THE Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has extolled the virtues of the late veteran journalist, Alhaja Rafat Salami, describing her as an exemplary God-loving Muslim.
At a fidau for Salami, an assistant director with the Voice of Nigeria (VON) who passed away recently in Abuja, Idris said, “Rafat’s death was shocking to me. She was hardworking, dedicated and God-fearing. The Nigeria Guild of Editors, the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria are all mourning Rafat.
“She lived a good life. She followed in the footsteps of the Prophet (peace be upon him). We at the Ministry of Information are mourning her. We should prepare for death at all times.”
Fuad Adeyemi, the Chief Imam of Al Habibiyah Islamic Society (AIS), Guzape, Abuja, where Rafat worshipped, in a remark during the prayer, said the deceased contributed a lot to the building of the AIS mosque.
Adeyemi described her as a devout Muslim and a passionate mother whose love for her family was unquantifiable.
The cleric, who urged Muslims to always prepare for death, said, “Hajiya Rafat contributed greatly to the building and growth of this mosque. Her life was 24/7 around the mosque and her family.
“She was a woman of substance and was instrumental in the spread of Islam through the media. It’s time we devoted ourselves to the cause of Allah.
“With her activities here on earth, she prepared for a time like this. As we are praying for her, our (Al-Habibiyah) branch in Ilorin are also praying for her.”
Some of the guests spoke glowingly of Rafat, describing her as a woman of integrity, honour and compassion with immense capability.
The late journalist served as secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abuja council, and played a pivotal role in hosting the International Press Institute Congress in 2018.
Rafat was recently re-elected as the treasurer of the International Press Institute (IPI), Nigeria chapter, and was celebrated by President Bola Tinubu.
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