The Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, has commiserated with the family of Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua who died on Monday at the age of 78 years old.
The guild, in a statement jointly signed by its President Mustapha Isah and Secretary Ken Ugbechie, said it is deeply saddened by Funtua’s demise.
They prayed the Almighty God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss of an “elder statesman, newspaper publisher, a brilliant administrator, a former minister and a feisty defender of free press.”
“A friend and political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Ismaila Funtua has, over the decades, remained consistent like the Northern Star whose influence stretched beyond journalism to manufacturing and politics.
“In him, the nation will miss a forthright and bold patriot who deployed his defunct newspaper, The Democrat, to foster national unity, promote free speech and engender a culture of high ethical standard in journalism.
“The Guild mourns a friend and supporter whose appearances and seminal contributions at our annual conferences helped to deepen discourses and provide a compass for the younger generation of journalists in the country.
“The late Funtua was the Founder of Bulet International Nigeria Limited, one of the biggest indigenous construction companies in the country, which built most of the magnificent public buildings in Abuja.
“He founded the New Africa Holdings (publishers of the defunct Democrat newspapers). He was also a former President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN.
“Until his death, MallamFuntua was a life patron of both NPAN and the International Press Institute, IPI. Journalism and the nation would miss this rare patriot.”
