By Qasim Akinreti, PhD
Rafat Onyeche Salami, was a rare star from the beginning of her career in VON. She covered the Health beat, worked on the News desk, produced major news flagship programmes such as VONSCOPE, Sixty Minutes and Africa hour.
Two late phone calls confirmed the death of a sister, colleague and unionist, Mrs Rafat Onyeche Salami, who is also Assistant Director, Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria.
Short, robust and fair in complexion, Rafat was a thoroughly bred Broadcast Journalist from Ebiraland, Kogi State, North Central Nigeria, married to a Kishi born, fashionista , and Administrator, former Director Administration, Voice of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdul Ghani Salami, popularly called GAS.
Rafat, joined VON in the late 1990s in the Lagos office, as a News Correspondent and Producer.
A Star Reporter and Producer
Rafat Onyeche Salami, was a rare star from the beginning of her career in VON. She covered the Health beat, worked on the News desk, produced major news flagship programmes such as VONSCOPE, Sixty Minutes and Africa hour.
She speaks the impeccable Queen’s English, Hausa, Yoruba and Ebira languages fluently. There were no dull moments with her.
Rafat was very firm and decisive. You may not agree with her style of responses to you. But rest assured, her points would be noted.
A unionist per excellence.
Rafat, rose to become the Secretary of Nigeria Union Journalists, NUJ Abuja Council, while I was the Chairman NUJ Lagos State Council in 2017-2020.
Her contributions to issues at the National Executive Council meetings of NUJ, during Waheed Odusile Presidency were profound.
We both served in committees to host the International Press Institute, IPI, Congress 2018 in Abuja. She had been very active in the IPI and became the Assistant Secretary and later the Treasurer of the IPI Nigeria until her death under the Presidency of Iskilu Mojeed.
She was a great advocate of gender equity and development initiatives. She served the National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, diligently as a Trainer.
Rafat hosted human rights programmes part- time at the Human Rights Radio Abuja. Her role in the Anti – Corruption crusade was well noted as the Chairperson, VON Anti -Corruption group.
A devout Muslim who served Al- Hadabiyyah Islamic society with all her strength and resources, Rafat was a fighter till the end.
May Allah SWT bless her soul and give her entire family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Qasim Akinreti is a member of IPI.
Share your thoughts on the story Late Mrs Rafat Salami – A Tribute – Qasim Akinreti, Ph.D with Nigerian Kicker in the comments section.
