The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has expressed “shock, sadness and a deep sense of loss” over the death of the National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and veteran journalist, Mr. Emmanuel Yawe.
Yawe died in his sleep on Thursday, March 10, 2022. He was 66.
A statement from the NGE, signed by its President, Mustapha Isah, and General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, recalled how the late Yawe remained a committed member of the Guild even after several years of retiring from public service.
The statement said: “Mr. Emmanuel Yawe was one of the peacemakers and voices of reason who ensured that the last elective congress of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in Kano was smooth and rancour free.
“Even after the congress, Mr. Yawe again played an active role in the last biennial Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), which held a few months later in Abuja. There, he had served as a key discussant in one of the sessions on security.
“At that session, he brought his experiences as editor, publisher, government spokesperson, public servant and mouthpiece of the ACF to bear, as he advised editors on how best to report issues of national security, especially in a volatile and delicate country like Nigeria.”
A distinguished journalist and author, Yawe was, at various times, member, Editorial Board of Advisers, The Point newspaper; Editorial Board member, People’s Daily; Managing Editor, New Sentinel; and Editor, Crystal International News Magazine.
He also served on the Editorial Board of the New Nigerian Newspapers between 1982 and 1983.
A 1979 graduate of Political Science from University of Ibadan, Yawe, between 1988 and 1992, served as Managing Director of Gongola Press Ltd, and before then, Director General, Governor’s Office, Gongola State, between 1987–1988 and Editor, Sunday Triumph (1984 – 1987).
Yawe, who hailed from Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State, briefly served as Chief Press Secretary, Governor’s Office, Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba states) in 1983.
Whilst describing him as “an editor’s editor, trainer and mentor to many of the editors on the seat today”, the association said, “The
NGE joins the family, the entire fraternity of the pen, the ACF and the governments and people of both Taraba and Adamawa states in mourning the painful exit of this media icon and peerless patriot, who, at 66 years of age, still had a might lot of service to give to the fatherland.”
It added: “Emmanuel Yawe will be greatly remembered as a true professional who gave his all to the journalism profession in Nigeria. We will miss him greatly.”
