I really miss you, Solkem.
Words will always fall short in describing this painful and irreversible loss. Death came too soon, and it snatched away a brother, a friend, a mentor, and a media colossus whose footprints will remain indelible on the sands of Nigerian journalism.
Our paths crossed 23 years ago during a special project for Ikeja Local Government. That project was meant to be a one-time assignment, but God had other plans. From that day, a bond was formed that grew stronger with time. What started as professional collaboration became brotherhood.
Solkem, you were not just a colleague in the media. You were family. In the last 23 years, we laughed together, planned together, struggled together, and celebrated together. You opened doors for many of us and you never made us feel small. That was the kind of man you were big in vision, but humble in heart.
One of the greatest lessons I learnt from you was your signature counsel: “Sunday, Trust Nobody.” When you first said it, I laughed. But over the years, I understood the wisdom in it. You said it not out of bitterness, but out of experience. You had seen the media terrain, you had mentored people, you had built people, and you knew how the game was played. That single statement has kept me going. It has guided my steps, my decisions, and my relationships in this industry. Even now that you are gone, your voice still echoes in my head.
As the Publisher of Access Weekly Magazine you redefined celebrity and society journalism. You gave the magazine a voice, a face, and a standard. Under your leadership, Access Weekly became a brand that people respected. You had an eye for stories, an eye for talent, and an eye for excellence. You believed that journalism should not only inform but also inspire and celebrate people who are doing great things.
As the Convener of the Nigeria Media Nite Awards, you created a platform that honoured hard work in the media industry. You believed that journalists, publishers, and media entrepreneurs deserved to be celebrated too. Through that award, you put smiles on faces, you gave recognition to the unseen, and you raised the bar for media professionalism in Nigeria. That legacy will outlive all of us.
Solkem, you were a man of loyalty. Once you called someone your brother, you stood by them. You were generous with your knowledge. You picked calls at odd hours to guide younger ones. You corrected without insulting. You challenged without tearing down. You were tough on the outside but very soft on the inside. That was why people loved you, even when you were firm.
It is painful to remember that you are no more. The last conversations we had, the last jokes we shared, the last plans we made — they now feel like memories I must hold tightly. I keep asking, “Why now? Why so soon?” But I know that God’s ways are not our ways.
Brother, you fought well. You served the media industry well. You served your family well. You served your friends well. You lived a life of impact, and that is what matters.
Today, the media space feels emptier without you. _Access Weekly_ will miss its visionary. Nigeria Media Nite Awards will miss its convener. Your colleagues will miss your counsel. I will miss your calls, your banter, and your brotherly love.
But I take solace in this: you lived. You impacted lives. You left a legacy. And we who are left behind must run with the baton you handed to us.
Solkem, my brother, I will always miss you. Sleep well in the bosom of the Lord. May God grant your family, your team at Access Weekly and all of us in the media the fortitude to bear this great loss.
Until we meet again on resurrection morning, rest on, great publisher and icon.
Your Friend and Brother,
Sunday Adeyemi
Publisher, Society Herald Magazine and Online
