By: Inuwa Bwala
As the favourite of Borno youths between 1998 and 1999, most people thought he was going to be the governor of Borno state. But God had a different design for him.
I had cause to then refer to him as the reluctant bride in Borno’s search for a governor.
That was the time our paths first crossed. Since then, I have kept a tab on him until I was eventually brought into the government, in which he was the virtual engine room.

Baba Ahmad Jidda, a seasoned Nigerian diplomat, public servant, and politician , is an awesome personality: anyone will be pleased to work with.
He was almost indispensable in the governance of Borno, which was why he was virtually in every Government, since Ali Modu Sheriff.
But for National call, when he was invited to serve as the Nigerian Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmad Jidda, would have been the ageless public servant to have served his home state Borno Coincidentally born on October 1, 1951, some nine years before independence, Baba Ahmad Jidda is as vast and sophisticated as Nigeria herself.
Often regarded as the golden boy of Marte, one of the Local Government Areas in Northern Borno State, Jidda has had a distinguished career in public service.
A low down on him indicate that, Jidda began his education at Elementary School 1, Marte, and later attended Senior Primary School, Maiduguri, before proceeding to Government College, Maiduguri, for his Higher School Certificate (HSC).
He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1975. He also attended postgraduate programs at the University of Manchester, United Kingdom. Baba Ahmad began as Administrative Officer in the Borno State Civil Service and rose through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary.
His exceptional performances saw him being elevated as Secretary to the Borno State Government, spanning ten years.
Given his vast knowledge of issues, the then Governor of Borno state, now the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima nick-named Baba Ahmad Jidda the “Institution”.
He was to further stay on, as the SSG, untill the Federal Government sought him out and appointed him as Ambassador of Nigeria to Burkina Faso in 2000 and later the Ambassador to China in 2017.
Jidda was also Special Adviser to the President on National Emergency.
And just when we thought he will be retiring to private life, after his excellent outing in China, which earned him the honour of being the doyen of diplomats in China, Ambassador Jida has again been handed the task of being Chairman of the Governing Board of the Federal University of Education, Zaria.
It did not come to many as a surprise that he was confered the National Honour of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) award in 2010 the same year he was elected a Fellow of the Institute of Industrialists and Corporate Administrators.
Jidda has been a recipient of several awards, including the Award of Excellence for Amirul Hajj and a Merit Award for Political and Bureaucratic Excellence.
Those who had the privilege of working with him can attest to the fact that, Baba Ahmad Jidda is a tireless workaholic, with an uncommon talent for solving very difficult assignments. This explains why, he remains the rallying personality for all former cabinet members, who served with Senator Kashim Shettima.
I am aware that, he has been an invaluable asset to the government of Professor Babagana Umara Zulum Nigeria’s leading servant governor.
Happy birthday Your Excellency, Baba Ahmad Jidda, OFR.

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

Media practitioners in Nigeria have been admonished to always prioritise national interest in their daily reportage of events in order not to plunge the country into an unwarranted turmoil.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq gave the advice in Ilorin, the state capital, on Wednesday evening at the grand finale of the Press Week of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara Council, with the theme “Renewed Hope Agenda: Mid-Term Appraisal of The Tinubu’s Reforms, Success and Prospects”.

Governor AbdulRazaq, who was represented by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, lauded media practitioners for their patriotism, urging them to maintain their patriotic habit of responsible journalism.

Cautioning that the power of the media to change situations for better should not be undermined, Governor AbdulRazaq specifically applauded members of the Correspondents Chapel for exhibiting professionalism in the discharge of their duties as the watchdog of the society.

The Governor was optimistic that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would eventually make life better for the citizenry, urging continued support to the administration in order to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people.

In her keynote address, the Commissioner for Communication, Mrs Bolanle Olukoju, represented by the Director of Information Services, Alhaji Olayinka Salau, said the present administration inherited a government that is having teething problems at the onset,
noting that the introduction of the Renewed Hope Agenda has brought a lot of relief to the populace.

Olukoju said the removal of petroleum subsidy, though very painful, is now yielding fruitful results, adding that the floating of the naira has gone a long way in reshaping the nation’s economy.

The Commissioner said the present administration has been able to save a lot of funds through blockage of leakages in different sectors of the economy, pointing out that the transformation in the power sector would soon yield good results to make the populace enjoy.

Olukoju, therefore, urged Nigerians to exercise patience while the reforms embarked upon by the present administration continue to yield results.

In his goodwill message, the Director of Corporate Affairs, University of Ilorin, Mr. Kunle Akogun, said the media has tremendously assisted in making job easier for the populace, adding that with the advent of new technology more people are now getting acquainted with the happenings in government corridors.

In his message, the Director General of Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies,(MINILS), Comrade Isa Aremu, represented by Mrs Damilola Omole, lauded media professionals for their unwavering commitment to shaping the society, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the federal government has created a veritable platform for improved welfare for Nigerians.

Also speaking, former Commissioner for information in Kwara State, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin, advised journalists to remain steadfast in the discharge of their responsibilities, urging a
media interaction with the State Governor to enable the administration showcase its achievements.

In his address, the Member representing Edu/Moro and Patigi Federal Constituency of Kwara State in the House of Representatives, Mallam Ahmed Saba, who was represented by Barrister Paul Ajiroba, commended the chapel and media professionals for their contributions in enlightening the public on the activities of government.

He said the media serves as a reawakening platform for both the leaders and the led towards enabling them to provide purposeful leadership.

In his remarks, Member representing Ojomu Balogun Constituency at the state House of Assembly,vDavid Oguniyi, noted that without free journalism, there can be no good development in the society, stressing that the media has been serving as checks and balances in the administration of good governance in the state and the country in general.

In his address, entitled “Six years of Service, One Chapel, One Purpose: Reflections and Renewed Hope”, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ Kwara State Council, Mallam Abdulhakeem Garba, thanked Almighty God for granting him the opportunity to lead the chapel in the past six years, lauding members’ support for the modest
achievements recorded by his executive.

Mallam Garba assured that media professionals l would continue to do their best in showcasing activities in the society as they unfold.

He appealed to the Kwara State government to organise a media tour for journalists to enable them adequately report developmental projects in rural communities.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Press Week Committee, Mr. Demola Akinyemi, had described the opportunity given to him and other committee members of committee to organise the programme as a rare privilege.

He thanked members, and particularly friends of the chapel who supported the event to achieve a resounding success, urging them not to waver in their support to the chapel.

END

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Tiv people are often mistakenly believed to be exclusively from Benue State, a misconception that has persisted for decades due to deliberate narratives that seek to confine Tiv identity to Benue. This is the origin of the phrase “Tiv from Benue.”

In reality, the Tiv are the single largest ethnic group in the Middle Belt and the fourth largest in Nigeria, with communities spread across several states in what is considered Central Nigeria. Before the creation of Benue State, the Tiv were the largest ethnic group in the old Gongola State—now divided into Adamawa and Taraba States. They were also the largest ethnic group in the former Benue-Plateau State, which was later split into Benue, Kogi, Plateau, and Nasarawa States. Today, Tiv people remain a majority in parts of Taraba and Nasarawa, in addition to their strong presence in Benue.

Beyond the Middle Belt, the Tiv are also one of the largest tribes in Cross River State in Eastern Nigeria.

Internationally, the Akwaya District of Cameroon is dominated by Tiv communities. In that region and beyond, several minority groups have adopted Tiv cultural practices—particularly in dance, cuisine, and traditional attire. This makes the Tiv one of the most widespread ethnic groups in Nigeria and a recognized minority in Cameroon.

A Tiv person is either from West Africa’s Nigeria or Central Africa’s Cameroon. Within Nigeria, the spiritual capital of the Tiv people is located in Kwande, while the official Palace of the Tor Tiv is in Gboko.

If you want, I can also make a more punchy, advocacy-style version that reads like a myth-busting piece. That could be more impactful for public awareness campaigns.