NPC Press Corps mourns chairman, pledges to sustain media Collaboration

The National Population Commission (NPC) Press Corps has commiserated with the management of the Commission over the death of its Chairman, Dr. Aminu Yusuf, describing the late administrator as a media-friendly leader who was committed to strengthening the relationship between the Commission and journalists.

The Press Corps, led by its Chairman, Joshua Adams, made the call on Thursday when it paid a condolence visit to the NPC headquarters in Abuja, where the delegation presented a condolence letter and signed the Commission’s condolence register.

The delegation was received by the Federal Commissioner representing Plateau state and acting Head of the Chairman’s office, Mrs. Mary Ishaya Afan, alongside other Federal Commissioners, the Director-General and management staff of the Public Affairs Department.

Speaking during the visit, Adams described Yusuf as a lover of the media who understood the importance of journalists in communicating the activities and achievements of the Commission to Nigerians.

He recalled that the Press Corps had met with the late chairman on three occasions before his death, noting that Yusuf consistently expressed his willingness to work closely with the media.

“At the last World Population Day commemoration, that was the last time we met with him. He asked us to draft a programme of activities and share with him so that we could work together to project the activities of the Commission,” Adams said.

He disclosed that the Press Corps has about 34 member platforms drawn from major media organisations across the country.

Responding, Afan said the late chairman placed considerable importance on media engagement as part of his seven-point agenda for the Commission.

“No matter how hard-working you are, if you don’t work very closely with the media team, information will not go out,” she said.

Afan assured the delegation that the Commission would sustain programmes initiated by the late chairman, saying, “We are not going to overturn any of them. We would want to have those programmes of activities soonest so that we can key into them immediately.”

The Federal Commissioner representing Oyo state and Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee, Dr. Eyitayo Oyetunji, said the Commission remained in shock over Yusuf’s death, recalling his readiness to deepen engagement with the media.

“We thank you for this visit. The NPC will do as much as possible to sustain the mission and this collaboration that we have with you,” Oyetunji said.

Also, the Director-General of the NPC, Dr. Abuh Mohammed, described Yusuf as a visionary leader who sought to transform the Commission through his seven-point agenda.

He said the late chairman was a leader who carried everyone along rather than bossing people around, assuring that the Commission would do everything possible to sustain and fulfil his policies.