Mr. Lawrence ATIASE, former Chief Executive Officer of the AUB

The President of the African Union of Broadcasting, Mrs. Keitirele Mathapi, regrets to announce the passing of Mr. Lawrence ATIASE, former Chief Executive Officer of the AUB which occurred on the 8th of April 2020 in Dakar, Senegal after a short-term illness. On this sad occasion, the President, the Management, the AUB Staff and all the communicators of Africa address to the family their heartfelt condolences.

To pay tribute, please visit: https://www.uar-aub.org/hommages-a-mr-atiase

On behalf of the World Broadcasting Unions and the North America Broadcasters Association, Head of Secretariat Michael McEwen had the following to say:

Lawrence was a leader in bringing African broadcasters together and sharing their issues with his colleagues around the world. His gift was finding a consensus on shared issues and then implementing that consensus to the benefit of all AUB members. Under his leadership, the AUB became an important contributor to the interests and well-being of its broadcast membership. Lawrence wasn’t shy about sharing these initiatives with his colleagues in the WBU and working with them to find a global consensus on mutually shared broadcast issues and then implanting that consensus in the context of his own region.

Marshall McLuhan, a famous Canadian media philosopher, noted more than fifty years ago that as communications shrunk our globe it was crucial that we all need to “Think Globally and Act Locally”. I think this describes the very essence of Lawrence and his lasting contributions to our industry.

Our hearts and sympathy are with his wife, daughters, extended family, friends and colleagues. Lawrence’s accomplishments will be remembered, and Lawrence will be remembered by all who he touched.