The governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has expressed his deepest condolences to the Saro Wiwa family, the people of Rivers State, and Nigerians on the sudden and tragic passing of Ken Wiwa , the eldest son of the renowned environmentalist, Ken Saro-Wiwa. He was 47.
Ken Wiwa was a celebrated journalist, author, and environmentalist who continued his father’s legacy of questioning the environmental devastation of his native Ogoni land and other Niger Delta communities.
In 2005 he was chosen by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. Ken also served on the Africa Advisory Council of the Prince of Wales Rainforest Project, as part of his commitment to global environmental stewardship.
As a journalist, Ken Wiwa had worked with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and his journalism had appeared in The Guardian in the UK, the Washington Post, New York Times,National Geographic and other global media platforms.
In 2002, Ken Wiwa’s memoir, In the Shadow of a Saint, won the Hurston-Wright Award for nonfiction.
Ken Wiwa worked in different roles as Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Umaru Yar’ Adua, and President Goodluck Jonathan.
Governor Wike described the late Ken as a “an emerging giant who has been snatched by death in his prime”.
The governor praised the departed Ken for his contributions to a better world, adding that “Rivers State has lost an illustrious son”.
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