By Lamara Garba Azare
Seven decades of ink and grit,
Of shared dreams no time can split.
Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel — a cradle of truth,
Where journalistic fire burns eternal, from age to youth.
They came with pens, with passion and pride,
Bound not by blood, but walking side by side.
Through typewriters and tape decks, through tech and tide,
They stood for truth, with honor as their guide.
We honour the pathfinders, the mighty and brave —
Halilu Ahmed Getso, Salisu Alhassan Bichi,
Late Hassan Safiyanu Gumel and Murtala Maikaba the sage,
Labaran Maku, Bisi Adekunle, and Shola Lawal of Concord’s page.
Sani Zorro, the Presido of the Great Union, who dared the status quo,
Muhammad Garba, two-time NUJ President too, as an associate member of the Chapel, bold as morning glow.
Late Abdullahi Yakubu of New Nigerian and Leadership too,
And Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, ever compassionate, ever true.
From Edwin Olofu’s pen that spoke with fire,
To Ibrahim Garba Shua’ibu whose words inspire.
ThisDay’s prolific Yakubu Musa my Vice, Suwaid bn Isa of NNN, Ja’afar Ja’afar bold,
Sani Umar, voice for the voiceless, with a heart of gold.
Mohammed Ya’u of RDF, once of Sokoto’s The Path,
VOA’s Sani Malumfashi, whose courage would never depart.
The Top 10 warriors, the best Chapel Chairman that we never had — Nathaniel Ikyur —, Babajide Otitoluju, Gali Sadiq Balarabe the calm,
Ado Saleh Kankia and my sis Amina Waziri, Mustapha Muhammad and his younger brother, Dokaji — all of BBC — both bear the truth as their charm.
Haruna Aliyu Hadejia and Ibrahim Mohammed, radio’s pride,
Jinge Michael of the Voice of Benue, Thompson Charlie Yamput from Plateau’s radical Standard.
Ustaz MS Abdullahi the vibrant Chapel Secretary and late Bashir Umar of The Sun,
Desmond Mgboh, Tina Anthony — their journalistic runs well spun.
From Radio Nigeria’s gallant crew —
Abubakar Abdurahman, Aliyu Yahaya, now,
Professor Samaila Shehu, Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf of Gaskiya Ta Fi Kwabo,
The Kakaki of Almizan, loud and raw.
Osa Director, a champion of justice, with a heart that’s kind and true,
Osibademen Isibor the Okrika suit holding, a journalist with a heart of gold too.
Suleiman Anyewulechi, the kingmaker himself,
Akinola Alli, the Chair, a leader who needed no help.
Umar Yari another powerful Secretary, a pen warrior full of cheer,
Late Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada, whose voice we still hear.
Aliyu Abubakar Askira, short-lived Chairman with resolve,
Ibrahim Aliyu; the vital link, with problems he’d always solve.
We remember the tiny Jakuskus, whose reign was enviable,
Late Bello Fagge, of A Yau, Today, and Abuja Mirror, dependable and capable.
Na Baker uban Sumayya da Khalid — no tale more powerful, more free,
Adamu Joshua Marshall, whose legacy stands firm like a tree.
Babangida Funtua of The Democrat, the money keeper, wise and true,
Late Weekly Trust’s Musa Umar Kazaure, the one who always knew.
Now Dr. Habeeb AT Yaqoob, his journalistic heart aglow,
Auwaliye bn Umar of Daily Times, fierce in pen and flow.
Daily Times’ Ubale Musa, and Patience Musa of The Monitor, strong and kind,
Late Umar Suleiman, sports guru with a brilliant mind.
Bassey Inyang of Express Newspaper, bold and never cold,
Their stories are still fresh, their memories never old.
Ricardo Chidi Obi, of blessed memory who wrote for The Guardian,
The jerry coil with flair, fierce and modern. Wurjanjan”s
John Alechenu of The Punch, and late Augustine Maduwest, the Chief himself — rare,
The late Cosmos Etaiyi Elaigwu of The Champion Newspaper, whose spirit filled the air.
His ‘brother from another mother’ — the fearful Kayode Olaitan of the Yari, Should I Go? fame — hand in hand,
Oyelere Kola of Tribune, Kolade Adeyemi’s strategic brand.
Malam Ahmad Muhammad Kwalam, a VOA light,
Muhammad Salisu Rabiu of A Kori Kwalam still shines bright.
Dahiru Suleiman of Gaskiya, whose kwabo outshone gold,
Ibrahim Dahiru of New Nigerian, courageous and bold.
Hussain Abubakar Mbar of NAN, once a Chapel Chair who gave his all,
Samaila Dabai of FRCN, always ready to answer the call.
Isa Muhammad Inuwa of Radio Germany,
Aminu Abubakar of Radio France — a duo in harmony.
Garba Lere of Voice of Nigeria, Hisham Habib once of Trust,
Habibi and Madu Jerry — journalism with no rust.
Aliyu Dankama of Radio Nigeria Kaduna, Jamilan Trust with twin sparks,
Professor Ruqayya Aliyu and Habiba Adamu — steady arcs.
Yusha’u Adamu, Hassan Karofi, Mustapha Kwaru the steady,
Late Ahmed Abubakar, Giginyu, Dawud Nazifi, and Mudassir Ismail ever ready.
Chika Nwabueze, Ibrahim Birnin Magaji — composed and sound,
Tajuddeen Suleiman, a Chapel Chair of powerful power.
Ashahabu Lawal of NAN — quiet yet bold,
Sunday Alu, the gallant soldier who operated from the kitchen front with a heart of gold.
Remembering Lanky Lawal Sabo Ibrahim, pioneering Blueprint in Kano and his brother, Bash M. Bash, the philosophical journalist with the touch of Americana.
Salihu Othman Isah — the Hotman, full of flame and flair,
And Yusuf Ozi Usman, Chapel Chairman, always fair.
Mustapha Gide and Bala Abdullahi of New Nigerian print,
Late ace photographer Zubairu Shaba and Kabiru Funtua — never a stint.
The silent John Akubo, present in every ink,
And many unnamed heroes who made us all think.
Ahmad Muhammad Soron Dinki, once Voice of Nigeria’s own,
And Abdulsalam Mohammed of Hallmark, with brilliance shown.
Then comes Vincent Eguyanga of the Champion newspaper — the whitish figure with a smile so rare,
Mike Ndidi, the sporting troublemaker, always with a daring flair.
Aliyu Mudi Suleiman, our meticulous Chapel Auditor, sharp and bright,
Whose commitment to order kept our records right.
And now we add with pride and joy,
Muhammad Bello of Tempo, with a pen none could destroy.
Ibrahim Msheliza Gwamna of TNT, whose truth hit hard and clean,
Mujiba Labaran Bello — Radio Nigeria’s queen,
A former Chapel Chair who led with grace,
A sister, a voice, a proud journalistic face.
Also worthy of mention is youthful Aliyu Machika,
Of the then Weekly Trust — a journalistic paprika.
Known for his radicalism, fearless in tone,
He made the truth tremble on its very own throne.
Now enter Idris Abdurahman, the coolest of all time,
A NAN correspondent, classic, subtle, and sublime.
And Suleiman Dangana of The Week magazine — with a face scratched like a tiger’s game,
Yet fearless in pursuit of news, never seeking fame.
Abu Danazimi of NAN — bold with the mic and mind,
His stories dug deep, and left no truth behind.
Our adorable Aisha Ahmed, the quiet mama of NAN,
Her grace was poetry, her silence a plan. Then comes my girl,
Ramatu Garba, together with her sister — gentle but sure,
And Zainab Fumi Bose, whose presence was pure. Plus our Khadija Aliyu of FRCN “karamar su, babbarsu”
They capped it all with leadership strong,
Aminu Garko, the boss — who held the Chapel.
And now, in the saddle, is Murtala Dan Adewale,
The incumbent Chair guiding this journalistic ballet.
These individuals, with passion, grit and grace,
Gave this Chapel its heartbeat, its journalistic base.
Through shadows and storms, they lit the way,
And still their spirit guides us today.
As we celebrate 70 years of the Kano State Correspondents’ Chapel,
We fondly remember the Late Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada, Umar Suleiman,
Mike Oboh, Sani Abdullahi, Bello Fagge, Musa Baker, Jinge Michael,
Cosmos Elaigwu, Ricardo Chidi Obi, Zubairu Shaba, Bashir Umar,
Ted Udogwu, Augustine Madu-West, and Ibrahim Barde — all legends eternal.
May Allah bless this noble Chapel — the famed “Galadima Bombers.”
For those not named, your legacy is part of this honor.
We appreciate you all — in silence or in thunder —
For the truth you wrote, and the unity you fostered under.
Lamara Garba Azare
Former Chairman, Kano State NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel
