Media
Sam Nda-Isaiah, Exit of Media Colossus

By Chika Otuchikere and Orkula Shaagee, Abuja Nigerians and particularly, the media industry woke up Saturday 12 December, 2020 to the rude shock of the sudden death of Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah, the publisher and chairman of the popular LEADERSHIP Newspaper publications. According to close family associates, Nda-Isaiah died in the evening of Friday, 11 December, 2020 from yet-to-be-disclosed illness, at the age of 58. Nda-Isaiah who, few years to his demise last week, made a foray into the murky Nigerian political waters when he contested in the Presidential election primaries of the now ruling – All Progressives Congress (APC) unquestionably, left his large footprints on the sands of the Nigerian time. Although his political adventure was short-lived after he failed to clinch the party’s presidential ticket, he, no doubt, launched himself as a major player in the country’s political equation by that singular stride. Sam as he was fondly called by friends and associate had a humble beginning in the media industry but through dint of doggedness grew and bestrode the industry like a colossus. His LEADERSHIP Newspaper had a meteoric rise in the media industry, from a practically obscure newspaper to becoming one of the major brands in the country’s horde of newspapers. Monumental Loss to Nation – Mark Former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark has described the death of the publisher and chairman of Leadership Newspapers Dr. Sam Nda-Isaiah as shocking and devastating. In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Senator Mark said the demise of the forefront publisher and columnist is a sad reminder of how temporary and transient life could be. The former Senate helmsman noted that Nda-Isaiah was an ideas’ man whose contributions to the socio-economic and political development of the country would remain evergreen. According to Mark “He was a man full of life and ideas. He worked for the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria. He had a big dream for a prosperous nation but death has robbed the country of this great mind. “We shall miss his robust contributions and leadership acumen. We shall miss his political sagacity and intellectual prowess“. Senator Mark lamented over the sad event noting that late Isaiah died at a time when his wealth of experience especially in entrepreneurship is most needed to add value to the nation’s quest for development. He extended his condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, government and people of Niger State and also prayed that God grants the late Isaiah eternal rest. Contributor to FCT Development – Minister The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has expressed sadness over the death of the Chairman of Leadership Newspaper Group, Sam Nda-Isaiah, saying that he contributed to the development of the territory. Bello, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, described the late publisher and politician as an epitome of hard work, patriotism, adding that he was a bridge builder and firm believer in the unity of Nigeria. He said as a resident of Abuja, whose businesses were located in the nation’s capital, Nda-Isaiah had contributed immensely to the development of the FCT. “Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah was an epitome of hard work, firm believer in the unity of Nigeria and great patriot. “Although a pharmacist by training, through hard work and commitment to excellence, he founded the Leadership Group, which has in its stable one of Nigeria’s foremost and most influential newspapers,” he said. The minister prayed God to accept the soul of the deceased and grant his entire family and the Leadership Group the strength and fortitude to bear the loss. Loss to Nigerian Media – NUJ FCT The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT Council has described the death of Publisher of Leadership Group, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah as a monumental loss to the media and the nation. In a statement released Saturday in Abuja, jointly signed by Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche and Ochiaka Ugwu, Chairman and Secretary of Council respectively, it noted that council received the news of the death of the publisher with rude shock. It stated that the late Nda-Isaiah was not only a true friend of the council, who never missed any opportunity to engage the council, but also one personality whose doors were wide opened to the NUJ anytime for interactions and negotiation on labour issues. According to the statement, “The former publisher would be remembered for his invaluable contributions to the growth of the Nigerian media, national discourse, development and passion for the dissemination of information which he achieved through his medium (LEADERSHIP Group with its many titles). “The entire members of the NUJ FCT Council condole with the family of the visionary publisher, whose newspaper began a new approach to publication and gave the voiceless a voice to speak especially in the North. “We also commiserate with the management and staff of Leadership Group and enjoin the entire members of NUJ FCT Council to identify with their colleagues in their moment of grief and, pray God to grant the bereaved family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. “He would also be remembered for his consistent convicti on and strong belief in the socialist ideology for an egalitarian society, where the masses enjoy equal opportunity and social justice as he demonstrated with his “Big Ideas”. “He was fearless and selfless. A great Nigerian patriot who was passionate about the liberation of the ordinary people from the doldrums of oppression to freedom and that was why he was rewarded with the title of “Kaakaki Nupe” by his people” the statement added. |
Media
Kogi Journalists Partner KGIRS On Tax Administration Enlightenment

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Practicing Journalists in Kogi state have expressed readiness to partner with the State Internal Revenue Service on tax administration enlightenment and adequate publicity of its activities.
Chairman, Correspondents’ Chapel, Kogi State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Segun Salami, gave the indication when he led his members on a visit to the Executive Chairman of KGIRS, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe.
Salami promised a robust collaboration with the agency in creation of public awareness on the need for all taxable citizens to embrace prompt payment of their personal income taxes.
“Our task as journalists is to assist the agency in meeting up with its target of revenue generation for Kogi government through our social responsibility duty of enlightening the people to key into regular and prompt payment of their taxes as when due
“Journalists also owe it as a duty to alert citizens on the need to contribute their quota towards the development of their state and the nation in general by meeting up with their financial commitment on prompt tax payment”
Salami advocated for quarterly media interaction with the agency as part of the partnership move in publicising its activities.
He commended the Executive Chairman and his management team for the resouding success so far recorded in generating more revenue for the state government to provide the needed democracy dividends to the people.
Responding, the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe, expressed delight over the prevailing cordial relationship between his angency and practicing Journalists in Kogi since assumption of office.
He promised to sustain the feat in the interest of both parties geared towards achieving accelerated transformation of Kogi.
Enehe also gave an assurance that he would live above board under the partnership agreement which according to him would go a long way in improving the agency’s services of mobilizing resources for the development of the state.
Media
Nami, Ex-FIRS Chairman Receives Top10 Magazine ‘Man of the Year 2023’ Award

Health
ICRC Trains 25 Journalists on First Aid Treatment in Yola

From Yagana Ali, Yola.
The International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC) has organized a three -day training for 25 journalists on effective First Aid Treatment to prospective casualties.
The workshop, which took place in Yola drew the beneficiaries from different media houses across the state.
In a presentation, Communication Field Officer of the organization, Lemdi Edmond took the participants memory lane from its cradle to limelight.
He pointed out that ICRC intervenes basically in crises involving armed conflicts translating to man -made or unnatural disasters.
Edmond further explained that while the International Federation of the Red Cross intervenes in the area of natural disasters, like flood and earthquake, the National Red Cross Societies handles both natural and man – made situations.
The Communication Field Officer identified seven principles of the Committee to include humanity, impartiality,Neutrality and independence among others.
On their parts, First Aid and Pre-hospital Care Field Office Yola and Abuja respectively, Charity Maxwell and Daniel Ebodor jointly exposed the participants to the meaning, relevance and significance of the First Aid.
They maintained that First Aids basically aimed to save life, prevent condition from further deteriorating and promote speedy recovery.
They identified truthfulness, sympathy, resourcefulness, tolerance and empathy among others as qualities of a good First Aider.
The duo also enumerated and extensively explained Primary Survey variables relating to First Aid as Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and chest compression.
Interestingly, the participants were vigorously engaged in practical First Aid treatment on various aspects having to do with Burns, Fainting, Fracture and bleeding among others.
Highlights of the training were questions and answers, presentation of certificate and First Aid Kits to the participants