In a statement, the Board of Management and Staff of the NBC described Prof. Adaba as an exceptional leader, trailblazer, and visionary who laid the foundation for the commission’s growth and development.
“Prof. Adaba was not just an exceptional leader with unwavering commitment, but a trailblazer, whose vision and dedication laid the foundation for what the NBC has become today,” the statement read.
Colleagues and friends of Prof. Adaba took to social media to pay tribute to the departed broadcasting icon.
Clementine Usman-Wamba described Prof. Adaba as a mentor, father, trainer, and consultant to broadcasters, while Eugene Ivase remembered him as a “daddy and mentor” whose legacy will never be forgotten.
Lawal Abdullahi described Prof. Adaba’s passing as a “great loss” to the NBC family, while Gloria Makinde hailed him as a “great pillar of broadcasting” whose legacy continues to shape the industry.
“May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his family find comfort in the remarkable impact he made,” Makinde added.
Prof. Adaba was a devout Catholic and a passionate advocate for the development of the Nigerian broadcasting landscape. He successfully led the NBC to midwife the dynamic private broadcasting sector in Nigeria.
The NBC has promised to celebrate Prof. Adaba’s life and legacy in due course.