K. FOUNDATION PAYS CONDOLENCE VISIT TO FREEDOM RADIO

The Executive Council and members of The Kwandala Foundation on Wednesday 24^th December 2008 paid a condolence visit to the management of Freedom Radio over the death of their first General Manager Umar Dutse Muhammad who passed on to his Maker at a hospital in Egypt on the 16^th December 2008. They were warmly received by the management in the Conference Room of the independent radio station.

Arc. Tijjani Muhammad Musa, President of the NGO who led the delegation expressed the Foundation’s sympathy over the loss, which he described as too great to be replaced. He described the late Umar Dutse Muhammad as a sound man devoid of envy and selfishness in his dealings with both his staff and business partners of the station. He also said the late Umar Dutse was always looking for a fresh and innovative approach to program concepts, productions and presentations which resulted in Freedom Radio becoming a phenomenon in the broadcasting landscape of the north overnight. His ability to humbly resolve intricate and contending issues between parties became legendary and so establishing a reputation that is yet to be equaled. The President also highlighted Umar Dutse’s support of the Foundation as being the backbone for the sound establishment of the organization and its being heard of across the world.

Furthermore Arc. Tijjani Muhammad appealed to the management for support in the execution of its various humanitarian projects by giving the organization the airtime to call on people to donate even if it is a kwandala i.e. N1:00 coin if the need should arise towards alleviating the sufferings of persons visited by misfortunes. He also informed the management that henceforth the Secretariat of The Kwandala Foundation would now be formally known as Umar Dutse Muhammad Secretariat.

The Secretary-General of the Kwandala Foundation Nasiru Sa’id Adhama on his part while praying for the soul of the man, called on the station management to immortalize the memories of the late General Manager by naming the mosque located in the premises of the station after the Freedom Radio pioneer head.

Malam Mansour Muhammad Alawee who leads the team that received the visiting Kwandala Foundation thanked the delegation for their support to the station in its trying times and expressed his delight at such a suggestion, promising to extend it to their Board of Directors for possible adoption. He also said his former boss is a man like no other and prayed for his departed soul.

Finally more prayers were offered for God to grant the deceased eternal rest in Al-Jannatu Firdaus and to give the management of the radio station the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.