The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Punch

  • A punch on memory

    A punch on memory

    It is a pity that we could celebrate Punch Newspaper without celebrating the man who dreamed it. Sam Amuka, that is. Cursory mention does not do justice. The newspaper has become a mainstay in Nigeria journalism, a testament to visionary stability and longevity, just like The Nigerian Tribune. I doff my hat to the newspaper that has soldiered through the turbulence of Nigerian politics and economy and has shown that it is possible to survive the climate of odds and ends with focus and attitude. There is not much weakness to point to in the newspaper, except its occasional penchant for juvenility. But its stature has come to stay, and all should applaud its managers for keeping faith not only with tradition but to the quicksand of changing times.

    But to mark its 50 years without celebrating the founder of the Vanguard Newspaper is not only a disservice to him and the profession, it is a disservice to memory. Amuka dreamed the Punch after he left the Daily Times and founded a publication known as Happy Home. Restless, he wanted something else, and he met a man of money in Olu Aboderin, who offered to partner. Amuka served as the Sunday paper’s founding editor. But things did not go well, and Amuka, often known as a Sad Sam, decided to take the matter to court. It was grinding in the court until the Sketch newspaper slammed the proceedings on its front pages. That got Olu Aboderin’s attention, and he decided to negotiate with Amuka. Amuka left and started the Vanguard newspaper.

    Read Also: Ex-Lagos commissioner to curate PUNCH’s 50th-anniversary photos

    Bitterness is not enough to discard memory. To have left him out is professional ingratitude and adds to the worry about  an a historical generation. Our newspapers should not be guilty, like the rest of society, of the game of amnesia. Few who took part in the anniversary may have thought it was an Aboderin show alone, apart from cursory references to Amuka.

    Amuka, a giant of giants in this trade, wrote columns of great impact. He started with what he called Off Beat, a column whose icon was a man blowing from the wrong end of a trumpet, a picture of a sardonic Uncle Sam. His columns, including Sad Sam, were biting satires that cut the powerful, often the military, to the quick. But because he penned satire, his pieces barbed power, yet they had nothing on him because jabs came out of laughter.  Just like laughing gas that hurt by making you laugh.

  • Ex-Lagos commissioner to curate PUNCH’s 50th-anniversary photos

    Ex-Lagos commissioner to curate PUNCH’s 50th-anniversary photos

    A former Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde, will tomorrow preside over the curation of a three-day photo exhibition marking PUNCH Newspapers’ 50th anniversary.

    The exhibition, which showcases iconic photographs from the newspaper’s archive, is among the ceremonies marking PUNCH’s golden jubilee which started on Saturday with a novelty match at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos.

    Founded in March 1973, PUNCH clocked 50 on March 18, last year, but its board of directors moved the anniversary celebration to this year because it fell within an election month and year.

    Read Also: Punch at 50: Punchers defeated as Media Amalgamated wins Novelty match

    At the three-day photo-story exhibition holding at the Alliance Francaise de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, PUNCH will showcase 100 of its iconic photographs that tell the rich history of Nigeria and her people, as well as how the media house has been a major part of the country’s history.

    In a statement, titled: Timeless Lenses: A Newspaper’s Visual Journey Through Nigeria, Ayorinde, who is also a former editor of The PUNCH, said: “Between its birthplace, where it spent 36 years, and the Magboro permanent site, which is its befitting and edifying complex of the last 16 years, is where PUNCH Newspaper’s exhilarating journey through Nigeria of the last 50 years was nurtured.

    “For a good reason, both locations play an important role in telling the visually-engaging story of this dominant quality newspaper, which is celebrating its 50 years of operation.”

    He stressed that the commemorative photographic exhibition would capture various snapshots of history that PUNCH had served its numerous readers as a socially conscious and people-oriented news organisation over the years.

  • Punch at 50: Punchers defeated as Media Amalgamated wins Novelty match

    Punch at 50: Punchers defeated as Media Amalgamated wins Novelty match

    Media Amalgamated football team defeated Punchers FC with two goals to one to win the novelty football match in celebration of The PUNCH 50th anniversary.

    The novelty match was held at Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.

    Punchers comprise staff with Punch Newspaper while Media Amalgamated comprised journalists drawn from The Nation, This Day, Leadership, The Guardian, Telegraph, Business Day, and Tribune.

    Both teams trained together on Friday, February 23, at Legacy Pitch, National Stadium where Media Amalgamated won Punchers with three goals to one in the build-up for yesterday’s match.

    Media Amalgamated secured a goal against PUNCHERS FC at the fourth minute to the start of the match with a goal from The Nation’s Lawal Rufai.

    However, a goal by Adekunle Sulaimon gave the Punchers an equaliser in the eighth minute.

    Read Also: Novelty Match: Media Amalgamated vows to spoil Punch’s anniversary party

    In the 21st minute of play, Media Amalgamated secured another goal to take the lead.

    The players of both teams were presented with medals and trophy at the end of the match.

    Punchers, under the watchful eyes of former Super Eagles midfielder, Friday Ekpo, underwent a five-day training session to put the team in good shape ahead of the game. While Victor Agali was in charge of Media Amalgamated with two different training sessions.

    Present at the event were chairman, Punch Nigeria Limited, Angela Emuwa; General Manager Digital and Publications (Punch), Ademola Oni; Punch directors, and other staff members from the various media houses.

  • Ex-Punch workers launch book on career experiences today

    Ex-Punch workers launch book on career experiences today

    A book on the experiences of 38 former workers of The Punch Newspaper while working in the company is billed for launch today in Lagos.

    Titled: Our Punch Years, the book was edited by the Executive Director of Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin, who was former Group News Editor of the newspaper.

    The event is holding at the NECA Hall on Plot A2, Hakeem Balogun Stree, Central Business District of Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos State.

    The event will be chaired by the Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Angela Emuwa.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, is among the special guests and other dignitaries expected at the launch.

    Read Also: Judge questions EFCC’s diligence in ex-Punch Director’s trial 

    An associate professor of Journalism at the School of Communication, Lagos State University (LASU) at Ojo, Dr. Tunde Akanni, is the book reviewer.

    Our Punch Years documents memorable and insightful experiences of the accomplished journalists who are still occupying senior positions in private and public endeavours in the media and other sectors.

    The book launch will also feature a roundtable discussion on best practices for sustainability of the media in new media age by top managers of print and broadcast organisations in the country.

    Otufodunrin said the book, dedicated to the founding Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief James Olu Aboderin, is the contribution of the former workers to the 50th anniversary of the company.

    “We cherish the years we spent in the company, which contributed significantly to our career journeys, and have chosen to document our experiences for posterity and the benefit of anyone who wants to learn from them,” Otufodunrin said.

  • Ex- editors, others launch book to celebrate Punch at 50

    Ex- editors, others launch book to celebrate Punch at 50

    A book on the experiences of 38 former staff of The Punch Newspaper while working in the company is billed for launch in Lagos on Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

    Titled Our Punch Years, the book was edited by Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Director, Media Career Development Network, who was former Group News Editor of the Newspaper. 

    The event holds at the NECA Hall, Plot A2, Hakeem Balogun Stree, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos with Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Angela Emuwa as the Chairman. 

    Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso is among the special guests and other dignitaries expected at the event while an associate professor of Journalism at the School of Communication, Lagos State University, Ojo, Dr Tunde Akanni would be the book reviewer. 

    The book documents memorable and insightful experiences of the accomplished journalists who are still occupying senior positions in private and public endeavours in the media and other sectors.

    Read Also: Our Punch years

    CEO/Editor-in-Chief, Diamond Publications Limited, Mr Lanre Idowu wrote the Foreword of the book. 

    The Launch will also feature a roundtable discussion on best practices for sustainability of the media in new media age by top managers of print and broadcast organisations in the country.

    Otufodunrin said the book, dedicated to the founding Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief James Olu Aboderin, is the contribution of the former staff to the 50th anniversary of the company. 

    “We cherish the years we spent in the company which contributed significantly to our career journeys and have chosen to document our experiences for posterity and the benefit of anyone who wants to learn from them,” Otufodunrin explained. 

  • Our Punch years

    Forty-seven years ago on November 1, 1976, the first edition of The Punch Daily rolled off the press and since then the paper has not ceased publishing except on those days and months when the military administration banned the publication. The Sunday edition of the paper was launched three years earlier.

    That the paper has continued to publish and remain the most widely read newspaper in the country, while others launched after it are no longer in circulation is a tribute to the vision and commitment of the founding fathers and staff through the years.

    When I joined the newspaper in May 1987, the company was recovering from some crisis and was battling to pay the few staff that had survived being sacked like some others.

    The situation however improved and I ended up working for about 13 years without being owned any salary or entitlements.

    From being a young graduate I served in various capacities and acquired various experiences that have shaped my fulfilling media career to date. Being assigned to be a Ogun state correspondent as my first posting seemed initially daunting but the years I spent in Abeokuta turned out to be a great learning experience that sharpened my reporting skills.

    While I was covering politics I had the opportunity of travelling around the country and appreciating the diversity of our culture and people. The Punch was also where I had the first opportunity to travel abroad for a three-month training in the United Kingdom.

    My Punch years remain memorable and I am grateful for the opportunity to work in the company along with many colleagues who have become accomplished in various endeavours.

    Our various experiences have been documented in a soon-to-be-published book titled Our Punch Years: Reminiscences and Insider Accounts of former editors and Staff of Nigeria’s Most Widely Read Newspaper at 50.

    Considering the rich history of the newspaper, which other journalists and organizations can learn from, it occurred to me that it would be nice to read what the experience of the former staff. In my call for contributions I asked about: What company was back in their days. What they learned and benefited from, The good times and not too pleasant ones, Lessons that have helped former staff in their career after exiting, The intrigues, politics and fun and Secrets of the success of The Punch.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill four NSCDC operatives in Rivers

    The contributions by 37 other colleagues are very insightful and revealing for anyone curious about knowing what makes The Punch what it is.

    Veteran journalist CEO/Editor -In- Chief of Diamond Publication Limited, Mr Lanre Idowu who wrote the foreword gave an insight into what to read in the book. 

    “In various essays, they tell the story of The Punch with pride, regret, and a tinge of anger, but overall, with a generosity of spirit that The Punch occupies a hallowed place in their media journey and development as human beings.

    “From their accounts, the reader gleans nuggets of useful information on the recruitment processes at The Punch, the culture of the newsroom and the news management process, the joy and pain of journalism, the evolution of media technology, management obsession with excellence and its zero tolerance for mistakes in the quest to build a brand identity, and the attendant worrisome concerns about commensurate reward and punishment.”

    Recalling his Punch years, Chief Innocent Adikwu who was the third editor of The Punch and former Editor of the Sunday Punch wrote: “My days in Punch were fulfilling. When I joined the newspaper as a sub-editor in 1976 I didn’t expect to get the topmost positions in the midst of the Southerners who have a rich history of excellence and dominance in journalism.  At the Punch there was unflinching pursuit of excellence and any performance that enhanced the quality of the newspaper was rewarded regardless of tribe, religion and political leaning of the journalist.”