Tari Joshua (1975-2019)

Tari Joshua was widely known as a reputable sports reporter and presenter, who imparted the media industry of Nigeria.

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Journalist

Tari Joshua, in full Tariolate Sisei Joshua, was from Okpoama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state. He was known for anchoring long-running, influential news programs. In the 2000s, he became famous and was a beloved sports reporter/presenter.  

Who was Tari Joshua?

Tari Joshua was widely known as a reputable sports reporter and presenter, who imparted the media industry of Nigeria. An Economics graduate that delved into the media industry with passion and he conquered the profession. He was a notable personality on the TV screen. From 2001, Tari Joshua a Port Harcourt boy was in the limelight as he anchored topnotch TV programs for the African Independence Television (AIT), Abuja.

Frankly, he also contributed towards the development of the media space of Bayelsa state as he featured  once as the General Manager of the Yenagoa station. Besides his insatiable commitment on the TV media, he was a notable benefactor and saving grace to many helpless souls and therefore he became a bosom friend to motley people irrespective of their tribe or faith.

Pushing the media barriers to enviable heights was his dream and somewhat he conquered. In 2019, Tari Joshua unexpectedly passed on at the age 44.

Parents/Birth 

Tariolate Sisei Joshua was born on January 24th, 1975 at the Iragha Maternity, Ndoki Estate, Port Harcourt to the family of predeceased Joshua Sieri of Omota and Osainta families and Mrs Dimiebi Joshua of Arusaigha and Kiente families all in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa state.

Education

The young Tari Joshua as fondly called began his primary education at Fatima Nursery and Primary school and later finished at UPE Model Primary school, Borokiri from 1978 to 1986. In that same year, he gained admission into the prestigious Air force Military school, Jos and obtained his West African school certificate in 1993.

Tari’s quest for higher education took him to University of Port Harcourt where he studied Economics and graduated with a Second Class Upper Division. As a growing child, Tari had always wanted to be a Military officer or a Cop (Policeman) which endeared him into attending the Jos Air Force Military School.

Journalist Career

Unknown to him that God had something different in stock for him. His crave for early independence from his parents took him to Abuja where he started out his prestigious Journalism career as a cameraman. He noted that his duty then was to hold a camera for others to run interviews, but ultimately as time went on others also held cameras for him to interview people.

Sports Reportage

His movement into Journalism stardom started one day when there was no one to report on sports and he quickly reversed the position by allowing someone to hold the camera for him to do the reporting. His bosses never knew he would have been so good in sport reporting which made the entire DAAR Communication testify later that he was one of the best sport reporters of that era. Consequently, he became AIT reporter on international sports covering Scotland ‘89, 2002 Korea/Japan World Cup, African Nations Cup 2002, 2004 and 2006.

NAFDAC

It is worthy of note that while he was reporting on sports he also covered health issues, especially  National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC. Therefore, he became the first reporter to bring food and drug agency to television (AIT) reportage. It was while Tari was reporting NAFDAC’s health issues that he came across and worked directly with the late Professor Dora Akunyilli (She was appointed NAFDAC DG in 2001 and served till 2009) on National programmes like polio eradication and immunization.  

Government House Reportage

Thereafter, Tari most challenging moment came when in 2007, a new government was coming into office in Bayelsa state and DAAR communication wanted him to be the government house correspondent. Consequent he was posted to Yenagoa in 2007, which began his sojourn in the glory of all lands as government house correspondent.

Within a short period of time, due to his hard work as government house correspondent, Tari Joshua was elevated to the position of General Manager AIT-Elebele, Bayelsa state. A position he occupied for 5 years thereabout before he was transferred out of the state.

Last Days

It was rather unfortunate that he did not step into his office in the National Assembly were he was appointed Legislative Aids I by distinguished Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo due to his demise.

In all, he was a good man by all standard and a philanthropist par excellence. One thing he had going for him was that, he liked sharing the little he had with people. Tari would always solve your problem, provided it was within his powers. He loved catering for aged and the needy.

Family and Faith

Tariolate Joshua was married to a Kogi state lady (Igbira tribe precisely) and they divorced along the line. The marriage was blessed with two (2) kids. 

Tari was a devoted Christian whose Christian life began with the Assemblies of God Church, until his death, he was a member of Living Faith Church (aka Winners chapel), Sunnyvale Estate, Lokogoma, FCT-Abuja 

Death date

It was told Tariolate Sisei Joshua had some health related challenges that terminated his mortal soul on 26th May, 2019.

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Abalijay
"Timeless Persons" is a personal blog project created by me with the aim of sharing biographies of remarkable individuals from the Niger Delta region and beyond. The blog serves as a platform to captivate and stimulate your thoughts, encouraging reflection on the past, fostering a positive mindset in the present, and inspiring hope for a better future. Through the stories of great minds featured on the blog, readers are invited to delve into the lives and achievements of extraordinary individuals, drawing inspiration and insights that can be applied to their own lives. "Timeless Persons" strives to create an engaging and thought-provoking space for readers to appreciate the legacies and contributions of notable individuals, ultimately encouraging personal growth and a brighter outlook on life.