Rev. Fr. John Loboka Morris presiding over the memorial service for late Emmanuel Joseph Akile - Photo credit: Eye Radio

A Catholic priest presiding over the memorial service for the late senior Eye Radio journalist, Emmanuel Joseph Akile, has described him as a champion whose voice inspired thousands of listeners across the country.

Rev. Fr. John Loboka Morris said Akile was a dedicated journalist whose pursuit for truth was unmatched.

“Brothers and sisters in Christ, praised be Jesus Christ. We gather this afternoon, we gather today to bid farewell to a man whose voice was a daily companion to thousands who listened to the radio. Emmanuel Joseph Akile was more than just a journalist,” he said.

Emphasising the important role of journalists in society, Fr. Loboka said when the voice of a journalist falls silent, the silence feels even louder.

The priest made the remarks during the memorial service held in Gudele, attended by Eye Radio staff, Akile’s family, government officials, members of the diplomatic community and the media fraternity.

Akile, who presented Eye Radio’s Sundown Show for over a decade, died on December 30, 2025, at a hospital in Gudele after a short illness.

Another memorial service is also underway in his home town of Wau in Western Bahr El Ghazal State.