At his home in Agenebode, Estako East local government area of Edo State, Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications and owner of AIT and Raypower, was put to rest.
Dokpesi passed away on May 29 at the age of 71 after falling while exercising on a treadmill machine to get better from an unexplained ailment. Family members, close friends, sympathizers, and locals of Agenebode paid their respects to the late media magnate and shed tears as they attended his burial at 4:35 p.m.
Prominent politicians that attended the funeral included Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, and Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State.
The funeral liturgy was performed on the school’s open field in Agenebode, and the burial took place at his house later.
The late Dokpesi epitomized humility, according to the Bishop of Auchi Diocese, Rev. Gabriel Dunia, in his homily. According to Dunia, Dokpesi donated to charities throughout his life.
“As they say, a multitude of sins are covered by kindness. He stood in for charity, turned from his sin, and returned to stand alongside his creator.
We must utilize this opportunity, wherever we are, to turn back to God. He declared that even in death, he will continue to do good via his medium; therefore, we must carry on his charitable efforts because the dead can no longer do good.
Shaibu claimed that the late Dokpesi was a bold leader who did not hesitate to “speak truth to power.” You cannot discuss the media in Nigeria or the rest of Africa now without bringing up Dokpesi.
Other notables who attended the gathering to say goodbye to the media mogul were Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Bola Tinubu; Ifeanyi Okowa, a senator from Edo North; Adams Oshiomhole, the former minority leader of the House of Representatives; Ndidi Elumelu; Francis Alimikhena; and Mike Ogiadomhe, a former chief of staff to President Goodluck Jonathan.
Dokpesi’s family held a memorial service for the late owner of DAAR Communications on Tuesday in Abuja.
Dignitaries, including former president Goodluck Jonathan, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for president in the most recent general election, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki, and former governor of Delta State James Ibori, were present at the ceremony.
When he lost the 2015 presidential election, Dokpesi encouraged Jonathan that “there was life after the election,” Jonathan stated at the ceremony.
Atiku said that due to the deceased’s concern for and dedication to the advancement of Nigeria, they had been friends for more than 40 years. Dokpesi, a maritime engineer, founded AIT in 1996 and Raypower, Nigeria’s first private radio station, in 1994. In October, he would have turned 72 years old.
