A sense of loss pervades the West Africa Broadcast and Media Academy (WABMA) over the death of its Executive Director, Nkemjika Attoh, who passed away on Wednesday in Enugu, capital of Enugu State.
“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,” said Kevin Ejiofor, Chairman of WABMA.
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.
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 to set the academic and professional direction of our academy. We will miss him sorely,” said Ken Ike Okere, WABMA’s Rector.
