Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf: mourned

The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has expressed sadness over  the death in Mecca of  Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf, describing the death as a ‘heavy blow to the association’ and journalism.

The veteran journalist and editor  died during the tragic Hajj stampede which claimed no fewer than 700 pilgrims.

 “Her sudden demise, at a time when the association and the nation needed such outspoken women journalists can never be more disheartening. She was an exemplary member of the association and a veteran journalist of international repute, a columnist, journalism ombudsman and civil society activist”, said Ifeyinwa Omowole, President of NAWOJ..

 Hajiya Bilikisu, a  syndicated columnist for Daily Trust and Leadership newspapers, was also  the Executive Director of Advocacy Nigeria , a movement working for the reduction of Maternal and Child Mortality.

 She was a devout Muslim and founding member of Federation of Muslim Women’s Association (FOMWAN); she was relentless in her fight for the cause of those affected by insurgency in the North-East.

 “She was one of our own and she will never be forgotten in a hurry; not by the many journalists she had trained and mentored,” Omowole added.

 Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar  has also expressed deep regret and sorrow over the tragedy that struck Muslim pilgrims during a stampede in Mecca that claimed hundreds of lives, among them a senior Nigerian female journalist and nine other victims from Nigeria.

He described the  Hajiya Bilikisu Yusuf,  “as the shining light of the journalism profession in Nigeria, and a pride to Northern Nigeria for being the first female Editor of the North’s two major newspapers – The Triumph and The New Nigerian.”

The former Vice President noted that the late Bilikisu Yusuf was not only an outstanding editor, but also an internationally recognised activist on women and development issues.

A statement released by his media office in Abuja on Saturday, 26 September, described the Saudi tragedy  as one of the saddest accidents to have befallen Muslims in recent memories.

The former Vice President noted that such colossal loss of human life was rare and remarkably regrettable, adding that the Muslim world should be united in grief and offer prayers to God to avert this kind of accident of calamitous proportion.

The Turaki Adamawa says life is so precious that whoever dies, the world should be united in grief because “we are bound by our common humanity.” Atiku advises that “we learn lessons from these tragic incidents, and take precautionary measures to ward off future disasters.”

The former Vice President conveys his condolences to the families of the Nigerian victims of this tragedy.