Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has described the death of veteran journalist Lai Olarewaju as a great loss to the Kwara media community.

In a statement issued by his Press Officer on Local Matters, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, Saraki expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the former Kwara State correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, describing it as shocking, painful, and a significant loss to journalism in the state and beyond.

Saraki, the Waziri Ngeri of Ilorin, said the late Olarewaju was a dedicated, diligent, and professional journalist who discharged his duties with integrity and contributed immensely to the growth of journalism in Kwara State.

He extended his condolences to the deceased's immediate family, the Kwara State Correspondents' Chapel, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kwara State Council, and media practitioners across the state, praying that God grants him eternal rest and gives his family and colleagues the strength to bear the loss.

Meanwhile, the Kwara State Correspondents' Chapel of the NUJ, led by its Chairman, Biola Azeez, also announced the journalist's death on its platform, describing him as a committed and dutiful professional who worked tirelessly to promote unity within the Chapel and the NUJ Council in the state.

In a statement issued by the Chapel's Secretary, Mosunmola Ayobami, the association said:

"It is with a heavy heart, but in total submission to the will of "Almighty God, that we announce the death of a committed elder and former chairman of the Correspondents' Chapel, Comrade Lai Olarewaju."

The statement disclosed that Olarewaju died at a private hospital after a brief illness.

It added that his commitment, unifying spirit, and wealth of experience in journalism would be sorely missed, while praying for divine comfort for his family, associates, and friends.