He was Deputy Editor of The Punch Newspapers when he interviewed me for employment as a reporter in 1987.
Mr Ademola Osinubi was to later become the Editor, General Manager and Managing Director of the paper where I worked till 1999 when I resigned.
I still recall how he ‘cajoled’ me to accept to be the Ogun State Correspondent of the paper in Abeokuta when I thought I was too young and inexperienced for such a position.
” I have read your stories. You can do it. We will guide you through if there is any need,” Mr Osinubi assured me and he did until I was recalled to Lagos in 1990 and he later appointed me Group News Editor in 1995.
Osinubi combined excellent editorial and management skills from which I benefited a lot while I worked with The Punch, and for this, I will ever be grateful.
I have worked with some other editors who impacted on my career positively, but Osinubi who is still the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Punch tops the list editors I admire.
In this edition of Media Career Diary, I have contributions from members of the EverythingJournalism group on Linkedin.com founded by Taiwo Obe who recalled editors they will never forget in one of the many professionally enriching discussions on the platform.
Please read and share with me and other readers’ editors you admire.
Adigun was very forthright and methodical.
I won’t forget Yemi Adigun at Radio Lagos. Adigun. A petite, always-neatly-dressed man who is very forthright and methodical. No straying/missing sentence, punctuation or word evaded his eyes.
Bayo Akinloye
A correspondent at The Punch Newspapers.
Lawrence and Shoyombo knew what stories would attract readers.
At the defunct Daily Times, I enjoyed the editorial oversight of the Editor Ben Lawrence and his deputy, Titus Shoyombo (late). They were of the old school breed,who knew what stories would attract the reader in a typical Lagos traffic jam. They knew how to write catchy headlines that would turn heads. That was the foundation of my work as an editor, even as I was a reporter.
I honed my tutelage under Iroh’s tutelage.
Eddie Iroh was my editor on The Guardian Sunday Supplement. I say till tomorrow that whatever Iroh removed from or added to your story or feature, that is how it should have been in the first place. I probably honed my wittiness under his tutelage.
Olumhese knew how to move troops and reward excellence.
Sonala Olumhense was a different kind of Editor. He knew how to move his troops and reward excellence.
Idowu is a quintessential newsman.
Lanre Idowu succeeded Sonala Olumhense at the (defunct) ThisWeek magazine. But at The Guardian, he showed that you can’t be a good newspaper editor if you don’t have a clue about what news is. He is a quintessential newsman, one who could squeeze water out of the rock.
Taiwo Obe
Founder/Director at The Journalism Clinic.
Babalola corrected copies without making you feel like a dullard.
I remember my editor at the Sketch then, Sakin Babalola, who would correct your copy and not make you feel like a dullard! Instead, he would point out the mistakes and make jokes at the same time…he used to joke that some of us write ‘Yoruba’ English.
Later on, I was also tutored by Kunle Fagbemi, the editor of a number of quarterly magazines on business, politics and sports. He also edited the then weekly newspaper – Agege News Dispatch. He taught me how to use the Encyclopaedia,I often recount how he used to study the Dictionary back at Uni-Ilorin when he was a student.
Noimot Olayiwola
Media Project Manager, Corporate Communications, Hamad Medical Corporation.
Adedigba had the grasp of language and editing.
Razaq Adedigba, was a thorough man who after reading your copy will call you if he felt it was badly edited and lecture you on what to look out for and all that. Sometimes he was brash and acerbic, but he was a man that has the grasp of language and editing.
Olayinka Oyegbile
Deputy Editor at The Nation Newspapers.
Ogundele painstakingly checked every line.
In my own case, I will go with Mr. Jide Ogundele, who was in charge of the Business Desk at The Comet. He is a thorough-bred journalist, who has a nose for news. He coached us on how to sniff for news, particularly economic ones. Getting the news is one thing, delivering it in an attractive manner is another. He painstakingly checked every line and scrutinised carefully. Hardly would any badly written expression escape his eagle eye.
Muyiwa Akande
Account Director/Head, Media Services at Mediacraft Associates Limited.
Uko was a strict disciplinarian.
Ndaeyo Uko, ex-this, ex-that editor of the Daily Times, Sunday Times and Sunday Post Express was a strict disciplinarian; a stubborn, but meticulous wordsmith; a stickler to editorial deadlines; an uncompromising defender of professional ethics and journalistic excellence.
Under his tutelage, we learnt the best definition of news – what the other man wants to be suppressed.
Thank you my mentor and editor extraordinaire.I will never forget your inspiration.
Bassey Udo
Business Editor at PREMIUM TIMES MEDIA LIMITED.
Jemie edited copies meticulously.
I won’t forget Onwuchekwa Jemie, the pioneer Editorial Page Editor/ Chairman of the Editorial Board of The Guardian.
Beyond the marathon Editorial Board meetings, he would wait patiently for you to submit your copy and edit it meticulously. If there was one word that was out of place, he was sure to find it. If there was ambiguity or a repetition, he would sniff it out. Like a magician, he could reduce your 800-word copy to 500 words in one smile.
Sonala Olumhense.
Oleh coached me how to write news commentary.
I remember Mr. Okoh Oleh of Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State (BCA). He coached me on how to write news commentary for radio back in 1995.
Funke Treasure
Funke Treasure Durodola
General Manager, FRCN’s Radio One 103.5 FM, Lagos
Thanks for reading and sharing with others.
Lekan Otufodunrin
Email: info@mediacareerng.org /Telephone: 08023000621 /Twitter: @lotufodunrin /Skype: lekanskype
