Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has described the death of veteran journalist and former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mallam Wada Maida, as a big loss to the country.
Mallam Maida, an indigene of Katsina, died in Abuja on Monday, August 17, 2020, aged 70.
Governor Uzodimma said Mallam Maida died when his services were needed most by the country and that he will be sorely missed by family, friends and professional colleagues.
The governor commiserated the deceased family, his state, Katsina and his professional community, the media, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku.
He prayed God to grant Mallam Maida’s soul eternal repose, and those he left to mourn him, the fortitude to bear the loss.
Mallam Maida was not only former President of the media elite association, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, he was also Chairman of the Board of Directors of News agency of Nigeria (NAN) and a member of the International Press Institute (IPI).
Until his death, he was Chairman of the Peoples Media Limited, publishers of Peoples Daily newspaper.
A one time Chief Press Secretary to President Muhammadu Buhari as Nigeria’s military Head of State between December 31, 1983 to August 26, 1985, Mallam Maida was also former Editor-in-Chief of NAN before he was appointed the Managing Director in 1994.