The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI) has resolved to immortalise two of its deceased members- Mr. Dimgba Igwe and Hajia Bilkisu Yusuf. IPI is the global media network for senior editors and media executives.

Igwe was killed last year by a hit-and-run driver while jogging in Lagos while Hajia Bilikisu died in the stampede that occurred during last month’s hajj in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

At its quarterly meeting in Abuja yesterday, IPI set up a trust fund from which it would institute annual prizes for deserving Mass Communication students in selected universities in the name of the duo. The fund will also be used to support any other programmes and activities that preserve the good memory of the late IPI members.

All members present at the meeting made instant financial pledges while other members will be contacted for their contributions to the fund.

The meeting also endorsed the safety training programme for Nigerian journalists being packaged by the IPI headquarters in Vienna. The programme is planned for early next year.

Members of the Board of Trustees for the Fund are Alh. Ismaila Isa, IPI Patron (Chairman), Aremo Olusgun Osoba, media icon and IPI Patron; Mallam Kabir Yusuf, Chairman of Media Trust Ltd and Chairman of IPI Nigeria; Mallam Wada Maida, Chairman, Peoples Daily Newspapers; Mallam Mohammed Haruna, Columnist/Managing Director, Citizen Magazine; Mr. Folu Olamiti, Resident Consultant, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC); Mr. Emma Agu, Media Consultant and former Managing Director of Champion Newspapers; and Mr. Raheem Adedoyin, Secretary, IPI Nigeria.

The meeting, held at the Mediatrust Ltd headquarters in Abuja, was attended by Funtua, Haruna, Yusuf, Maida, Olamiti, Agu, Adedoyin, Mallam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Muhamnadu Buhari; Mallam Manir Dan-Ali, Editor-in-Chief of Trust Newspapers; and Mallam Mustapga Shehu, CEO/Editor-in-Chief of The Politico magazine.

•Photo shows late Dimgba Igwe.