The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has described late music icon, Sir Victor Olaiya, as a legend of his time, whose music signposted a great epoch in the history of Nigeria.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister said Sir Olaiya’s death, even at a ripe old age, came as a rude shock, describing the demise of the music legend as a great loss to the creative industry in particular, and the entire country in general
Mohammed said, ”Sir Victor Olaiya’s was not just a musician, but a great patriot, hence it was not a surprise that he played officially when the country became independent in 1960 and when it became a republic in 1963.
”The doyen of highlife music charted a path for many generations of Nigerian musicians, and this great role was not lost on him when he did a ‘collabo’ with 2Face Idibia that was received with much acclaim. It was a symbolic handover of the torch of excellence to the new generation of Nigerian musicians.”
The minister said that the best tribute that can be paid to the memory of the late music legend is for today’s generation of musicians to continue to strive for excellence in their field, even as he extended condolences on behalf of the Federal Government to the family, friends and associates of the late Sir Olaiya, praying God to grant repose to his soul and to comfort the family he left behind
