Veteran Nigerian journalist, author and media manager, Mahmoon Baba-Ahmed, was a fearless, disciplined and professional journalist.

Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah, stated this on Saturday during a condolence visit to the family home in Tudun Wada, Zaria, Kaduna State.

Mr. Baba-Ahmed, 74, died at his residence in Kaduna at about 10:47 p.m. on Thursday, after a protracted illness, Abdulmalik Baba-Ahmed, a family member said. He is survived by one wife and seven children. Among his relations is Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Hundreds of mourners including the Deputy Senate Leader, and Tijjani Ramalan, Chairman of Liberty TV/Radio, attended the Islamic prayers at Sultan Bello Mosque and burial at Ungwan Sarki burial ground around 2:15 p.m. on Friday.

After retiring into private media practice, Baba-Ahmed was until his death a presenter of “Tambihi” and “Damokradiya”, popular Hausa political programmes on Liberty Television, Kaduna. He also maintained columns in Blueprint and an Hausa Language newspaper, Aminiya.

The Senator, while condoling the family and journalists, also described the death as “a very big loss to Kaduna State and the entire country.” He described the deceased as “a highly respected, fearless and disciplined journalists and media manager who has abided by the ethics of the profession,” adding:

“May Allah grant him Aljanna Firdausi, may Allah comfort the family, the people of the state and Nigerian journalists.”

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki, while responding on behalf of the family, expressed gratitude for the show of love and concern for the condolence visit by the Senator, other Nigerians and journalists.

“On behalf of our family, I say thank you very much for the condolence visit and pray to Allah to reward you abundantly,” he said.

The late Mahmoon Baba-Ahmed began his broadcasting career as duty continuity announcer at the Broadcasting Company of Northern Nigeria (BCNN) in 1971.

He worked briefly with New Nigerian Newspapers as a sub-editor before returning to BCNN for outstation posting. He served as State Correspondent of BCNN in Bauchi, Kano, Borno, Plateau and Lagos and as Chief Correspondent of Radio Nigeria, Kaduna.

He was later appointed a Director of Information in Kaduna State Ministry of Information. He served for about five years before his appointment as the Managing Director of Kaduna State Media Corporation (KSMC).

In 1983 Baba-Ahmed was appointed General Manager of Kano State Media Corporation by the then Kano State Governor, the late Alhaji Sabo Bakin Zuwo. Mr. Baba-Ahmed served for one year at Radio Kano before going back to the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) as Controller of Current Affairs.

•Photo by Garba Ahmed shows Deputy Senate Leader Bala Ibn Na’Allah and Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the Chief of Staff to Senate President Bukola Saraki, during a condolence visit of the death of veteran journalist and media manager, Mahmoon Baba-Ahmed, at the family home in Tudun Wada, Zaria, Kaduna State, Saturday.