TheGuardian
14 | THE GUARDIAN, Friday, August 2, 2013
Conscience Nurtured by Truth
FOUNDER: ALEX U. IBRU (1945 – 2011)
Conscience is an open wound; only truth can heal it. Uthman dan Fodio 1754-1816
Editorial Alade Odunewu (1927-2013) W
HEN he turned 80 a few years ago, he had the fortune of being celebrated for a life of excellence by professional colleagues, young and old. In his many decades on the frontline of journalism profession and public service, the summary seemed to be, Hadji Alade Odunewu, Allah-De, was a pillar and a role model with very few equals. A man of distinction who gave journalism his all, he earned accolades and the richly deserved description as “the leader”. Upon his death, not much can be added to the torrents of tributes that attended that 80th birthday. “A voice of wisdom; informed commentator; a leading light of the drive to enhance media professionalism; a man of serenity, vision and determination; an enduring lesson in single-minded pursuit of an objective. A man of essential decency, quiet decency, sardonic wit, great mentoring skills. A man of honour”. Even in death, the seasoned journalist remains larger than life. As a columnist of note, Odunewu’s tool was satire and, with it, he brilliantly lampooned the follies of his era and exposed the foibles of those who pursued vanity. His mastery of the genre was legendary, enough to label him the dean of Nigerian satirical writing. Diligence, hard work and resolve took him through the ranks in the newspaper industry. He was editor, managing editor, columnist, editor-in-chief in various organisations including the Nigerian Tribune (1956-57); Daily Service (1959-60); Allied (1960-64). He became Editor of Sunday Times in 1964 before being promoted Editor of the Daily Times between 1964 and 68, editor-in-chief from 1968-1969 and as chief executive of the publications division of the conglomerate before he went into public service. He served as a Commissioner in Lagos State. In public service after his professional days, he distinguished himself in various capacities, becoming a principal actor in the continued search for a greater Nigeria while he also worked hard for what was “noble, fair and just” in his profession. His contributions to journalism even in later years as a columnist for The Guardian and through the Nigerian Press Council and as chairman of the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA) are indelible. Nigeria has lost one of her best.
Herbert Unegbu (1924-2013) ERBERT Unegbu, the celebrated journalist, who died recently, aged 88, was an uncommon patriot who deployed his pungent writings, a product of daring principles, in the service of his country. Barely three years ago too as Nigeria celebrated her golden independence anniversary, Unu Habib (his pen name as a columnist) remained his bluntest in his views about the non-negotiability of the unity of a country he served creditably in various editorial capacities. Admirers have appropriately praised him for a life of fearlessness, forthrightness and incorruptibility in his chosen profession. Such was Unu Habib’s domination of journalism that a renowned contemporary of his, Peter ‘Peter Pan’ Enahoro, described him as “one of the three best informed political journalists in Lagos in the late 1950s and 1960s, ranking after MCK Ajuluchukwu and Bisi Onabanjo.” He made his mark in journalism, having served as News Editor, Daily Times and Editor, West African Pilot (one of the chain of newspapers of the late statesman, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe). His exit from the Pilot in controversial circumstances (the crisis of 1964 federal elections which provoked a stalemate in which President Azikiwe and Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa were the key actors over formation of government) negatively affected the newspaper, illustrating Unegbu’s singular influence. He became head of news of the Biafra Broadcasting Corporation at the declaration of Biafra and the civil war. Being a federal civil servant, he got re-absorbed into service after the civil war and remained there until his retirement. Unegbu practiced alongside the likes of Ajuluchukwu, the late Bisi Onabanjo of ‘Aiyekooto’ fame, Olu Adebanjo, Laban Namme, the present Akran of Badagry, Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi, Babatunde Akran, Alex (now Igwe) Nwokedi, Peter Osugo, Peter Obe – with his candid cameras, Peter Enahoro, Emmanuel Adagogo Jaja, Olu Fadairo, Sonny P. Chu Okongwu and many others. Unu Habib maintained one of the brightest, best informed and most widely read columns and in his selfless service to promote societal values, he wrote sincerely and authoritatively. The colonial masters found him uncompromising in editorials and columns in the Pilot, but then Unu Habib was a more unrepentant critic of the new native political overlords. Three qualities marked out Unegbu among his generation of journalists: guts, independent-mindedness and unparalleled nationalistic pride. He was one of a kind.
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Olateju Oyeleye (1924-2013) R
ENOWNED engineer and pioneer of television broadcasting and management in Nigeria and co-founder of Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Olateju Oyeleye, who died recently at the age of 89 was a perfect gentleman and one of that breed of Nigerians, for whom integrity was all. Hence his entire life was a study in selfless patriotism. In 1958, Olateju Oyeleye co-founded the Nigerian Society of Engineers with his friend, G. O. Aiwereoba in London. Teju Oyeleye took the position of Secretary-General while Chief G. O. Aiwereoba was president. He was later president from 1976 to 1977. The Nigerian Society of Engineers remains the largest body in Africa that accredit students and graduate engineers. In 1959, he was hired by the newly established Western Nigeria Television and Broadcasting Services (WNTV-WNBS) as a Development Engineer. Being the first television station in Africa, Oyeleye had a lot to do. The skill needed to do that job at the time was lacking but Teju was chosen among a few other engineers to perform the task. Airing in black and white, with programmes aired from four o’clock to midnight, the television station grew rapidly from Oyeleye’s arrival. As WNTV-WNBS expanded from city to city, his brilliance, as a matter of fact, was instrumental to the company’s success. From his initial position as Development Manager, he rose to the position of Chief Engineer and eventually General Manager in 1966. He therefore became the first Nigerian General Manager of the first television station in Africa. From the television station, in 1973, Teju Oyeleye moved to Total Nigeria Limited where he not only distinguished himself as an engineer but also as a manager. Several of the subsidiaries he set up have grown significantly in size. The Nigerian Gas Cylinder Manufacturing Company, which he founded, was the first of its kind in Nigeria. Teju Oyeleye didn’t acquire wealth, the many positions he held in several organisations and the opportunities therein notwithstanding. As in many areas, he chose the path of honesty and integrity. That tribe of men and women of integrity has been sadly depleted by his death.