Amb. Edith ISIDAHOMEN

 

 

Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Oyedamola Akiwowo

 

Some people come into your life and leave a mark that time can never erase. Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Oyedamola Akiwowo was that kind of person to me and to many others.

 

 

I knew him as a peace-loving priest, disciplined and deeply committed to excellence. He respected time and expected the best in everything he did. Yet, beyond all of that, he was jovial, approachable, and genuinely interested in the growth of people around him.

 

As former Editor of the Catholic Weekly Independent Newspaper, and Director of Social Communications in the Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan, he brought innovation and freshness into Catholic media. His work spoke of vision, structure, and a desire to make communication in the Church more effective and impactful.

 

 

My personal encounter with him remains one I will never forget. At a time when I had little or no experience in handling a camera, he asked me to go and cover the funeral of the late Bishop of Ilorin., Late Most Rev. Paul Olawoore. It felt like a big task, one I wasn’t prepared for. But in his usual way, he didn’t just give the assignment—he equipped me. In just one day, he patiently taught me the basics of camera handling. That singular moment has remained a turning point for me, as the knowledge I gained from him continues to be useful till today.

 

 

That was who he was—someone who believed in you, sometimes even before you believe in yourself.

 

He also entrusted me with the responsibility of coordinating the Catholic Artistes and Entertainers Association of Nigeria (CAEAN), Ibadan Archdiocese at a time when it was not even in existence. He called me and encouraged me to make it work. With his guidance, support, and constant prayers, CAEAN in Ibadan became functional and impactful. With his backing, I was also able to organize the association successfully at the provincial level, a journey that eventually led to my appointment as National President of CAEAN.

 

 

His support, encouragement, and prayers were always there—and today, they are greatly missed.

 

 

I still remember vividly when we were at a National CAEAN meeting in Abuja and the news of his passing came. It was shocking. It left all of us distraught. It was one of those moments you wish was not real.

 

 

Rev. Fr. Dr. Anthony Oyedamola Akiwowo was more than a priest to me—he was a mentor, a builder, and a man who invested in people.

 

He is greatly missed, but his legacy lives on in the lives he touched, the people he raised, and the structures he helped to build.

 

 

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.