The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has described the death of Isma’ila Isa Funtua as a rude shock and a severe blow to the media industry in the country.
Mr Mohammed hailed Isa Funtua’s contribution to media development and his untiring defence of free speech and the freedom of the press, in a statement by the minister’s Special Assistant to the minister, Segun Adeyemi.
According to him, Mr Funtua’s passion for the media industry saw him serving as the life patron of the NPAN and taking active interest in matters concerning the industry until his death.
“Mallam Isa Funtua was a man of many parts, with his eventful life highlighted by service, whether as a media icon, an entrepreneur or a philanthropist. He also served as a government Minister and a member of the 1994-1995 Constitutional Conference, hallmarking his versatility,” the minister said.
Mr Mohammed, however, extended his condolences to Mr. President, other family and friends of the late Isa Funtua, the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, and indeed the entire media industry.
He prayed for the repose of the soul of the departed, and for comfort and strength to the family he left behind.
