Abuja
Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar has conferred the traditional title of Kakakin Nupe on Alhaji Mohammed Idris Malagi.
Idris, the Chairman/CEO, Blueprint Newspapers and WE FM 106.3 based in Abuja, is also the General Secretary of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).
He replaced the late publisher of LEADERSHIP Newspapers Sam Nda-Isaiah who died about two weeks ago in Abuja.
The emir announced Malagi’s choice after a council meeting held Friday in Bida at the palace.
The honour is coming barely one year (precisely January 5) after he was turbaned the Jagaba Amana Kakanda by Amana Kakanda Muye, HRH Maigari 11, Alhaji Abdulkadir Muhammad.
Also announced alongside the media guru were a retired director with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Alhaji Abubakar Baba as Cekpa Nupe, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Barr Muhammad Kudu Nakordi as Sarkin Maska Nupe and Alhaji Liman Pata, Chairman Lavun local government area of Niger state as Kukawan Nupe.
The new Kakakin Nupe hails from Malagi, Gbako local government area of Niger state.
The media owner is renowned for his philanthropy across the state and even beyond.
Malagi is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and currently chairman of the Abuja Property Development Company (APDC), an outfit that has been turned around under his watch.
As a frontline media owner, the publisher chaired the security committee when the Nigerian chapter of the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, held the 67th edition of its World Congress in Abuja, Nigeria.
He was also member, sponsorship and finance committee of the congress.
A man of many parts, besides being into newspapering, Malagi has also made a mark in public relations practice, marketing communications and also as a teacher of repute.
He is also a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) with about 30 years industry experience.
Brief profile
Born some 55 years ago in Katsina, the media owner was at different times Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Kaduna Chapter; 2004-2008; Vice-Chairman; Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN); 2004-2007; Assistant Secretary, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), 2014-2019 and currently the association’s secretary following his election in December last year.
Among several others, the media financier was also recipient, NIPR Presidential Special Recognition Award, 2014, managed advocacy/public enlightenment for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on the promotion of Agricultural Practice in Katsina state, and also served as Lead Consultant on Communication and Strategy to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources on the National Programme on Food Security and Development of Livestock in Nigeria.
As a teacher of English and Communication skills, Malagi was at the Federal College of Education (FCE) Katsina (1989- 1994) following his graduation from the Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto (B.A English); 1983-1987. He was to later top his scholarly pursuit with an M.A English from Bayero University Kano in 1995.
In a brief response to his choice as Nupe spokesman, he told our reporter: “As a community-oriented person, I feel obliged to be at the service of my people at all times. I have always done my best in my career and have also remained true to those universal values of commitment to set goals, contribution to society and service to humanity. I know that life is not just about self but mostly about others. I am extremely delighted for the recognition. It’s one great honour.”
