…..Speakers urge younger professionals to sustain the values, knowledge and mentorship legacy of departed media and communication practitioners.
By Editor of The Northern Star
KADUNA — The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, 2026, held a symposium, public lecture and book launch in honour of the late Adamu Chedi, turning memories of the renowned professional into a platform for mentorship, learning and reflection for younger generations.
The two-day programme brought together professionals, academics, media executives, government officials, public relations practitioners and associates of the late Chedi, who reflected on his contributions to the profession and the people he mentored during his lifetime.
Speaking at the occasion, Professor Sule Ya’u Sule said the best way to honour people who had made meaningful contributions to society was to ensure that their legacies did not die with them.
Sule stressed that the values, knowledge and professional experience of individuals such as Chedi should be transferred to younger generations through mentorship, adding that society must make deliberate efforts to preserve the legacies of its accomplished professionals.
He said the event was significant because it had transformed the memories of the late Chedi into a practical learning opportunity for younger practitioners who would carry the profession forward.
According to him, people who devoted their lives to building others should not be remembered only through ceremonies after their death, but through continuous efforts to replicate the positive impact they made while alive.
Sule also observed that history would eventually remember individuals based on the values they left behind, noting that the contributions of professionals might appear moderate at a particular time but could become more significant as subsequent generations assessed their impact.
He therefore called on professionals in public relations, journalism and related fields to see mentorship as a responsibility, urging senior practitioners to create opportunities through which young people could acquire experience, discipline and professional confidence.
The symposium also provided an opportunity for the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, to reflect on the importance of mentorship and the responsibility of senior professionals to raise successors.
Ali noted that the late Chedi belonged to a generation of professionals who understood that leadership was not merely about occupying positions, but also about identifying, training and empowering younger people.
He said the culture of mentoring younger professionals had helped many people to develop their careers and attain positions of greater responsibility, adding that such contributions should be recognised as part of the legacy of any accomplished professional.
The Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) also used the occasion to underscore the importance of preserving institutional memory and professional mentorship, noting that the younger generation could only build on the achievements of their predecessors when their experiences were properly documented and transmitted.
He described the gathering as more than a remembrance ceremony, saying it was an opportunity to draw lessons from the lives and careers of those who had invested their knowledge and experience in others.
The event also recalled the role played by senior figures, including Dr. Awal Adamu and the late Chedi, in mentoring younger professionals and helping them rise to positions of greater responsibility. Speakers said their influence could be measured not only by their personal achievements but also by the number of people they trained and encouraged.
The emotional dimension of the occasion was particularly evident as participants remembered the late Chedi, with tributes highlighting his professional commitment, human relationships and willingness to support younger colleagues. The reflections served as a reminder that while individuals eventually depart, the knowledge, values and people they develop can continue to speak for them.
The symposium, lectures and book launch therefore ended with a renewed call for professionals to make mentorship a lasting part of their careers, ensuring that the lessons and legacies of people such as Adamu Chedi remain relevant to future generations rather than becoming memories that disappear with time.
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