Stakeholders in the media industry in Jigawa have described the death of Malam Wada Maida, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as a great loss to journalism in Nigeria.
Maida, a former Managing Director of NAN died on Monday at the age of 70.
Mr Sunusi Madobi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) in Jigawa, while commiserating with the NAN family in Dutse on Tuesday, described the death of Maida as not only a loss to his family but also to the journalism profession in Nigeria and Africa.
“The death of Malam Wada Maida as we heard over the media yesterday has created a vacuum in the media industry in Nigeria.
“Maida, a career Information Officer by training, was a Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to President Muhammadu Buhari and Managing Director of NAN, who has contributed greatly to the development of journalism not only in Nigeria but Africa and the world at large.
“Honestly, the history of Nigerian journalism is incomplete without Wada Maida,” Madobi said.
Also speaking with NAN in his office, the Managing Director of Jigawa Television, Mr Ishaq Hadejia, described Maida as respected and one of the best journalists in Northern Nigeria.
“Wada Maida is a well-respected and one the best journalists in Northern Nigeria.
“He was CPS to President Buhari during one of the difficult periods in Nigeria where he maintained his position as no nonsense media man.
“Maida always stood out among his colleagues. He speaks without fear; always speaks for the well-being and independent of the media,” Hadejia said.
Madobi and Hadejia prayed Allah to grant the deceased Al Jannatul Firdausi and give his family and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the loss
