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Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada hinted about his death a week earlier – Driver
Mukhtar Yahya Usman
Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada, veteran journalist and media administrator who died on June 30, 2019 had a premonition of death a week before he died, according to his driver.
In this exclusive interview with Kano Focus marking the anniversary of the late journalist’s death, Ado Gama aka Ado Gauta said Mr Tudun Wada started bidding farewell to this world a week before his death.
“He looked at his children who followed him outside to bid him farewell as he set out for his last journey and said to me ‘Ado I pity these children.’ I was stunned and asked what he meant.”
“He said ‘I will not live long with them, and I wonder how their lives would be after my demise’.”
“A day after, while I was driving him he told me ‘Ado I think I’m going to die’
“I was taken aback and offered to proceed to hospital if he was feeling ill but he just muttered that it was okay.” Mr Gama recalled.
Most shocking
Ado Gama said what shocked him the most were the words the late UST – as he was popularly known – spoke to his new born baby four days to his death.
“It was on Wednesday four days to his death that I drove him to Abububakar Rimi Television where he had a program.” He said.
Mr Gama said while UST was in the studio his wife called to inform him that she was going to hospital as she was due to deliver.
He said after the program, he drove the late UST to the hospital where they found that the wife had already delivered a baby boy through Caesarian section.
Mr Tudun Wada, according to his driver took the baby in his hands and spoke to it.
“He said ‘boy, you come to the world in a situation where I will not see you grow, and you will not receive my personal upbringing’.”
“We all glared at him in shock” Mr Gama said.
According to the driver, the late UST’s wife protested his assertion but he just left the hospital in silence.
How he died
The late media administrator left for Abuja the next day and returned to Kaduna by rail four days later.
“I drove to Kaduna with his car and picked him up together with his wife and daughter.
“We stopped at Zaria, prayed Zuhr, and took some lunch before heading to Kano.
“He fell asleep before we reached Kura.” Mr Gama said.
He said the crash that killed Mr Tudun Wada occurred at Kura town some few kilometers to Kano metropolis.
“As I was driving, I saw a motorcyclist coming head on and I tried the break but was unable to stop the car.
“I therefore swerved and hit the demarcation dividing the dual carriage road but the car tumbled twice and landed on the other side of the road.” Mr Gama said.
The driver added that he came out safely and onlookers helped him to bring out his passengers who were wounded.
“When Umar was brought out I thought he was sleeping but after we were rushed to hospital he was pronounced dead and I fainted instantly,” said Mr Gama.
His kindness
Ado Gauta said he was Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada’s driver for over 18 years.
“I knew Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada better than many people, he became like a university to me.
“He treated his children like friends and taught them to respect people who are poorer than them.
He said domestic workers were free to scold late UST’s children if they found them misbehaving.
Brief profile
Umar Sa’idu Tudun Wada was the deputy president Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE).
He worked with the Nigerian television Authority NTA and Kano state-owned CTV 67 before moving to the Hausa service of Deutsche Welle (DW).
He also worked with the Voice of America (Hausa Service), Freedom FM Kano, Radio Kano, and Dandalkura in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He served as media aide to Kano state governors Rabi’u Kwankwaso, and Abdullahi Ganduje, as well as Ibrahim Shekarau while he was a gubernatorial candidate.
Mallam Umar Saidu was the immediate past Managing Director of Kano State Radio Corporation and also one time Editor, Concern Magazine.
He also served as Secretary, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kano State Council.
He was also very active in online forums such as Ra’ayi Initiative and Dandalin Siyasa.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The National President of the Government Arabic Teachers College Gwale Old Students Association (GATCOSA), Professor Kabiru Isa Dandago, is dead.
KANO FOCUS reports that Prof. Dandago, a renowned Professor of Accountancy at Bayero University Kano, died on Wednesday evening. His passing has thrown the academic community and associates into mourning.
In a message shared on GATCOSA’s WhatsApp platform, a Director at the Kano State Ministry of Higher Education, Alhaji Nura Dandago, announced that the funeral prayer for the late professor would be held on Thursday at 9:00 a.m. at his residence in Rijiyar Zaki Quarters, Kano.
Until his death, Prof. Dandago served as the National President of GATCOSA and was widely respected for his contributions to education and public service. He previously served as Commissioner for Finance in Kano State during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
Just last Saturday, the late academic presented a paper on economic challenges in Northern Nigeria at a Ramadan Lecture organised by the Islamic Forum of Nigeria, where he spoke passionately about strategies for economic reform and regional development.
Colleagues and admirers described Prof. Dandago as a dedicated scholar and public servant who was deeply committed to building a prosperous and self-reliant nation. His death marks the end of a distinguished career in academia and public service.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
The basketball team of Bayero University Kano (BUK) has emerged champions of the Northwest 3×3 Basketball Championship hosted by Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.
KANO FOCUS reports that the victorious team presented the championship trophy to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Haruna Musa, following their impressive performance at the tournament, which featured six universities from across Northern Nigeria.
BUK went unbeaten throughout the competition, winning all six matches and sealing the title with a thrilling 20–18 victory over the host institution, ABU Zaria, in the final.
In the group stage, BUK recorded a 10–0 win against Northwest University, Kano, and defeated the Air Force Institute of Technology 33–20. The team also edged the Federal University of Education, Kano, 11–9, before securing another dominant 10–0 victory over the Federal University of Transportation, Daura. They capped their remarkable run with the narrow 20–18 triumph in the final.
The victory marks BUK’s second championship title in the history of the competition, reinforcing the university’s growing reputation in collegiate sports.
Receiving the team, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated the athletes for bringing pride to the institution and urged them to sustain and surpass their current achievements. He reaffirmed the management’s commitment to strengthening sports development in the university and pledged continued institutional and individual support for the players’ sporting careers.
The presentation ceremony concluded with the formal handover of the trophy and cash rewards to the athletes in recognition of their discipline, teamwork and excellence.
Nasiru Yusuf Ibrahim
Kano State on Tuesday rolled out the State Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (KN-SEMSAS) as part of efforts to strengthen emergency response and improve access to timely healthcare across the state.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, commended the governor for procuring 20 ambulances for the programme, describing the initiative as a strategic step to align the state with ongoing national emergency health interventions. He noted that a formal inauguration of the scheme would be held at a later date.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf
Dr. Yusuf said the ambulances would play a critical role in transporting pregnant women to hospitals during labour, thereby reducing maternal and infant mortality. He added that any patient conveyed to a hospital through the scheme would have their transportation costs covered by the government.
He also called on members of the Guild of Medical Directors to support the initiative by procuring additional ambulances to complement government efforts.
Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf inspecting the ambulances
According to the commissioner, the vehicles are expected to respond to distress calls within the shortest possible time, ensuring prompt medical attention for residents in need.
Dr. Yusuf further stated that KN-SEMSAS would provide free, coordinated pre-hospital and emergency care services statewide. He described the establishment of the system as a major milestone in strengthening emergency medical response, reducing preventable deaths, and improving access to life-saving care for the people of Kano State.
The event was attended by the Director-General of the Drugs and Medical Consumables Agency, Pharmacist Ghali Sule; the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency (KASCHMA), Dr. Rahila Aliyu Mukhtar; and the Director-General of the Kano State Centre for Disease Control (KNCDC), Prof. Mahmoud Adamu Abbas.
Group Picture
Goodwill messages were presented by representatives of various stakeholders, including the Lafiya Project, the Kano State Accountability Mechanism (KanSLAM), and the Kano State Fire Service, among others.
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GATCOSA President, Prof. Kabiru Isa Dandago is dead
BUK clinches Northwest 3×3 basketball title at ABU Zaria
Kano rolls out emergency medical services, deploys 20 Ambulances
APC constitutes committees for Kano state congress
Lami Maccido, first person to appear on screens of NTA Kano, CTV 67, dies at 72
Kano begins Ramadan food distribution as Gov. Yusuf constitutes feeding committee
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