As the Holy Book enjoins us to honour our fathers and mothers so that our days may be long on earth, we pay tribute to a distinguished father of Nigerian journalism and an accomplished Nigerian. We pay tribute to Hadj Alade Odunewu, OFR, fnge, informed commentator and acclaimed ‘dean of satirical journalism’. We salute a fine gentleman, and a leading light of the drive to enhance media professionalism as an integral part of nation building.
He is 80 this Tuesday. The drums are already being rolled out. Newspaper interviews, feature articles are being published. Prayers are being offered. Editorials will be written. A book launch has been fixed. A party is to follow. Another book is being put together. All for a man, who seems to find it so easy to relate with all.
What is it about Odunewu that excites us, media and non media men and women? For one, it is not everyday we come across our worthy ambassadors celebrating such a landmark; so novelty is appealing. Secondly, it is part of the measure of our self worth when we acknowledge goodness in others. Thirdly, in a nation acutely lacking in authentic heroes, it is always refreshing to find someone whose story is exemplary enough to examine and share with others. So collectively, we can say that society renews itself when it promotes positive values through the lives of its members who have worthy lessons to bequeath.
As a professional, Odunewu is an enduring lesson in singleminded pursuit of an objective. Ever since he was in school in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Onitsha, he had been exposed to the writings of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, who, through a chain of newspapers, was the leading public opinion moulder of the 40s and 50s. Odunewu’s elder brother, Mobolaji, was a journalist, who edited one of Azikiwe’s papers, The Eastern Nigerian Guardian. If young Alade’s interest in Journalism was kindled by the writings in the Zikist papers, his career pursuit was guided by his brother. Journalism was a good path to fame and public service. Odunewu was already familiar with the writings of Peter Enahoro and Ebenezer Williams and it is fair to say alongside the duo of Azikiwe and Mobolaji, the quartet shaped Odunewu’s initial journalistic steps.
He was one of the earliest Nigerians to receive formal training in Journalism as he secured a Federal Government scholarship to study Journalism at Regent Polytechnic (now University of Westminster). Alongside obtaining his diploma in Journalism, he also won the New Statesman prize for Best all round student. His career began at the Daily Times in 1950 when he was recruited as a reporter. He later moved to the Tribune as editor/managing editor, 1956-57; Daily Service as editor, 1959-60; Allied Newspapers as editor-in-chief, 1960-64. He was Sunday Times editor in 1964, before being uplifted as the Daily Times editor, 1964-68 and editor-in-chief, 1968-69. He later served as CEO of the publications division. So, it can be said that Odunewu has held all the important positions in Journalism: reporter, sub editor, editor, columnist, editor-in-chief and CEO. He has also held some of the most challenging public communications assignments: Commissioner of Information, Tourism and Culture in Lagos State, Public Complaints Commissioner and Electoral Commissioner at the national level. His achievements in both worlds are commendable. Odunewu’s voice of wisdom from his columns in various newspapers from the 60s to as recent as three years ago rings loud again in his relaunched book, Winner takes all.
Odunewu attributes his staying power in Journalism to ‘‘job satisfaction.’’ And feels that if he comes back to this world, he would gladly opt to be a journalist again. He has every reason to want to be. Apart from the top media jobs he has held, he has been richly honoured by the profession. From the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to the Nigerian Guild of Editors of which he is a past president, to the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, to training schools like the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, to the 1999 industry-led initiative of the late Tunji Oseni where he was named as one of the 14 icons of Journalism development in 140 years of Nigerian Journalism. As part of the tribute to this much loved man, some of our finest writers are rounding off work on a major book, Nigerian Columnists and their Art—essays in honour of Alade Odunewu. A worthy addition to Journalism literature, contributors to it include: Adidi Uyo, Ben Lawrence, Felix Adenaike, Tony Momoh, Dan Agbese, Gbenga Omotoso, Sunny Obazu-Ojeagbase, Stanley Egbochuku, Maxim Uzoatu, Eniola Bello and Ray Ekpu. The book, edited by Lanre Idowu, will be publicly presented in January 2008. It will feature references to the writings of such columnists as the late Olabisi Onabanjo, Peter Enahoro, Alade Odunewu, Sam Amuka, Gbolabo Ogunsanwo, Olatunji Dare, Tunde Fagbenle, Muhammed Haruna, Adebayo Williams, Azu Ishiekwene and Reuben Abati, to mention a few.
Hadj Odunewu’s strength as a journalist lies in his intellectual depth, elegant wit, biting sarcasm and disarming simplicity of language. 57 years after he joined the profession, he remains not only a respected name in the industry but also a principal actor in the continuous search for journalistic excellence and responsibility. As chairman of the Nigerian Press Council in the last 13 years, Hadj Odunewu has lent his name and stature to the pursuit of that which is noble, fair and just in our profession. The unseriousness on the part of the executive arm on what to do with the Press Council, which accounts for the state of comatose it now lies despite agreement among media stakeholders in 2002 on what must be done to make it work, must be one of his regrets. We seize the occasion to appeal to the Yar’Adua government to look through the records, dust up the agreement and use it as basis to fast track serious legislative exercise to give us a Public-Private sector driven Press Council, which is one of the cheapest and most effective means of promoting responsibility in the media.
Sponsor of the Informed Commentary category of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) since inception in 1992, Hadj Odunewu is also the current chairman of the Nigerian Media Merit Awards (NMMA), where he appropriately also sponsors the Best Columnist of the year prize since 2006. Both award schemes have made unparalleled private sector contributions to the conscious effort to enhance professionalism in the media. Odunewu says the awards have impacted heavily on Journalism practice. ‘‘People are now conscious of the fact that they are being looked at; competition is getting keener by the year. Quite a good number of awardees have gone to greener pasture and have done the profession and country proud. We must commend those behind these noble ideas.’’
In a nation where reputations are sullied at the drop of a hat, he is a man of means who has dined with kings and mixed with commoners and remains acceptable in both worlds. Modest in taste, dignified in carriage, he is a living testament that hard work pays and modesty is a virtue. May all those privileged to serve as public communicators find an enduring lesson in this virtue. And may the rest of Odunewu’s life be spent in good health, good company and good spirit. To the rest of us, let us pray with the psalmist that Almighty God should ‘‘teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.’’
Happy birthday, Allah-de !
•Idowu is Editor-in-Chief Media Review and Trustee of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME). FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 20, 2007.
