VOA correspondent, Ladan Ibrahim Ayawa’s death, a tragedy
By Correspondent l Thursday, August 06, 2020
LAGOS, Nigeria – Upsetting Yes, Surprised No, because it’s a path decreed that every human must pass through. That was what came to my mind yesterday night, when news of the death of a friend, colleague and brother, Ladan Ibrahim Ayawa filtered from Washington, the United States.
For over the 13 years, our path crossed with this humbled, amiable, hardworking and courageous journalist and broadcaster. Since 2007 we’ve been closed allies, traversing the streets of Lagos, Ogun and some parts of Nigeria to covering news beats.
Ladan became popular to many Hausa radio listeners when he joined Voice of America, Hausa Service, reporting from Lagos as their correspondent. But before then he was at Voice of Nigeria, VON and subsequently Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN.
He studied Hausa at Usman Dan Fodio University Sokoto, but he was one of the best reporters at FRCN Lagos when he held sway as State House Correspondent in Lagos, covering the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
His dexterity, passion and commitment attract the attention of the then Director General Eddie Iroh, who was satisfied with his performance of hitting the national network news almost every 7am, to reward him with an official accommodation in Lagos, which was later sold to him via owner occupier basis during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
Ladan was creative and hardworking. He never says NO to his editors and most times he surprised them with a news and investigative package that hits the headlines. He generates news and feature stories out of nothing. Perhaps, those were the qualities that Voice of America saw in him and present him with a contract to serve as their Lagos correspondent.
While at VOA, Ladan distinguished himself among the organization correspondents, contributing to both news and magazines programs. He knew all the nooks and crannies of Lagos and he always visits scene of events to gathered first hand information to satisfy the curiosity of his editors and listeners.
Through him, Umar Shehu Elleman, Mansur Bala Bello and myself knew so many places in Lagos, but often times we relied on him to get materials of happenings in Lagos which only those who knew how the city works would appreciate.
When I met him in 2007, we instantly became friends and helped me secured accommodation next to his house. His residence served as the only community mosque within that area where the five daily prayers are observed.
His car was our taxi and Ladan was our driver. He can closed work at 4pm and wait for us (Ahaziah Suleiman, Jimeta and myself) till 10pm to finish our routine duties before leaving Ikoyi for Yaba where we all resides. You can hardly see his anger and he’s always jovial.
His transferred to Washington was the first struck that broke the camel’s back by creating vacuum within us and only the listeners can give a better assessment of his performance at VOA headquarters.
Our last meeting was about two years ago when he visited after the demised of his mother, even though we maintain communication through various channels.
Yesterday, his former colleague, Hassan Maina Kaina first broke the news around 10pm which was also confirmed by Babangida Jibril, another ex-colleague.
It was indeed tragic, but as Muslims who believed in destiny, we prayed to Almighty Allah to comfort his family and several close friends such as Uwais Abubakar Idris, Babangida Jibril, Mansur Bala Bello, Umar Shehu Elleman, Dr Dauda Muhammed Kontagora and Sen Ibrahim Musa among many others who are deeply touched by this departure.
May Allah reward Ladan Ibrahim Ayawa with Aljannah Firdaus.
