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Samuel Nda-Isaiah, Chairman of Leadership Newspapers Group, is dead
The media mogul, writer, politician and serial entrepreneur, died last night in Abuja after a brief illness. He was 58.
Confirming his demise, a statement by the family last night said:“We are deeply saddened to announce the news of the passing of the chairman of LEADERSHIP Group/National Economy, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah.
“He died in Abuja on Friday night, after a brief illness. Nda-Isaiah was a family man, a serial entrepreneur and visioner, and a passionate politician. He was, above all, a man of faith. Even in this moment of grief, we know he is in a better place.”
Nda-Isaiah was a pharmacist, but he made his mark as a newspaperman, with three dailies, including the flagship and Nigeria’s Leadership, in his stable.
He was also a serial entrepreneur with a portfolio of thriving businesses and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on whose platform he contested for presidential ticket in 2014.
Nda-Isaiah also held the traditional title of Kakaki Nupe, the spokesperson of the Nupe people.
His last major outing was on Thursday, December 10, when he inaugurated the Board of Economists of Nnational EconomyMedia Limited, a subsidiary of the Leadership Group.
Nda-Isaiah was born in Minna, capital of Niger State on May 1, 1962. He attended the UNA Elementary School before switching over to the Christ Church School, Kaduna in 1968 to complete his primary school education.
He attended the Federal Government College, Kaduna, from 1974 to 1979. He later studied Pharmacy at the Obafemi Awolowo University and did his National Youth Service Corps programme at the Ekiti State General Hospital in 1984.
Nda-Isaiah, fondly called “Sam,” is an alumnus of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore.
He began his working career as a pharmacist at the Kano Specialist Hospital before he moved to the General Hospital, Minna. He worked at Pfizer Products Limited from 1985 to 1989.
A passionate newspaperman and pundit, his column, “Last Word” with a footnote, “Earshot”, was a must read. He started the column as special writer and editorial board member of Daily Trust, before he founded Leadership in 2001. Before Leadership became a full-fledged newspaper, Nda-Isaiah started with, Leadership Confidential.
Meanwhile President Muhammadu BBuhar has condoled with the family of the late Nsa-Isaiah.
in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, he described him as a friend and an ally that will be sorely missed.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and sadness at the death of Publisher of Leadership Newspapers, Sam Nda-Isaiah, a man he describes as ‘a friend and ally.
“The President condoles with the media fraternity, the Nda-Isaiah family, friends and associates of the deceased,” the statement read.
The president was also quoted as saying: “The country has lost a man of conviction, a resolute and dogged believer in a better Nigeria.
“He will be sorely missed. This is a massive fish gone out of the media ocean.”