By Musa Tanimu Nasidi.
The Chairman Kogi State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Adeiza Momoh Jimoh has described the death of veteran journalist, Comrade Dele Nuffi, as another big blow on the progression of journalism in the state.
The Chairman made the declaration in a tribute to late Nuffi in Lokoja on Friday.
He said the deceased was a thorough professional and a role model for journalists due to his handwork and commitment to journalism. He added that Baba Ogori, as he is fondly called by his colleagues, is a great personality that will not be forgotten easily.
He described the late Baba Ogori as a father to all who strove to uphold and maintained his good name.
“We are saddened by the fact that we lost you at a time when your wise, fatherly counsel is much needed,” he said.
The chairman urged young journalists to follow the footprints of Late Dele Nuffi if they want to excel in the media profession.
In his own tribute, the Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Mathew Kolawole said the press gallery of the Kogi State House Assembly have lost a ‘permanent sitter’, saying the late Nuffi will be remembered for a long time.
Pa Dele Nuffi, according to the Speaker, always upheld the principle of fair and unbiased reporting even in difficult times of dictatorships and unwritten curbs imposed by governments as a private practitioner.
Kolawole said he used to follow the deceased reportage and critical analysis for over a decade, and prayed God to give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Paying tribute to the deceased, the Vice Chairman of Kogi NUJ, who stood in for the Chairman, Comrade Abubakar Hussaini Sulaiman, said Dele Nuffi was an intelligent, honest and hard working journalist who loved his work. He described him as a beautiful personality with a golden heart.
“Baba was totally reliable. You could always depend on him to file as much detail as you needed for a story, no matter what the hour is, day or night,” he said.
The state chairman of National Association of Veteran Journalists, Mr Adeku Adava, described Mr Nuffi as a journalist with undying love for journalism.
He said during Nuffi’s life time as the Secretary of association, the deceased worked tirelessly with the late Chairman to put the association on a sound footing.
“Even on sick bed, his radio is always by his side to keep him abreast of events in the state and the country at large.”
Dele Nuffi was born in Lokoja, Kogi state on the 10th June 1950. Baba Ogori, as he was fondly called, attended CMS Primary School Lokoja from 1958-1964 and Crowther Memorial College (CMC) Lokoja between 1965 – 1969 for his secondary education. After then, he proceeded to Staff Training Centre, Minna, in the present Niger State, for basic Secretariat Course from 1972-1973.
In his quest and determination to excel in his chosen career, Baba Ogori proceeded to the Nigeria Institute of Journalism in 1979.
Baba Ogori left behind his wife of 35 years and blessed with 3 children.
