…Al-Makura, Idris, Others Pay Tribute
BY AHMED TUKUR, LAFIA – The death has been announced of Malam Tasiu Zakari, the correspondent of Radio France International (RFI) Hausa Service.
The death of Zakari was confirmed on Tuesday by his son, Zaharadeen Zakari, who disclosed that the father had been ill before his death at Sauki Hospital, close to Hill Station Hotel, Jos, Plateau State on Tuesday morning.
Zaharadeen described his late father as a caring parent and committed promoter of peace, saying; “He left behind six of us as his children: my elder sister, myself, two other males and two females. He also left behind our mother and our stepmother”.
The remains of Zakari, a veteran journalist was buried at the Zakalio Muslim Cemetery along Jos-Bauchi road after funeral prayer.
The late Tasiu Zakari is survived by two wives and six children—three sons and three daughters.
In his tribute, former Nasarawa State Governor, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, while condoling with the family, described Zakari as a dedicated and experienced journalist.
Al-Makura prayed God to forgive the deceased his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest, and urged the family to accept the loss as the will of God and bear it with fortitude.
Also paying tribute to the late journalist, RFI editor, Bashir Ibrahim Idris described Zakari as one of the organisation’s finest correspondents.
Idris, who attended the burial, said he had known Zakari for more than four decades.
He said; “I have known Tasiu Zakari for more than 40 years. At the time, he was a teacher at Government Secondary School, Laranto, Jos, while I was a teacher at St. Paul’s Jenta Primary School, Jos.
“He later joined the Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTV) as a newscaster. When we started Radio France International, I recommended him as our correspondent, and we worked together for more than a decade,” he explained.
Idris noted that the late Zakari made significant contributions to RFI’s audience and described his death as a major loss to the organisation and the Nigeria’s media industry.
According to Idris; “He was one of our best staff members among our correspondents. He impacted greatly on our listenership”.
Idris prayed Allah to grant the deceased Aljannatul Firdausi and consoled his family over the loss.
