The Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has renamed the refurbished Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) House, on Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, after a former President of the body, late Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua.
According to a statement issued by NPAN through its President, Prince Nduka Obaigbena on Wednesday, the building will henceforth be known as ISMAILA ISA HOUSE.
Funtua died at 78 on Monday after driving himself to a hospital in Abuja. He was buried on Tuesday.
The statement reads: “For his untiring contributions to the development of Journalism and Freedom of the Press in Nigeria and around the world, it is the privilege of the Nigerian Press Organisation – Newspapers’ Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) – to name the newly rebuilt Nigerian Institute of Journalism House, Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, as ISMAILA ISA HOUSE to honour the life and times of Mallam Ismaila Isa Funtua, OFR, Mni, who died on Monday July 20, 2020 after a life of dedicated service to Nigeria that spanned politics, business and media.
“His contributions to the development of journalism is innumerable: including, but not limited to his co-founding of Democrat Newspapers; presidency of the NPAN at a time of national crises, and later a life patron; services to the international Press Institute where he served on the global board; contributions to journalism education as Chairman of the Governing Council of the NIJ, among others.”
The statement said Funtua, who was born in Funtua, present day Katsina State, “will be deeply missed but not forgotten”.
