NAN Board Chairman, Wada Maida Dies At 70, Buried In Abuja

The Chairman, Board of Directors of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Wada Maida, is dead.

A member of his family, Malam Lawal Sale Maida, who confirmed the sad news to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said Maida died in Abuja on Monday. He was aged 70.

His remains were buried at the Muslim section of the Gudu Cemetery in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) according to Islamic rites.

The burial took place around 2:10pm after a funeral prayer led by Chief Imam of Sheu Shegari Mosque, Area One, Garki, Abuja, Imam Rabiu Sheu Suleiman.

Dignitaries at Maida’s funeral prayer and burial were Governor f Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari; Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika; Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu; Senator Kabir Barkiya (Katsina Central) and former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu.

Others include former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Yayale Ahmed; presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu; former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Aliyu Modibbo and Chairman, Board of Directors of Media Trust Limited, Malam Kabiru Yusuf.

In his condolence message, Governor Masari described the death of Maida as a personal loss to him and the great people of Katsina state.

Similarly, the Acting Managing Director NAN, Mr Dele Ojo said the demise of Maida was a great loss to NAN, saying” Wada Maida lived and died for NAN.

Also speaking, Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday Newspapers, Mr Olusegun Adeniyi, said the deceased was not only an elder in the media profession but also a fantastic gentleman.

Maida, former Editor-in-Chief and later Managing Director of NAN, was one of the pioneer editors of the agency and served at various times as its Regional Editor in Kaduna, Political Editor and London Correspondent.

He was Chief Press Secretary to General Muhammadu Buhari when he became Military Head of State in December 1983, and returned to NAN in 1985 to become its Editor-in-Chief for eight years.

Maida, from Katsina State, was appointed NAN Managing Director in 1994 and served in that capacity for nine years before he bowed out in 2003.

Until his death, Maida was a member of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute and also a shareholder of Media Trust Limited.

Reacting to Maida’s death, NAN Acting Managing Director, Mr Dele Ojo, had described the news as “shocking and devastating”.

“It is difficult to believe this news. It is very devastating. God knows best,” Ojo had said in a telephone interview. – NAN