indelible mark in aviation, insurance , road construction, sports and newspapering.
“His venture into the newspaper business with the emergence of Champion Newspapers on October 1, 1988, changed the dynamics of newspapering in the country.
“The paper pioneered colour printing among Nigerian newspapers and was among the first to set the stage for simultaneous printing, as the paper rolled out from presses in Lagos and Owerri, giving readers in the east the experience of reading same news with their Lagos/western counterparts.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu was a sports enthusiast and for a very long time, his football club Iwuanyanwu Nationale, rode the crest of competitive football locally and challenged for trophies on the continent.”
It continued: “”We are consoled by the enviable legacies he left as a solid politician, frontline businessman and a patriot .
“On behalf of the Executive Council of our esteemed Association, we commiserate with you and your entire family .
“We pray that the Almighty God, will console and uphold each and everyone of you.”