Publisher Of Leadership Newspaper, Sam Nda-Isaiah Dies At 58

Media mogul, politician, writer and entrepreneur, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah is dead. A graduate of Pharmacy from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife died on Friday night in Abuja after a brief illness.

A statement by the family states; “We are deeply saddened to announce the news of the passing of the chairman of LEADERSHIP Group/National Economy, Mr Sam Nda-Isaiah.

“He died in Abuja on Friday night, after a brief illness. Nda-Isaiah was a family man, a serial entrepreneur and visioner, and a passionate politician. He was, above all, a man of faith. Even in this moment of grief, we know he is in a better place.”

Nda-Isaiah made his mark as a newspaper publisher with three dailies, including the flagship and Nigeria’s most influential newspaper, LEADERSHIP, in his stable.

He was also a serial entrepreneur with a portfolio of thriving businesses and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on whose platform he contested for presidential ticket in 2014.

Until his sudden death, Nda-Isaiah, a bridge-builder also held the traditional title of Kakaki Nupe, the spokesperson of the Nupe people. He was also conferred with a chieftaincy title, Aare Baaroyin of Akure Kingdom, by Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, Odundun. Sam Nda-Isaiah was also a promoter of Nigeria’s unity and an outstanding student of history and global politics.

Sam as he was fondly called by associates, had his last major outing on Thursday, December 10, when he inaugurated the Board of Economists of NATIONAL ECONOMY Media Limited, a subsidiary of the LEADERSHIP Group.

The late Sam Nda-Isaiah was born in Minna, capital of Niger State on May 1, 1962 and attended the UNA Elementary School before switching over to the Christ Church School, Kaduna in 1968 to complete his primary school education.

He attended the Federal Government College, Kaduna, from 1974 to 1979. He later studied Pharmacy at the Obafemi Awolowo University and did his National Youth Service Corps programme at the Ekiti State General Hospital in 1984. He is an alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.

Nda-Isaiah began his working career as a pharmacist at the Kano Specialist Hospital before he moved to the General Hospital, Minna. He worked at Pfizer Products Limited from 1985 to 1989.

His started his column, “Last Word” with a footnote, “Earshot”, as special writer and editorial board member of the Daily Trust, before he founded the LEADERSHIP with proceeds from the launch of a collection of some of his finest articles in 2001. Before LEADERSHIP became a full-fledged newspaper, Nda-Isaiah started with, LEADERSHIP CONFIDENTIAL, a newsletter that had tremendous insights, especially among diplomats, top politicians and business owners.

As a result of his contributions to the media industry, Nda-Isaiah was called to serve as a committee member in the Kano State government to revive The Triumph Newspapers owned by the state government. In 2003, he was in charge of President Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential campaign publicity.

He was a member of the Asian think-tank, the Global Institute for Tomorrow in Hong Kong. In 2019 he was appointed board member of the Baze University, Abuja.

Nda-Isaiah contested for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), with the campaign slogan, Big Ideas but lost in the keenly contested primaries.