The Kaduna State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of two respected figures in the Nigerian media and academic circles — Dr. Leon Usigbe and Dr. Samson Fagbemi — describing their deaths as a monumental loss to journalism and communication scholarship in the country.
While Dr. Usigbe was until his death the Abuja Bureau Chief of the Nigerian Tribune, Dr. Fagbemi was a veteran lecturer of Mass Communication at the Kaduna Polytechnic and one of the pioneer facilitators at the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Kaduna Study Centre.
The NUJ described both men as “builders of men and institutions,” whose lives were defined by “professional excellence, academic mentorship, and the advancement of the Nigerian media industry.”
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Alhaji Abdulgafar Alabelewe, and the Secretary, Gambo Santos in Kaduna on Saturday, the union said it received the news of their deaths with “a heavy heart.”
“Dr. Leon Usigbe passed on in the early hours of Saturday, July 27, 2025, in Abuja,” the statement said.
The Nigerian Tribune journalists, according to the union, was not only a thoroughbred media professional but also a former member of the Kaduna NUJ family before moving to the nation’s capital.
“Usigbe was known and would be remembered for his professionalism, generosity of spirit, and unwavering commitment to the growth and development of journalism in Nigeria,” the NUJ stated.
Until his passing, Usigbe was one of the leading political correspondents in the country and had, over the years, covered multiple Presidential Villa beats for the Tribune titles with uncommon insight and dedication.
He was also admired for his calm demeanour and deep grasp of public affairs reporting.
“Leon was a journalist. He inspired many young reporters and mentored more than a few newsroom leaders. His pen was fearless, and his principles were never for sale,” said Alabelewe, who is also the Kaduna Bureau Chief of The Nation newspaper.
“His death has left a vacuum in the political reporting niche that will be difficult to fill,” the NUJ chairman added.
On the passing of Dr. Samson Fagbemi earlier in the week, the Council said the communication scholar had left behind an enduring legacy in journalism education across northern Nigeria.
“Dr. Fagbemi played a formative role in the academic journey of many journalists in Kaduna and beyond. He was a long-serving lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Kaduna Polytechnic, and a pioneer visiting lecturer at the Kaduna Study Centre of the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ),” the statement read.
The NUJ said many of its members, both in Kaduna and other parts of the country, passed through his tutelage and could attest to his passion for moulding not just professionals but ethical thinkers and critical communicators.
“Dr. Fagbemi was not just a teacher; he was a mentor, a disciplinarian, and a friend to all who crossed his path in the academic field. His classroom was a place of discipline and vision. His students today occupy strategic positions in media houses, public institutions, and academia,” the NUJ added.