The former Secretary of Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) FCT, late Rafat Idris Salami, was on Friday buried at the Gudu Cemetery according to Islamic rites amidst tears, weeping and tributes.
Reputable journalists and leaders of the union including the National President of the NUJ, Malam Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, immediate past President, Dr. Chris Isiguzo, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, and others were present to bid departed former council scribe farewell.
Late Rafat Idris Salami, who was described as a rare gem and an icon in the media industry until her death in the early hour of Thursday was a Deputy Director, Digital Department of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and re-elected Treasurer of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria.
Rafat’s death is huge loss to Journalism Profession – Alhassan
While mourning the deceased, NUJ National President, Malam Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, said he death was a huge loss to the journalism profession in Nigeria. He assured that the union will not abandon the children she left behind.
Malam Alhassan said: “First of all we should know that death is inevitable. One day all of us will die but at the same time, losing someone who is reliable, tested and trusted, someone who is hard working is really touching.
“And I want to use this opportunity to condole the FCT Council and the entire working journalists in Nigeria.
“Late Rafat is not an ordinary journalist, but someone who has contributed immensely towards promoting the journalism profession in Nigeria. I want to assure you that we would continue to the children she left behind.
“And I want to also use this opportunity to sincerely appeal to all of us. This should serve as a lesson to all of us. And it should serve as a lesson because I am thinking that it is high time for all of us to think how we can become united in the sense that we would work together towards promoting peace and promoting our profession as well as promoting development on our country. May her soul rest in peace.”
It is an Irreplaceable Loss – Isiguzo
The immediate past President of the NUJ, Dr Chris Isiguzo has described the death of Mrs Rafat as an irreplaceable loss, saying it would be difficult to have another Rafat.
He urged journalists all over the country to honour her by sustaining her legacy of professionalism, sound ethical behaviour and trust worthiness.
He said, “Well, it’s so sad. The last time that we were together was during the Annual General Meeting of the International Press Institute Nigeria, where she was re-elected as the treasurer of IPI and cracked jokes and after then this is it.
“And each time this kind of thing happens, it reminds us of the femality of life. Life is so transient and we are Ambassadors on earth and we must always bear that in mind in everything we do.
“We have a place we must go to, a place we must return to and give account of our stewardship. If somebody clocks 100 years and the person passes, we mourn because it’s not easy to loss a beloved one.
He recalled that late Rafat was our friend and colleague. She was somebody if you have an issue, you could easily reach out to her and she has something to say. It’s unfortunate that she has left us
“Our prayer is that the Almighty God would accept her soul in His bosom. And all we need to do to continue to remember her is to sustain her legacy of professionalism, sound ethical behaviour, and trust worthiness. And by the time we sustain all these, we would be doing her that honour.
“I pray the Almighty God will grant everyone of us including members of her immediate family the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss. It’s an irreplaceable loss indeed. Rafat is gone, it would be difficult to have another Rafat. May her soul rest in peace,” he said.
I’ll Miss Her Motherly Advise – Grace Ike
The chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike has described as very painful the death of the late Mrs Rafat, who she fondly call Madam Rafat, saying she would miss her motherly advise.
“We have a strong member of the journalism profession, and a close confidant. This is so painful. Madam Rafat as I fondly call her, she would be missed. It is so hard to believe she is gone.. I will miss her motherly advise and the council have lost a formidable stakeholder. May her soul rest in peace.”
Also present at the cemetery include former Chairmen of Council, Mr Amos Dunia, Jacob Edi, Comrade Paul Ella Abechi, serving Secretary of Council, Jide Oyekunle, Exco members, colleagues and sympathisers.
