Journalists mourn veteran colleague Isa Abba Adamu
The third-day Fidda’u prayer for the late Isa Abba Adamu will hold today at the family residence at No 78A Lamido Crescent, Kano at 8am.
Although the veteran broadcaster died and was buried in London, personalities from within and outside Kano have been trooping to the residence to offer their condolences.
Among the personalities were former Kano State governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, his media aide, Alhaji Sule Ya’u Sule, former chairman of Nassarawa Local Government, Alhaji Lamin Sani, the chief press secretary to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Malam Abba Anwar and a veteran broadcaster, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Kiyawa.
Others were former Military Administrator of Plateau State, Col. Habibu Shuaibu and representative of the Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Adamu, Alhaji Bashir Adamu Kazaure Danburan Kazaure, a classmate of the deceased at Kano Teachers College.
Also at the home were Alhaji Babale Ammani Fage, a permanent secretary with Kano State Government, Saif Sayeed, Malam Auwal Isma’ila, Yakubu Mu’azu, Adamu Nasidi, a retired immigration officer and Malam Muhammad Lawal among others.
Many of the late journalist’s classmates at Bayero University Kano (BUK) have also called to condole with the family of the late broadcaster.
Speaking to Daily Trust, Alhaji Saif Sayeed said he met late Isa at KTC in 1975. “I have really lost a true friend. Whenever he came to Nigeria, I was the one that picked him at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) and so also when is going back to London, I was the person that took him to the airport. I can tell you that I am the closest friend of late Isa Abba of all his classmates.
“We became friends the first day we met at KTC 46 years ago. May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanna Firdaus,” he said.
President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed late Adamu as a board member of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) alongside late Alhaji Wada Maida who served as chairman of the board.
Late Isa Abba Adamu’s name became almost synonymous with the BBC for his eloquent command of the Hausa language.
He was also referred to as the journalists’ role model with his redefinition ability of what broadcasting was all about. It was also said that he made the profession very attractive to the younger generation such that many young Nigerians became interested in journalism.
Late Isa Abba Adamu was born in 1961 at Giginyu quarters in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. He attended Tarauni Primary School, Kano Teachers College (KTC) and Bayero University Kano where he studied Mass Communication and graduated in 1985.
He served his one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Radio Adamawa, also known as Adamawa Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
Shortly after his national service, late Adamu joined the services of then City Television Kano (CTV Kano) now Abubakar Rimi Television (ARTV).
In 1990, the deceased joined the services of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Hausa Service as a producer. He rose through the ranks to the position of editor of the Hausa section and later headed the West Africa section of the BBC as the first black man to hold the position.
After his retirement from the BBC, the deceased remained in London for some years before he later returned to Nigeria.
While in Nigeria, he worked at the Legislative Institute in Abuja as a director. However, after his first tenure, the veteran journalist quit the job and went back to the UK.
His younger brother, Malam Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, described late Adamu as a generous, humble and honest person whose caring and concern for others placed him very high among his peers.
Ibrahim said: “My late brother was a reliable and confident person; he assisted and inspired a lot of us. He was one of the strong pillars of our family.
“Yaya Isa, as we fondly called him, is a down to earth and easy-going person. That made him a point of attraction to whosoever came close to him. Though he stayed in the UK, his ears and eyes were always connected to Nigeria. He regularly called one or two members of the family to inquire about his relatives.
“We have really lost a true brother and a friend, who was always there for his brothers and sisters. His generosity had no limit to his immediate family members as he played a fatherly role to all. Until his death, Yaya Isa remained in touch with his childhood friends. Whenever he came to Nigeria, you will see them trooping to our family house to refresh old memories.
“Anytime he visited Nigeria, he visited our sisters at their matrimonial homes. So, the death of Yaya is a great loss to our family,” said Malam Yusha’u. Colleagues mourn
Sale Halliru: The last time I spoke with Mallam Isa Abba was when he attended his last board meeting at the News Agency of Nigeria. It was a difficult period due to the COVID-19 lock-down. He was virtually stranded at his place of residence at Lokogoma: he could neither return to London nor travel to his hometown of Kano.
I woke up on Monday morning to the shocking reality of his death. After getting back to my senses I sought solace in the Qur’anic verse which says every soul shall taste death. Mallam Isa was a private person, very gentle but immensely dedicated to his profession of broadcast journalism. I met him back in 1987 when the BBC recruited him from the then CTV Kano.
The late Barry Burgess was the Head of Hausa at the time. It was a very memorable period. Isa and I lived in East London and often took the underground train from Holborn Station heading East after the late evening programme.
One important virtue that most of us could easily recall about Mallam Isa Abba was his immense dedication to his family.
I use this medium to express my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Hajiya Azumi and the four lovely children he left behind. May Allah bless his soul and grant him Jannatul firdaus.
Mannir Dan-Ali: Isa was devoted to his work as a producer and editor in the African Service of the BBC. He was also a devoted family man who was always asking after his colleagues’ families and their welfare.
Ibrahim Mohammed Jirgi, MD/CEO Triple CEE Media
Ltd Abuja: Inna lillahi Wa inna Ilaihin raji’un. I received the shocking news of his death from a colleague, Ibrahim Balarabe through a posting on our BBC VETERANS forum platform on the very day he passed away.
He was an excellent player in the BBC Hausa Service. He was an excellent presenter and producer. I worked with him closely for good 10 years of my sojourn as an international journalist and broadcaster and I know the type of person Isa was in the Hausa Service and Africa Service generally.
May Allah forgive his shortcomings and grant him Aljanna Firdausi.
Bilkisu Labaran, News Editor, BBC Africa English:
I learned with shock the passing of Isa Abba Adamu. It was a real shock indeed for Isa was not just a colleague but a friend. And I’m sure many people will say that about Isa; he was a friend to everyone. Each time we met he always had a joke for me.
Isa had an illustrious career at the BBC rising to become Hausa editor and then BBC Africa Executive Editor. We were all proud of him and he in turn was always supportive and nurturing both to me and younger Nigerian journalists.
Adieu, my friend Isa! May your soul rest in peace, amen.
Umar Yusuf Karaye: Malam Isa Abba Adamu, may his soul rest in peace, was a very dedicated professional who would never allow anything to distract him in his pursuit of excellence in journalism. We had worked very closely with him up to 2006 when I left the BBC.
Along with other colleagues that joined the BBC in the middle to late 80s I can say with all honesty that Isa played a leading role in laying the solid foundation for transforming the programmes of the Hausa Service to what they are today.
He was a very honest and dedicated professional. Isa will be remembered by us his former colleagues as a no-nonsense person when it comes to work and very jovial and friendly at his leisure time.
I also believe that many listeners will fondly remember his unique style of saying “ni kuma nine Isa Abba Adamu daga nan tsakiyar birnin London”. May Allah (SWT) forgive his sins and reward him with Aljanna Firdaus for all his good work. Ameen ya Rabbil Aalamin.