The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has raised and presented N5.01 million to the family of its late former Chairman, Comrade Patrick Osaretin Osadebamwen, as a dedicated Trust Fund for the education and welfare of his three children.
The fund, raised through voluntary contributions from 265 members of the Council, was formally presented to the family on Tuesday, September 8, 2026,at Council’s Secretariat in Abuja.
The ceremony was attended by members of the NUJ FCT Council Executive, Chapel Chairmen and their executives, former and serving union leaders, as well as other stakeholders who gathered to honour the memory of the late journalist and support his bereaved family.
Speaking at the presentation, the NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, represented by the Vice Chairman, Comrade Yahaya Ndambabo, expressed gratitude to God for the successful and peaceful interment of the late Osadebamwen.
She said the Council had remained closely involved with the family since the tragedy, adding that the decision to establish the Trust Fund was borne out of the need to provide lasting support for the late Chairman’s children.
According to her, a total of N5,010,000 had been contributed by 265 members as of September 7, 2026.
Ike stressed that the money was not a general donation but a dedicated Trust Fund meant strictly for the children’s education and welfare.
She called for the transparent and responsible administration of the fund, urged that the money be preserved and applied solely to the purpose for which it was raised.
Presenting the dummy cheque on behalf of the Council, Ndambabo commended Mrs Sarah Augustine, the younger sister of the late Chairman and family representative, for the care and support she had continued to provide for the children.
He acknowledged the sacrifices she made while their parents were alive and urged her to continue providing love, guidance and support to the children, particularly following the earlier loss of their mother and the subsequent death of their father.
Responding, Augustine expressed profound appreciation to the NUJ FCT Council and its members for the gesture, saying the union had demonstrated that it would not abandon the family of its former leader in their time of need.
She confirmed that the family had been notified of the payment of N5,010,000 into the designated account, while the dummy cheque was presented during the ceremony.
Augustine pledged that the fund would be properly utilised for the education and welfare of the three children.
The initiative further underscored the spirit of solidarity within the NUJ, demonstrating that the union’s responsibility to its members and their families extends beyond the workplace, particularly in moments of tragedy and need.
The Trust Fund is expected to provide continued support for the children and preserve the legacy of the late Osadebamwen, who served the NUJ FCT Council as Chairman.
