By Abdulwarees Solanke
John Momoh, the CEO of the award winning TV news channel, Channels TV and Azubuike Ishiekwene, the powerful pen pusher, who distinguished himself in the Punch Group as a staff writer, title editor, columnist and executive director, publications before bowing out of the popular newspaper, albeit controversially, to berth at the Abuja-based LEADERSHIP, were part of a set of students who entered their final year in mass communication at the University of Lagos around this time 25 years ago. Today, most of them have made their mark in the media industry, the military, the academia, and the public service.
As we reached that critical stage of our journalism education at Akoka, each of us already had a clear vision of what and where we wanted to be. Some of us who specialized in Print Journalism were already familiarizing ourselves with the newsrooms of the existing newspapers while those who would go ahead to become players in the advertising industry were visiting the popular agencies in town. We also knew those who are likely to end up in the classrooms as lecturers as we call them rigour marshals in those days.
Soji Alabi has bagged his Ph.D and is back at our department as a lecturer just as Charles Oni, is completing his Ph.D, dishing out his stuff at Yaba College of Technology where he now lectures having practiced journalism for some time. Silas Abayomi was also in the Unilag Mass Comm Department as a lecturer before venturing overseas. Kunle Adebayo, the gentle, youngest member of the 85-88 set must have risen very highly in the Adworld like Bernard Okhakume whose pieces on Advertising practice I enjoy reading in the Nation.
Today, Yinka Atolagbe and Abdurrazaq Abdussalam who both specialized in broadcasting are at the peak of their career having just been promoted assistant directors at Voice of Nigeria. Yinka is of the News directorate while Abdussalam is of the Programmes directorate from where he was poached by the Director General, Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa to be his special assistant. There is a funny coincidence in the tapping of special assistants to the DG in VON. Three of the four officers that have occupied since the early or mid 90s have been products of Mass Communication Department, University of Lagos. And three of us have actually lived together in the same room and ate in the same plate before. Tajuddin Adeyemi, a very brilliant professional who now takes solace in Public relations practice served Mallam Yaya Abubakar. Abdurrazaq Abdussalam is serving Mallam Abubakar Jijiwa just as I did between 2005 and 2007.
Sadly, we have lost two of our crop members that I can remember. Saka Asimi, a pioneer staff of Channels TV lost his life in a freak auto crash more than a decade ago. He was one of those who defined the Channels news orientation. I think Channels must have immortalized him one way or the other. May his soul rest in peace. Remi Okeowo is another. A very fine officer gentleman of the Nigerian Army, he took leave from service to add a bachelor of mass communication degree to his military credentials. He was already a captain when he enrolled for Mass Comm at UNILAG. And shortly after completing his degree, he was promoted major. But Uncle Remi as we fondly called him was one of the victims of the fatal Ejigbo military plane crash that consumed a generation of the best trained Nigerian army officers who were all in their middle ranks. What an unforgettable tragedy!
We knew two of our class are likely to end up in the Lords Vineyard. One of them we call Brother Yinka. The other whose name I’ve forgotten must be pasturing a congregation now.
I remember Bose Orisawo, a very vivacious lady, now Mrs Eitokpa. With her in class, there was never a dull moment. After graduation, she worked briefly at the defunct Daily Times before venturing into NGO work. She was at Friedrich Ebert Foundation and I think she later went to work for UNESCO. She is off my radar now. Tunde Odediran (he should be in his mid 40s now) is an intelligent south paw and could have been one of the most creative broadcast producers or a hard core human rights activist in Nigeria . But he is in the United States. He came out with a two-one in mass comm in 1988, the year we graduated.
Like Tunde, Peter Adebolu was a fine gem as a print journalism student. Some of us expected him to make a first class. His two-one is as good as a first class. But I am sad I cannot trace him again. The last time I met him, he was surely yet to be fulfilled as a journalist for it was in the difficult days of the closure of the Punch and Concord. So, he also off my radar now. There is a certain Tuope Omare, a Dotun Erinle and a Joy Emuan. They must be near grandmothers now. And Alhaja Taibat Elemosho! Alaja Taaaaaai, Omo Baba Elemosho o. She has risen so high in the Lagos social circuit that KWAM 1 gave her generous mention in one of his records.
Abdulfattah Babatunde is a Chief now in the News Agency of Nigeria and two of his children are now almost graduating from the same university, Unilag, he left 24 years ago. I remember Meso Obanigba, Bola Ogundeyi, Sewuese Igbadu and a certain flight officer who like late Major Remi Okeowo was from the military. And the oldest man in our class, Colman Obasi who should be well above 60 now. How I wish I can lengthen this piece to accommodate more of my colleagues who are doing well in the private sector, the public service and the academia now. To God be the glory. And for two I remember as dead, God’s mercy in the graves. For all others who are struggling to reach their dream, I pray Allah leads them to their Promised Land, their land of solace and comfort.
Solanke is Head of Training, Voice of Nigeria