Niger governor mourns Journalist’s death.

Late Salawudeen Hammed Bamidele
,,,, Calls on journalists to be inward looking for revenue generation.
Niger state Governor, Hon. Mohammed Umaru Bago has expressed sadness over the death of Salawudeen Hammed Bamidele, State Correspondent, Pilot Newspaper.
Governor Bago, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim, extended his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the deceased, Correspondents Chapel and the entire Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Niger State Council.
The Governor who acknowledged the commitments of the deceased and his role in promoting the tenets of responsible journalism in the state said his service to the state will greatly be missed.
“I deeply sympathize with the immediate and extended family of late Salaudeen, the Correspondents Chapel and the entire NUJ, Niger state Council”.
Coming less than a month after the chapel lost its Treasurer, late Matthew Jwantu to liver Cancer, the Governor said:” “the death of Salau was indeed a sad one, coming as the second recorded death in the Chapel since I assumed office, but we can not question Allah.
” I pray that Allah will grant his soul Aljannah Firdausi, comfort the family, and professional colleagues”.
Late Hammed Salawudeen Bamidele died on Tuesday 5th September, 2023 after he lost battle with diabetic related crisis.
Late Salawu who hailed from Ikirun in Osun state left behind a wife, 4 children and 10 grand children.
meanwhile,the governor has challenged journalists in the state to as key stakeholders be good ambassadors of the profession and the state in the course of carrying out their reportorial duties.
Governor Bago made the call when the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Niger State Council,led by its Chairman, Comrade Abu Nmadu, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government house, Minna.
He said Journalists should ensure wider coverage of the activities of the present administration in tye the state through timely and accurately reportage,to avoid spreading fake and unsubstantiated news from Niger state.
Governor who Bago expressed sadness at the deplorable condition of virtually all the state-owned media houses, told the journalists of his administration’s preparedness to change the narratives by privatizing some of them for effective discharge of their duties.
Specifically singling out Niger State Television (NSTV) which according to him is performing abysmally, Governor Bago said he intends to rebrand and privatize the media organisation to compete favourably with other privately owned television stations.
While assuring of his administrations’ continued support, journalists in the state,Governor Bago advised the NUJ to look inwards on how to be self sustaining and enterprising to manage its affairs than depending on government support.
The NUJ Chairman, Comrade Abu Nmodu, had earlier expressed gratitude to the Governor for appointing three of its members; Bologi Ibrahim, Aisha Wakaso and the immediate past Chief Press Secretary, Mary Noel-Berje to serve in his administration.
While commending Governor Bago for his earlier support of the union during his electioneering campaign, the NUJ leadership appealed for more support, especially as it affects the welfare of members.
The NUJ chairman decried the deplorable condition of the state-owned media houses, requesting the Governor to invest in the sector by overhauling them for effective information dissemination and revenue generation.
Without investing enough resources, Comrade Abu said there was no way the Governor Bago-led administration could fault the media organisations for performing below expectations.
“You cannot reap the reward if you do not invest in them”, he stressed.
Comrade Abu also pleaded that career civil servants who are journalists and qualified to become Permanent Secretaries should be considered for the positions so that they could contribute their quota to the success of the administration.
The NUJ chairman, who bestowed on Governor Umaru Bago as the ‘Grand Patron of the union’, also intimated him about the investiture coming up next month, October, during Council’s annual Press Week would be celebrated.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.