The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has described the late Malam Wada Maida as “a great journalist, a good Administrator and a successful publisher who contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Nigerian media.
In a condolence message issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the minister said he received the news of the death of Maida, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Borad Chairman with “profound shock and sadness”.
The message was signed and made available to the media by Mr Segun Adeyemi, the Special Assistant To The President (Media) Office of the Minister of Information and Culture.
The minister condoled with members of staff, management and Board of NAN over the death adding that the deceased would always be remembered for his service to the nation in many capacities.
”My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this
moment of sadness. May God
forgive his shortcomings and grant him eternal rest,” he said.
Maida reportedly died in Abuja on Monday at the age of 70.
Maida, a former Editor-in-Chief and later Managing Director of NAN, was one of the pioneer editors of the agency and served as various times as its Regional Editor in Kaduna, Political Editor and London Correspondent.
He was Chief Press Secretary to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari when he became military Head of State on 1 January 1984.
After the Babangida coup in July 1985, Maida returned to NAN 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, he was a member of the Executive Board of the International Press Institute and also a shareholder of Media Trust Limited.
NAN Acting Managing Directo, Mr Dele Ojo, while reacting to Maida’s death, described the news as “shocking and devastating”.
