Featured, Politics
By Anayo Ezugwu
NIGERIANS from all walks of life have expressed shock over the death of Wada Maida, chairman, board of directors, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN. The accomplished media professional died in his house in Abuja, on Monday, August 17, aged 70. He was buried on Tuesday in Abuja in accordance with Muslim rites.
Mohammed Haruna, national commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, a close friend of Maida, described him as a very humble, very accessible and a very great professional, who played a key role in the establishment of the Daily Trust and later became the chairman of the Peoples Daily”.
Haruna, who was with him on Wednesday last week expressed shock at his death, saying: We can only pray for his repose; for God to forgive him his sins and grant him eternal rest”.
Paul Ejime, former staff NAN said that Maida was a great personality, quiet, focused, and a great achiever. he believes in the principle of hardwork and performance. Ejime recalled that “he led a large NAN contingent to my wedding years ago. Trust journalists. The reception had three MCs. Yes, 1,2,3. And until the closing prayers, one of the MCs remained unsure, how to pronounce my Editor-in-chiefs name – Wada Maida or Maida Wada? But during his lifetime our Malam touched many lives positively and he will ever remain fresh in our hearts.”
Also, Maureen Chigbo, publisher of Realnews and former staff of NAN, recalled the ever-friendly disposition of his supportive former managing director, who travelled all the way from Kaduna where he had gone for burial ceremony to attend and chair the Fourth Anniversary Lecture of Realnews in Abuja, at very short notice. “He is very professional and will always advise me to remain professional in my duties and shun chicanery and unprofessional conduct, Chigbo said, adding, that he was to be inducted into the Realnews Hall of Fame in 2019 but missed the opportunity after circumstance beyond our control prevented him from being present. “We were planning to hand over the plaque at our 8th Anniversary in November 2020, anniversary lecture but unfortunately death has robbed us the opportunity to honour him,” regretted a sad and shocked Chigbo, who interviewed Maida on the telephone in July to confirm the death of Isa Funtua, his close friend.
Another person, who expressed shocked by the death of Maida was Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State. The governor said the country has lost one of its finest citizens who distinguished himself as an accomplished journalist, newspaper proprietor and administrator par excellence.
Masari described the deceased as a close friend and an associate. He said Katsina State had lost one of its most illustrious sons, who served not only the state but Nigeria meritoriously in various capacities. He condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari, the immediate family of the deceased, and his friends and associates.
Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, has condoled with the staff, management, and board of the NAN over the death Maida. The minister, in a statement, said he received the news of Maida’s passing with profound shock and sadness.
He said Maida as a great journalist, a good administrator, and a successful publisher who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Nigerian media He said the former editor-in-chief and managing director, NAN, will always be remembered for his service to the nation in many capacities. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this moment of sadness. May God forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest,” he said.
Likewise, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, also expressed shock at the death of one of its former Presidents. A statement by Mustapha Isah and Mary Atolagbe, president and general secretary of the NGE, respectively, said Maida was a shining role model for those behind him in the journalism profession, where he stood out as a defender of free speech, promoter of the finest ethics of journalism and a successful media entrepreneur.
“Though, his sudden demise is painful, the Guild takes solace in the fact that Mallam Wada Maida left indelible footprints in the Nigerian media industry as a Reporter, Editor, Editor – in – Chief, Managing Director and Publisher. The Guild expresses its condolences to his family, colleagues as well as the government and people of Katsina State,” it said.
On his part, Ibrahim Kwami, commissioner for information in Gombe State, expressed great sadness at the news of the passing on Maida. He said Maida’s death is a great loss to the country and cannot be easily forgotten following his contributions to the media industry. “His death is indeed a great the loss not to his immediate family alone but to the entire media industry and the country at large,” he said.
Also, Isma’ila Misili, senior special assistant on Media to Governor Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, said the death of Maida was the departure of a great journalist whose contributions were widely acknowledged. He said the late NAN boss was a veteran journalist who mentored a lot of media personalities.
“I am one of the beneficiaries of his mentorship even though not directly but indirectly because through him, a lot of people became something in life,” Misili said.
Realnews reports that Maida was also a member of the executive board of the International Press Institute, IPI; chairman of Peoples Media Limited, publishers of Peoples Daily newspaper and chief press secretary, CPS, to President Buhari, as military Head of State between December 31, 1983, and August 26, 1985.
Maida was appointed managing director of NAN in 1994, after serving for nine years as its editor-in-chief. Born in Katsina State on March 5, 1950, Maida was admitted into the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, in 1971, Indiana School of Mass Communication between 1972 and 1975, and Aberdeen College of Commerce, the UK between 1975 and 1977.
Maida was a thorough-bred professional, who contributed immensely to the development of the Nigerian journalism profession. His achievements as President of the Guild will never be forgotten. The death of this veteran journalist has robbed African journalism of the services of a man, who was fully committed to the development of the profession.
– Aug. 18, 2020 @ 19.07 GMT |
Tags: Nigerians pay tribute to Wada Maida as he is buried
