By Kei Emmanuel Duku
In a powerful call for a shift in cultural priorities, the First Deputy Speaker of the Transitional National Legislative Assembly (TNLA), Ambrose Pitia Lomin, has urged South Sudanese communities to abandon luxurious decorations and lavish funeral feasts in favor of securing the future of grieving families.
Speaking during the final funeral prayers for the late Eye Radio journalist Emmanuel Joseph Akile in Juba over the weekend, the lawmaker criticized the community tendency to prioritize expensive mourning rituals over the long-term welfare of orphans. Akile, a beloved broadcaster known for his work on The Dawn Show, passed away following a surgery at Gudele Hospital in Juba.
Standing before mourners gathered to honor the celebrated journalist, Lomin observed that resources are often misdirected during times of loss. He noted that South Sudanese frequently favor expensive and luxurious decorations at funerals instead of focusing on how to support the children and family left behind. The Deputy Speaker insisted that if the community truly wishes to celebrate Akile’s life, they must shun costly displays to protect the future of the late journalist’s son, Jonathan.
Putting his words into action, Lomin pledged 1,000,000 South Sudanese Pounds toward Jonathan’s education. He highlighted the urgency of this support, noting that schools are set to reopen in February, yet vast sums of money had already been wasted on decorations and buying expensive bulls for slaughter.
Lomin stated that even the Bible does not command such expensive decorations, warning that when the breadwinner such as Emmanuel Joseph Akile and others are gone, children often fail to return to school because the family’s resources were exhausted during the burial rites.
The lawmaker lamented the sheer volume of food wasted during such events, pointing out that sometimes rice and food types are cooked remains uneaten and is eventually poured into the rubbish pit. He challenged mourners to prove they are responsible parents by stopping these lavish practices.
He shared a personal perspective on the issue, revealing that he currently takes care of five children in his own family whose parents died and relatives are now unable to continue supporting their with education and basic amenities.
To ensure Akile’s tremendous contribution to transforming and educating the community is never forgotten, Lomin suggested a lasting physical tribute. He proposed that the feeder road starting from the taxi park opposite Pity Oil in Gudele Block 9, leading through the residential area toward the north, should be named in remembrance of the late journalist.
The commitment to Akile’s family was echoed by Koang Pal Chang, the Station Manager of Eye Radio. Chang informed mourners that before Akile fell ill, he had taken leave specifically to spend quality time with his son. To honor that bond, the management of Eye Radio has pledged to pay Jonathan’s school fees until he completes his secondary education, promising that this commitment will stand regardless of any future changes in station management.
Beyond financial support, Eye Radio has taken step to preserved Akile’s professional legacy within the newsroom. The station has reserved a specific “Emmanuel Joseph Akile corner” and table to honor his editorial, production, and presentation skills. Additionally, the station will launch a fellowship program in his name, offering two to three months of training to help aspiring journalists learn various professional skills.
Similarly, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment and Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani, announced a new national initiative to honor the late broadcaster. Starting this year, CEPO will host the “Emmanuel Joseph Akile” awards every 30th of December. This annual competition will be open to journalists across the country, ensuring that Akile’s name remains synonymous with excellence in South Sudanese journalism for years to come.
Other mourners in attendance also made significant contributions to support the family and the son of the late Emmanuel Joseph Akile. Among them were the Spokesperson of the South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF), Major General Lul Ruai Koang, who contributed three million South Sudanese Pounds, and the Spokesperson of the National Security Service (NSS), David John Kumuri and his collogue who donated pieces of land in the Guri residential area.