Femi Akintunde-Johnson
The sky was clear and bright…no sign of dark clouds, or hints of rain in the horizon. It seemed the heavens were in warm agreement with the organisers of the “Appreciation Day” inside the newly built Kessington Adebutu Hall at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos. The lovely day was Wednesday, 22 October 2025. The setting was a nostalgic soiree to celebrate and serenade outstanding forerunners of the Nigerian news media who are still on this side of eternity. The organisers, Journalism Clinic led by young veteran, Taiwo Obe (TO) – a brilliant writer and once famously described as “the most distinguished copy editor in Nigeria and West Africa” – insisted the cut-off mark would be 70 years of age.
When we entered the nicely decorated venue, the MC, Anike-Ade Funke Treasure was going from one distinguished table to another, coyly prodding the celebrants to stand and be recognized by self-introduction. Many of them could still stand and speak with clear voice – regaling us with vastly adumbrated versions of their CV: ex-editors of defunct this and that… former directors of this or that broadcast outfits…mostly entities prominent in the 60s, 70s and 80s. Deeply emotional reminiscences to the initiates.
We, the second or third generations, looked in suppressed awe at the presence and camaraderie of Nigeria’s journalism ancestors thrust, once again, to the centrespread of contemporaneous ambience. There was veteran publisher of Vanguard, co-founder of The Punch, former popular columnist and editor at Daily Times, the incomparable Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu (90); and a throng of former editors, writers and reporters at the old Daily Times, Sketch, Tribune or New Nigerian: Ben Lawrence (89 that day, and was notably marked with a cake, and rapturous applause as he was gingerly maneuvered to the dais); Bamiji Ojo (86) Remi Akano Snr., Lekan Alabi, Muyiwa Adetiba, Femi Kusa, Nojeem Jimoh, Yakubu Mohammed, Dupe Ajayi-Gbadebo, Tunde Thompson, Ayodele Akinkuotu, Monsor Olowosago, Fola Arogundade, Toyin Willoughby-Muyi, Dare Babarinsa, Tayo Balogun, Onome Osifo-Whiskey, Asu Beks, Bayo Awosemo, Helen Ovbiagele, Yemi Ogunbiyi, Emmanuel Ogunyale, Banji Ogundele, Tola Adeniyi, Bisi Olawunmi, Soji Akinrinade, Ogie Eboigbe, Liad Tella, Segun Babatope, Mike Awoyinfa, Bimbo Oloyede, Dayo Sobowale, and more.
The radio pillars were also at attention: Patrick Oke, Olusesan Ekisola, Sọni Irabor, Eddie Aina… Of course, all could not be present (or we missed them on our list). Some of the listed elders “missing in action” – with regrets – are: Segun Osoba, Lade Bonuola, Bisi Olatilo, Onyema Ugochukwu, Yemi Farounbi, Ike Nwachukwu, Dayo Duyile, Benson Idonije, Jimi Odumosu, Nn’emeka Maduegbuna, Nosa Igiebor, Yanju Adegbite, Lekan Ṣọtẹ, Jones Usen, etc.
Perhaps the best tribute one can accord the auspicious day is to copiously extract from the over 2,300-word “welcome speech” by the mastermind of the project, TO, encased in an 18-page pamphlet. Here we go: “On 16 July 2018, Simbo Olorunfemi, a highly cerebral younger colleague, prefaced a Facebook post of his with these words: “We do not celebrate ourselves. We do not celebrate our own. Not enough.”
It was my birthday, and the post was his tribute to me. Fast forward to 13 June 2025. The occasion was the 90th birthday party for our iconic megastar, the venerable Uncle Sam, publisher of Vanguard newspaper, at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
At a point, Reuben Abati, PhD, one of the three MCs, declared emphatically: “Journalists don’t celebrate themselves….” That took me back to Olorunfemi’s post. And it occupied my mind all the way home.
When I have such a feeling, I know it’s time for some action. The next morning, at exactly 11.28, I posted the following message in the two WhatsApp groups of media leaders which I administer: “Guys, please help me with names of elders of journalism/news media, from 70 years and above and living in Nigeria. Male and Female. Simply add to this list.”
I listed 38 names. My audience responded with infectious enthusiasm. The list began to grow. I called one of the members of the group whom I revere and told him what I wanted – lodge these elders one weekend in a resort (I had even started discussing with Whispering Palms) – for two days of reminiscences and recreation.
“No, TO,” Dr. Richard Ikiebe told me. “Start with one day and take it from there.” I didn’t argue. Words of elders are words of wisdom, one sage said, many years ago.
That, in a nutshell, is part of the backstory of this Appreciation Day happening here today and, symbolically, in a cradle of journalism education. I said “part” because the day after, I sent a long message to an octogenarian advertising guru whom I had met at Uncle Sam’s party, asking him to be a keynote speaker at the event I envisioned.
Even as I didn’t get a response from the czar, that same day I sent messages to two elders asking if they would be glad to attend such an event. One, who is here with us today (Muyiwa Adetiba), said: “Anything for you, brother.” The other (Lade Bonuola), who is unavoidably absent, said: “Yes, I will. So thoughtful of you.”
Oh, there was a third person – Mr. Banji Ogundele, Chairman of the League of Veteran Journalists, Oyo State. I contacted him a week or so later, and he said: “Brilliant idea, but members will honour your invitation if they know you. You may wish to write us formally, explain your mission and motive, and familiarise yourself with us.”
So, I travelled to Ibadan, the land of my birth – where the new monarch is a proud old boy of my alma mater, Ibadan Boys’ High School – and had a splendid meeting with Mr. Ogundele, one of the people I adored as a young man while training to become a journalist.
At this point, I knew that my idea of 14 June had grown its own wings. It had to fly unhindered… I knew from experience that the One who gave the idea would make everything possible – more so, as those three elders had adjudged the idea as bright and thoughtful.
For me, in matters such as this, what was left to do was tap into my networks and activate my mantra, which I call ASK….
More letters seeking support went out because, besides having faith, I was convinced that people must know that Nigerian journalism played a critical role in Nigeria’s struggle for sovereignty and sustenance of democracy – that its practitioners deserve to be celebrated and appreciated, even with fanfare.
On 16 August, I sent a message to Tunji Bello, my co-fellow of the U.S. based Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship (now Alfred Friendly Press Partners), seeking his support. “Financial support will not be a problem,” he responded two days later.
A friend I told about this reassured me: “Tunji Bello is a man of his words.”
Permit me, please, to recall a short story here. Once upon a time, at a reception, the late Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola donated a sum of money which Frank Igwebueze – a journalist on his Concord Newspaper whom he had deployed to coordinate his campaign on reparations for Africa – told him was “staggering.” M.K.O. reportedly quipped: “Frank… Frank, you are the one staggering”.
On 5 September, I received a message from Mr. Bello, the Chief Executive/Executive Vice Chairman, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), indicating the Commission’s staggering support. Or was I the one, like Frank Igwebueze, who was staggering?
Bello’s middle name could well be Sina – a name sometimes given to the firstborn of a Yoruba family, literally meaning: the baby has opened the birth canal of the mother, thus paving the way for other births to follow. Because soon after his pledge, more doors began to open….”
And indeed, the sumptuous meals and wide range of drinks, elaborate nostalgia-themed table covers, blue-carpet layout with a near nine-foot photographic tableau of veterans, the sound quality, the well dressed ushers and others, the elegantly captioned event and menu lists, and general scenic replications of foundational emblems of Nigerian media, all point to money well spent – and a truly splendid celebration of our living legends and surviving pathfinders in Nigerian journalism. A pride-filled moment.
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