Madam Elekia Aishat Giwa was the mother of the late Nigerian journalist, Dele Giwa, one of the most influential media figures in Nigeria’s history. Her life reflects resilience, faith, and quiet strength — the story of a woman who bore the weight of both motherhood and tragedy with grace.
Early Life and Background
Madam Elekia Aishat Giwa, affectionately known as Mama Giwa, hailed from Edo State, Nigeria. While much of her early life remains undocumented, she was known to have lived a modest and disciplined life centered on her family and faith. She raised her children with strong moral values, emphasizing education, hard work, and integrity — qualities that her son, Dele Giwa, would later embody in his groundbreaking career as a journalist.
Family and Motherhood
Madam Giwa was best known as the mother of Sumonu Oladele “Dele” Giwa, the co-founder and first Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch Magazine, Nigeria’s first newsmagazine-style publication. Dele Giwa was a fearless journalist and a symbol of press freedom in Nigeria until his untimely death in 1986 by a parcel bomb — the first of its kind in the country’s history.
The tragic death of her son brought immense grief to Madam Giwa, yet she remained a picture of quiet dignity, never losing faith despite the painful circumstances surrounding his death. Her strength became a quiet testament to the resilience of Nigerian mothers who bore the cost of national struggles for justice and truth.
Support and Compassion from Gani Fawehinmi
Following Dele Giwa’s assassination, the renowned human rights lawyer Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) took it upon himself to support Madam Giwa financially. Out of compassion and respect for her son’s legacy, Fawehinmi provided her with a monthly allowance for 23 years — a gesture that continued until his own death in 2009.
This act of solidarity reflected the deep camaraderie and mutual respect shared between her late son and Gani Fawehinmi, who fought tirelessly for justice in Dele Giwa’s murder case.
Later Life and Death
Madam Elekia Aishat Giwa lived a long and humble life, staying largely out of the public eye in her later years. She passed away peacefully in January 2013, at the age of 87. Her death marked the end of a quiet but significant chapter in Nigeria’s journalistic history — that of a mother whose son changed the landscape of Nigerian journalism through courage and truth.
Legacy
Though not a public figure herself, Madam Elekia Giwa’s legacy endures through her son’s work and the continued recognition of his contributions to Nigerian media. Her story reminds Nigerians of the unseen figures behind public heroes — the parents who nurture greatness, often in silence and sacrifice.
Her name, though softly spoken in history, remains tied to one of Nigeria’s most defining journalistic legacies.
Sources
1. Vanguard Nigeria — “Mother of Dele Giwa Dies at 87” (January 2013)
2. The Guardian Nigeria — “Gani Fawehinmi’s Support for Dele Giwa’s Mother Remembered” (2009)
3. Newswatch Magazine Archives — Tribute to Dele Giwa (1986–2013)
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