Elder Statesman, Ahmed Joda, Dies At 91

A former super federal Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Joda,
is dead.

His Personal Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Baba, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Yola that Joda died after a
brief illness at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, on Friday.

Baba said the deceased was born in Yola in 1930, attended Yola
Elementary School and Yola Middle School before proceeding to
Barewa College from 1945 to 1948.

In the 1950s, he attended Pitman College, London, and gained
practical experience in journalism while staying in Britain.

After completing his secondary education in 1948, Joda was
admitted to Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

He worked briefly at an agricultural centre in Yola before
entering the field of journalism at Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria.

He later worked for the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission serving
as the editor of NBC Kaduna, then joined the Northern Nigeria civil
service as Chief Information Officer and later permanent secretary
in the regional Ministry of Information.

In 1967, he became a federal permanent secretary in the Ministry
of Information and subsequently moved to Lagos.

“It is worthy to note that he was the chairman of the 18-member
transition committee, nominated by General Muhammadu Buhari to
receive the hand over notes from the Goodluck Jonathan-led
administration in 2015.

“Ahmed Joda is an administrator, journalist and politician. Also
worthy of note is the fact that he was the chairman of the
transition committee in 1979 when General Obasanjo handed over to
President Shagari,” he said.

Joda had been buried in Yola according to the Islamic rites.

Sheikh Tijjani Tahir, the Deputy Chief Imam of Yola town Central
Mosque, led the funeral prayers.

The burial was attended by top Adamawa Government officials led
by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Bashir Ahmed,
representatives of Adamawa Emirate Council and politicians, among
others.

Joda is survived by four children, comprising two males and two
females, including Hajiya Asmau Joda, a female activist. (NAN)

A former super federal Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Ahmed Joda,
is dead.

His Personal Secretary, Alhaji Mohammed Baba, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Yola that Joda died after a
brief illness at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, on Friday.

Baba said the deceased was born in Yola in 1930, attended Yola
Elementary School and Yola Middle School before proceeding to
Barewa College from 1945 to 1948.

In the 1950s, he attended Pitman College, London, and gained
practical experience in journalism while staying in Britain.

After completing his secondary education in 1948, Joda was
admitted to Moor Plantation, Ibadan.

He worked briefly at an agricultural centre in Yola before
entering the field of journalism at Gaskiya Corporation, Zaria.

He later worked for the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission serving
as the editor of NBC Kaduna, then joined the Northern Nigeria civil
service as Chief Information Officer and later permanent secretary
in the regional Ministry of Information.

In 1967, he became a federal permanent secretary in the Ministry
of Information and subsequently moved to Lagos.

“It is worthy to note that he was the chairman of the 18-member
transition committee, nominated by General Muhammadu Buhari to
receive the hand over notes from the Goodluck Jonathan-led
administration in 2015.

“Ahmed Joda is an administrator, journalist and politician. Also
worthy of note is the fact that he was the chairman of the
transition committee in 1979 when General Obasanjo handed over to
President Shagari,” he said.

Joda had been buried in Yola according to the Islamic rites.

Sheikh Tijjani Tahir, the Deputy Chief Imam of Yola town Central
Mosque, led the funeral prayers.

The burial was attended by top Adamawa Government officials led
by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Bashir Ahmed,
representatives of Adamawa Emirate Council and politicians, among
others.

Joda is survived by four children, comprising two males and two
females, including Hajiya Asmau Joda, a female activist. (NAN)