IPI mourns matriarch, Hajia Bilikisu Yusuf

SIR: “Dear colleagues, I would have loved to be there, but I’m going for Hajj. Dimgba was a permanent companion at our IPI outings. May his soul rest in peace. Please give my apologies to Mike. Do have a nice outing.”

That was Hajia Bilikisu Yusuf’s last email on September 14, 2015 to members of the International Press Institute, (IPI) explaining her absence from the September 16  book launch in Lagos in memory of Dimgba Igwe who died in Lagos exactly a year ago after being knocked down by a car while jogging on his street.

It is with profound sadness, therefore, to learn of the tragic death of the same Hajia Bilkisu in the stampede that occurred in Mecca, Saudi Arabia during this year’s hajj.

Hajia, 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.

Hajia 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.

Hajia 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, Hajia’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 

Mallam Mohammed Haruna, Hajia’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 Hajia Bilkisu Yusuf her earthly sins and give her family the fortitude to bear this great, irreparable loss.
• Raheem Adedoyin
Secretary, IPI Nigerian National Committee.