The renowned broadcaster and executive director of the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy, Nkemjika Attoh, passed away on Wednesday in Enugu State, and the organization is saddened by his loss.
The Academy called the Attoh’s passing a tremendous loss in a statement released on Thursday by its Registrar, Joseph Obari.
As to the announcement, Attoh’s declining health over the last year did not stop him from following his passion of improving development journalism in Nigeria until the final weeks of his life, according to WABMA Chairman Kevin Ejofor.
The statement read, “This is a huge loss to us at WABMA where Jika spent the last years of his life deepening media professionalism. It is a loss that we share with the entire media landscape in Nigeria where this news has sent shockwaves. Our prayers accompany our dear friend and colleague as he journeys on to the great beyond.
“Attoh’s failing health in the past one year did not deter him from pursuing his passion of enhancing development journalism in Nigeria until the very last weeks of his life.
“He was the firebrand professional anchor of the Africa Independent Television’s flagship breakfast show, KAAKAKI and news anchor at CHANNELS Television, Lagos.
“Attoh later became a journalism trainer for the BBC World Service Trust (BBC MediaAction) and a consultant media trainer for ENABLE in Nigeria.
“His media leadership included his roles as the managing director of Enugu State Broadcasting Service,
ESBS; Broadcast Manager and Trainer at Lagoni Media, member of board of directors of West Africa
Democracy Radio, Dakar, Senegal and the genius behind the establishment of BLAZE FM, Awka and
COSMOS FM, Enugu.”
Ejofor said the deceased would be remembered for his leadership role in the broadcasting sector.
He added, “Jika Attoh was a consultant to several government-owned and private radio stations in Nigeria and beyond. He is famously remembered for establishing the first 24-hour FM broadcast service with riveting programming in south-eastern Nigeria.
“To us at WABMA, Jika’s most impactful legacy was in helping to midwife WABMA’s multiple training centres, providing multimedia training modules. In his role as Executive Director of WABMA, Jika helped set our academy’s academic and professional direction. We will miss him sorely.”
