The International Press Institute, (IPI) has expressed sadness over the death of one of its members, Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf.
Hajiya Yusuf died during a stampede in Makkah.
The IPI statement signed by its secretary, Raheem Adedoyin reads:
“It is with profound sadness, therefore, to learn of the tragic death of the same Hajiya Bilkisu in the stampede that occurred in Mecca, Saudi Arabia yesterday.
“Hajiya, as we fondly called her, was not just the first female editor from northern Nigeria, she was an active member of IPI and in fact, the first and only female Nigerian member to ever serve on the IPI Executive Board in Vienna.
“Hajiya Bilkisu was the matriarch of the IPI Nigerian National Committee; she was integrity personified. So self-disciplined, she hardly missed any IPI event and paid her dues( including this year’s) promptly.
Mallam Mohammed Haruna, Hajiya’s media boss and constant media companion delivered her message at the book launch in Lagos on September 16 and even bought copies of the Awoyinfa/ Igwe-authored book (50 World Editors) on her behalf.
“We mourn the departure of this iconic journalist with common touch and send our condolences to her family, the various organisations she served devotedly and the entire Nigerian media community.
May the Almighty Allah forgive Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf her earthly sins and give her family the fortitude to bear this great, irreparable loss”.