Folu Olamiti, veteran editor, columnist and media consultant who clocked 70 years, on November 28, 2021, have many journalists who are grateful for the crucial roles he played in their journalism career.
Olamiti was former Editor and Executive Director, Publications of Tribune Newspapers and former media Consultant to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission.
He is Chairman, Board of Management, Advent Cable Network Nigeria Television ( Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion Television).
Among the major tributes for the Fellow of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) from the presidency, friends, associates and colleagues, were those he employed, mentored and groomed who are today top media professionals themselves.
Edward Dickson, Managing Director, Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, Olagunju Lasisi, Editor, Saturday Tribune, Festus Adebayo a former Deputy Editor and Editorial Page Editor of Tribune and Olayinka Olujimi who was also a former staff of Tribune recalled their work experience with Olamiti.
Dickson, in his tribute published on his Facebook timeline, said he met Olamiti when he was the Sunday Editor of Nigerian Tribune, through his uncle, Whyte Onobeke, who was and still is a friend to the veteran journalist.
“l needed a job as a journalist and when we met at the Tribune House, lmalefalafia Street, Ibadan Oyo State, what struck me about Olamiti was his gentle mien and his dress sense in a well-packaged French suit.”
According to Dickson, “ Olamiti was willing to employ me and he told my uncle and that was how a somewhat weekly meeting started between us, as he would ask me to repeat my visit to his office.”
“But, when it appeared the job was taking an eternity to come, Olamiti asked me: YOUNG MAN, WHY DON’T YOU LOOK FOR A JOB ELSEWHERE? ” I ANSWERED HIM: ” I WANT TO WORK AT THE TRIBUNE HOUSE “. That was a desire l had nurtured way back in form four in secondary school. Surprised at the definitive answer, the veteran journalist eventually ensured I was employed at the Tribune House.”
The Managing Director further explained that before he joined the newspaper, Olamiti was promoted and made the Daily Editor, which made him,( Olamiti) his direct boss.
This was where the grooming for Dickson began as he wrote in his tribute that the media consultant took a special interest in him, as a natural career enhancer, built him up through informal coaching sessions at the news desk and in his office.
“He would brief me on stories he got from his sources. Oga Olamiti was a super journalist, who knew just everybody who mattered in Nigeria, including messengers in critical offices and security operatives.
“I usually wrote stories that could hit front pages in Nigerian Tribune, since Oga Olamiti had moulded me into a star-boy journalist, taught me how to decipher news and what it means to be a hands-on journalist and an administrator.”
For Olagunju, Olamiti took a special interest in him, adopted him as his boy and gave him a job as a journalist the very first day he landed his office with a complimentary card from a friend.
“The bearer is from me, please give him adequate audience” was the ten-word inscription on the complimentary card he took to him.
According to Olagunju, Olamiti, then the editor of the Nigerian Tribune, read the message in a second, looked up and asked him what the matter was and he told him he wanted to work in Tribune.
“Work in Tribune? What are your qualifications?”I answered him with my degree certificate. He collected it, took a glance, then looked again.
“Ah. We will take you,” he declared and asked me to go sit with his secretary, Dupe, who was also remarkably warm. He needed some time to sort out some things in his office.
“I waited. He came out and said I should follow him. He took me up a staircase, then turned left, walked like five steps, stopped and opened a door.
“M.E.” he called through the doorway. “I met this guy, he made a First Class in English. I think we should take him.” He said and handed me over properly to M.E.
“M.E’ turned out to be the acronym for ‘Managing Editor.’ The big masquerade holding that office was Biodun Oduwole, who showed an electrifyingly keen interest in me immediately.
“From that point, the two of them adopted me as their boy (something very unusual). I got the job almost immediately. The remaining part of that story will be told somehow someday.
“ The day I assumed duty was Oga Folu’s last day as Editor, Nigerian Tribune. He had been elevated to the position of Executive Director, Operations. But his interest in how I did my work remained unflagging throughout the years we spent together in Tribune House.”
The relationship has remained boss and boy till today.
Festus Adedayo, also a lawyer and political scientist stated that “it is not possible to be a student of the Tribune Journalism School while the duo of Sir Olamiti and Biodun Oduwole held sway and not be a raw gold undergoing the heating process in the furnace, preparatory to melting you for a purpose.”
“To be called to the office of either of them was akin to being called by God for a session,” Adebayo noted explaining that his own employment in the Tribune had a lot to do with Oduwole.
Notwithstanding, immediately he came into the Tribune, Adedayo said Olamiti “snatched me up and began to mentor me. Olamiti is a boss that anyone would desire to have. May our God give him longer life and greater health.”
Olujimi, former editor and legal practitioner also said Mr Sina Kawonise and Professor Wale Are Olaitan led him to Olamiti’s office that Tuesday morning in February 1993 after his youth service and announced gleefully: “Editor, this was one of our very best students.”
” Mr Olamiti jumped up from his seat and, like Kawonise and Olaitan just did, led me by the hand to the office of Mr Biodun Oduwole, saying: “we’ve got another one. Sina (Kawonise) and Wale (Aare Olaitan) says he is fantastic. End of story. Employment secured.”
President Muhammadu Buhari also paid tributes congratulating him for dedicating his time to serve the nation and humanity.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, quoted Buhari as rejoicing with the journalist and his professional colleagues in the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Nigerian Guild of Editors on the milestone.
He noted that Olamiti, who started his career as a cub-reporter with the Nigerian Tribune, has over the years shown depth, courage and empathy in his work.
