The late Dr. Levi Chibuike Ajuonuma was born on 2nd December 1959 in Enugu, although he hailed from Ideato South in Imo State. He was married with children.

Ajuonuma had his early education in Enugu before proceeding to the United States of America for further studies.
Ajuonuma was for many years host of the popular Saturday night programme, ‘Open House Party’ – a variety entertainment show which hosted mostly comedians and music acts on Ray Power FM.

He was also host and executive producer of the equally popular ‘The Sunday Show’, ‘Levi Ajuonoma live’ and ‘Showtime’ on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and other channels.

Ajuonoma commenced his career in 1977 as an announcer with Imo Broadcasting Service (IBS) in Owerri, Imo State. He left IBS in 1979 for Huntington College, Indiana, USA, where he bagged a Bachelor of Arts in Communications.

Dr Levi Ajuonuma

He later got a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mass Communication from the University of Minnesota in 1983 and 1987 respectively. He also got an MBA from Plymouth State College of the University System of New Hampshire two years later.

Before returning to Nigeria, he worked briefly as Assistant Professor at the Department of Journalism, Keene State College of the University System of the State of New Hampshire.

Apart from Ajuonuma, the plane crash also also claimed the lives of two Army generals, the son of former Vice President Augustus Aikhomu, among others.

Tribute:
Diezani Alison-Madueke –
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has paid an emotional tribute to the departed spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, and 3 other staff of the Corporation who died in the ill-fated Dana Airlines Flight 0992 crash in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos at the weekend.

The Minister who led the Permanent Secretary in her Ministry, Goni Sheikh; NNPC GMD, Austen Oniwon; senior officials of the Petroleum Ministry and other NNPC top management to sign the condolence register at the NNPC Towers today described the incident as “extremely tragic” to the nation.

“This is indeed a sad time for us as a nation. Our hearts and prayers are with the families of all the deceased. The Lord will give them strength to bear this irreparable loss,” the Minister, who was visibly shaken, wrote in the condolence register.

Speaking particularly on Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, Mrs. Alison-Madueke added: “He was a consummate professional to the core. We thank God for Levi’s life and for the impact he had on the lives of so many people. May his gentle soul rest in peace.”

The Minister also prayed God to give his family the protection, guidance and grace to get through this most painful of periods. “May god keep Levi in the bosom of his everlasting grace,” she added.

Three other NNPC staff also lost their lives in the tragic event. They include Manager, Pipelines and Depot Projects, ETD, Olukayode Okikiolu; DM, PSC Planning, NAPIMS, Inusa Ahmed-Abba (who also lost his son in the inferno) and Senior Contract Specialist on Secondment to Brass LNG, Nagidi Ibrahim.

Also, Lanre Fatokun, a Transformation Officer recently transferred from NETCO to Abuja lost his wife and two kids as a result of the air mishap. A former GGM ETD, Dr (Mrs.) Somolu also lost her daughter following the ill-fated crash.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke had earlier paid a condolence visit to the family of Dr Levi Ajuonuma at his Opebi residence in Lagos. She also paid a condolence visit to the families of Inusa-Ahmed-Abba and Ibrahim Nagidi in Abuja.

Alison-Madueke remarked that, “It has been a very dark time in our nation’s history. It’s even darker for us as the Ministry of Petroleum family. We pray God to keep their families close at this time, granting them grace and solace in everything.”

Some members of the NNPC top management were also on ground to pay tribute to their departed colleagues. GED Gas & Power, Dr David Ige wrote on Dr Levi Ajuonuma condolence register: “We lost our voice. May your soul rest in peace.”