The Nigerian aviation and media communities have been thrown into mourning following the passing of Mrs. Shola Oluremi Adekola, a highly respected journalist and Assistant Business and Aviation Editor at the Nigerian Tribune.
She passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, after a brief illness. She was 61 years old.
Fondly known as “Madam Sholly,” Adekola was a trailblazer in aviation journalism, with a career spanning decades across Nigeria’s leading newspapers.
Born into an academic family, she was the daughter of the late Professor Morakinyo Omole and Mrs. Funmilayo Omole and spent her early years in the esteemed University of Ibadan (UI) community.
She later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Studies from UI in 1988.
Her passion for aviation led her to the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, where she undertook extensive professional training between 1993 and 2023, specializing in aviation reporting, advanced training for image makers, and aviation management.
Beyond her education, Adekola was widely traveled, attending numerous international conferences on aviation and tourism across Europe, America, the Middle East, and Africa.
Until her passing, she was the distinguished writer behind Crucial Moment, a widely read aviation and business column published every Thursday in the Nigerian Tribune.
Adekola’s journalism career began in 1993, when she was assigned to the aviation beat by the Kano State Government-owned Triumph Newspaper.
Over the years, she worked with Hallmark, Daily Times, Reuters, and eventually the Nigerian Tribune, where she rose through the ranks from Proofreader to Sub-Editor, Correspondent, and finally, Assistant Business and Aviation Editor.
Her dedication to the profession also extended to her active involvement with the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents (LAAC), which she joined in 1993. Over the years, she served in various leadership roles, including Assistant Secretary, Secretary, and Vice Chairman.
With her passing, Nigeria has lost a veteran journalist, a mentor to many, and a respected voice in aviation reporting. Her legacy in the industry will not be forgotten.
