By Ayuba Wabba

Sir: When Dr Is’haq Modibbo Kawu landed his first-ever job at the defunct Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), Radio Nigeria, fifty years ago, on the 1st of February 1977, he was just 16 years and 4 months old. His mother, fearing that his young age might count against him, sewed him a babanriga to make him look more mature than his age. Is’haq Modibbo Kawu actually got the job immediately after his WASC examination, through a recruitment initiative facilitated by the late Hannatu Ibrahim.

Comrade Is’haq Modibbo Kawu rose quickly by the dint of hard work and resourcefulness from the role of a studio manager (Trainee) to a Presenter, Announcer, Disc Jockey, News Reader (reading news on the National Network Service by 1980, aged under 20 years), News and Current Affairs news analyst, Sports and Ceremonials Commentator, Producer of various Programs and a correspondent for international broadcast outfits, lke Radio France International and the BBC World Service. At a point in Kawu’s illustrious career, he was invited to Radio Nederland International in Hilversum to be interviewed for the role of Producer and Presenter.

In 1997, Dr Moddibo Kawu landed his first top management job as the General Manager (GM) of the Kwara State Television Service. After a memorable five years as GM, Dr Kawu, in response to his innate thirst for new challenges, took an unusual plunge from broadcasting into core journalism by joining the budding Daily Trust Newspapers in May 2002 as a pioneer editor. Reminiscent of his prolific rise in the broadcasting world, Comrade Kawu took up higher responsibilities at Daily Trust, including chairing the editorial meetings and writing as a columnist. He later moved on to Blueprint Newspaper as an Editorial Consultant.

To those of us in the trade union movement, Comrade Is’haq Modibbo Kawu represents ideological clarity, persuasion, commitment and service. At Radio Kwara, he was elected the Chairman of the Radio, Television and Theatre Workers Union (RATTAWU). Subsequently, Comrade Kawu was elected the Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Kwara State Council. Ultimately, he reached the echelon of his trade union calling with his election as the Chairman of the NLC Kwara State, from 1984 to 1988.

Dr Is’haq Kawu’s foray into trade unionism was no happenstance. Right from his student days, Comrade Kawu was involved in intellectual unionism as a member of the militant and largely underground Marx-Leninist Movement of Nigeria (MLMN). He was acknowledged by his peers in the struggle as a progressive and committed student union leader. His spirit of activism has been evident in his broadcasting, writing, editorial board responsibilities, public policy endeavours, trade unionism, and other life callings in spaces such as the Northern Media Forum, the Arewa Consultative Forum, and the Fulbe Global and Rights Initiative.

It is very difficult to summarise the life and service of Dr Is’haq Modibbo Kawu without mentioning his attribute of courage and foresight. He displayed these invaluable qualities when he reached the pinnacle of his public service as the Director-General of the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in May 2016. At the NBC, he removed what had become an institutionalised barrier to effective broadcasting in Nigeria by multiplying the Digital Switch Overs from a single point in Jos, to other locations such as Oshogbo, Enugu, Kaduna and Ilorin. He did this by resolving intractable squabbles and litigation among stakeholders, thus freeing up the digital space for seamless access to millions of Nigerians.

Unfortunately, his courage and achievement have attracted a lot of noise and persecution. In his ordeal, we want to assure him that Nigerian workers and trade unions stand strong behind him. We believe that history and posterity will vindicate and reward Dr Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, FNGE.

In conclusion, I must say that it is heartwarming that Dr Is’haq Modibbo Kawu, true to his nature of resilience and altruism, has risen above the distractions of naysayers to pursue and conclude his PhD work in Defence and Strategic Studies at the National Defence Academy (NDA). His dissertation on the reportage of the farmer-herder conflicts by the Nigerian Press will continue to provide rich resources to those who want to learn on how to build an inclusive, fair, productive and prosperous society.

• Comrade (Dr) Ayuba Wabba, mni, NPOM is Immediate Past President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and
Immediate Past President of the International Trade Union Confederation