Levi Chibuike Ajuonuma, known as Livi, was a Nigerian academic, journalist, broadcaster, presenter and public relations expert. While in the United States, Ajuonuma had a stint as assistant professor in the Department of Journalism at Keene State College in New Hampshire. He returned finally to Nigeria to take up professional broadcasting engagements at various media channels. He was a veteran radio broadcaster and TV presenter in Nigeria and was well known for hosting a popular Saturday night entertainment programme called the "Open House Party" in Raypower 100.5 FM - a variety show in which he hosted comedians and music acts. Ajuonuma also worked at the Nigerian Television Authority and other channels, where he was the host and executive producer of The Sunday Show, Showtime, and Levi Ajuonuma Live. He was popularly known as "Livi" by his close relatives and friends, whereas Nigerians and the world knew him as the 'image maker' of NNPC, and his journalistic colleagues fondly and popularly called him "Onwa". Before his death on 3 June 2012 in an ill-fated plane crash, Ajuonuma worked as the Group General Manager, Corporate Affairs, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. He was one of the four NNPC staff who lost their lives in the Dana Air Flight 992 crash at Iju-Ishaga of Lagos State. Former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke paid an official emotional tribute to Ajuonuma at a memorial "Service of Songs" held in his honour. Ajuonuma was a controversial figure who was very critical of the Nigeria's oil subsidy programme but revised his critical views when he was later appointed the spokesman and chief image maker of the NNPC to help re-brand its image reputation. He was once 'quoted as saying, "It is easy to criticise when you are outside but when you are inside and know the truth, it is easy to change your view," while defending his initial objection to the controversial fuel subsidy removal.' He was reported in national newspapers in 2012 as resigning his post as Group General Manager of Corporate Affairs of NNPC due to unresolved issues with Nigeria's controversial 'oil subsidies' and widespread corruption by 'cabals' in the NNPC. Ajuonuma, who himself was a journalist, was accused by journalist Luka Binniyat of the Vanguard Newspaper for assaulting him and for vowing to ensure "that any journalist criticising the corporation will be denied entry to the corporate headquarters of the NNPC as long as he is the corporate affairs group general manager of the company."
Early life
Ajuonuma was a native of Ideato South in Imo State but was born in Enugu State where he grew up and had his early educations. He traveled to the United States in 1979 to further his education and received a BA in Communications from Huntington College, Indiana; an MA and PhD in Mass Communications from Minnesota University in 1983 and 1987 respectively; and an MBA from Plymouth State College, New Hampshire, in 1989.
Career
Ajuonuma started his career as a media professional in 1977 with the Imo Broadcasting Service in Owerri, Imo State. He left Nigeria to further his studies in mass communications in United States, where he graduated with a BA, MA and PhD in that field. Before returning to Nigeria after his studies in the US, Ajuonuma was briefly tenured as Assistant Professor of Journalism with the Department of Journalism at Keene State College of the University System of New Hampshire.
Personal life
Ajuonuma, who died in an ill-fated Dana Airlines crash on the 3 June 2012, was laid to rest in his home town in Imo State, and was survived by his wife Josephine Ajuonuma and his eight children.
