This year November is exactly 40 years since I graduated from London College of Journalism/Mass Communication, Fleet Street, London, in 1977.
When I look back these forty solid years of doing nothing else but practicing my profession of Journalism, I keep thanking God for His love, His grace and His mercies.
I recall while studying abroad how I encountered several community newspapers, which helped shape my impressions about the brand of journalism I would delve into. I also recall how I made up my mind to replicate a community newspaper in my home division, Ikorodu.
After my graduation, I secured a job with the defunct Daily Express the same year. From there, I moved to the defunct Weekly Focus and thereafter, to the defunct Nationalist Newspaper owned by Waziri Ibrahim in 1979.
Then, in 1980, I joined Abiola’s Concord Group of Newspapers as a Sub Editor in Dele Giwa led Sunday Concord Newspaper. I later became the Production Editor with my old friend Lewis Obi, and because of my knack for news gathering, I was also doing news reporting for Sunday Concord in addition to being the Production Editor.
While in Concord for five years, I made a lot of friends. They include my longest serving associate, Mr. Chuma Adichie and those, who helped me kick start Oriwu Sun, namely Dele Alake, who wrote the first editorial for our new community newspaper; Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe (late), both of whom contributed materials to flag off the publication.
I cannot forget May Ellen Ezekiel, Banji Adeyanju, Sunny Ojeagbase, Sina Adedipe, etc. It was a beautiful combination of talented Journalists, who exhibited comradeship.
I remain proud that the late Dele Giwa helped to sharpen my skill for good reporting.
My Concord experience was highlighted by the love and acceptance, which the founder of the paper, Late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and his wife, Dr. Doyin Abiola had for me. It was this friendship that culminated in Chief Abiola himself commissioning the first set of computers I bought for Oriwu Sun. He also granted us the printing of Oriwu Sun in Concord at a highly subsidized rate. He and his wife Doyin, accorded me a great recognition I cannot forget.
I had raised the sum of N40,000 by early 1985 to set up my dream community newspaper, Oriwu Sun. My projection then was to publish for only two years, knowing what would happen thereafter.
I set aside N20,000 for production and N20,000 for other running costs for that year. At N700 (Seven Hundred Naira) per edition, I calculated that I would spend N8,400 per year on production without envisaged for any advert. For the two years, It would amount to approximately seventeen thousand Naira (N17,000) before the paper would collapse if I do not get advert patronage. Unknown to me, God had granted me exceeding favours and surprises. Ikorodu people accepted the paper.
Though, many people in Ikorodu did not have the kind of disposable income to pay for adverts, they still supported the publication. Our full page advert rate at the onset was about N500. Today, it is N350,000 per page. Our style of reporting also changed after we started with crusading journalism style, which attacked polluted institution, corrupt individuals and criminal elements in our society, especially the cocaine boys (drug pushers).
My initial fears that the paper would collapse after two years because of uncertainty about advert patronage changed into great enthusiasm. It has been advert galore from day one till now and I glorify the name of the Almighty God for His kindness. Since our debut in April 1985, it has been journalism unlimited and nothing else. I have never done any other business aside publishing uninterrupted editions of this paper, which keeps improving in content, quality, quantity and impact, such that we celebrated its 32 years of nonstop existence last year 2016 in grand style.
Can I speak about my forty (40) years as a Journalist without carrying along the enviable team God enabled me to assemble to carry on this task? Starting from my loyal, trusted and tested Deputy, Mr. Chuma Adichie, a professional Journalist to the core, who has stuck with me for thirty two (32) years of this journalistic marathon. I will forever be grateful to him. He moved into Ikorodu for my sake and for the sake of this paper. He is one man, who made me change the wrong impression I had about Igbos as I now know that there are many honest and good ones. If only they would jettison this idea of secession so that we can continue to dialogue until they get justice.
Also at the starting line of this thirty two (32) and half years journey of Oriwu Sun is Hadji Kazim Ganiu-Sanni, who, today, is the Editor of the paper and who, in rain and sunshine, stood by me and Chuma to pioneer this project. As a kinsman from Ikorodu, he has not betrayed the trust I have in him and had worked tirelessly towards the success of this paper as its Production Editor.
The fourth leg of the two decades of Oriwu Sun is Mrs. Kemi Arohumolase, the Head of Compugraphics; a lady with magic fingers on the computer, who for two decades had typed and typeset mountains of scripts that were published in Oriwu Sun.
Thereafter, other team joined the train, among whom is the News Editor, Alhaji Mufutau Jimoh, an amiable and professionally sound Journalist, whose loyalty is never in doubt. Also is the versatile and valuable Waleola Kolawole, the Assistant News Editor, a workaholic Journalist, who is tireless, ever smiling and ever ready to work.
I am blessed with Festus Ezema, the Associate Editor of the paper; a veteran Journalist, an ex-soldier and a prolific Rewrite Specialist.
Also, I have a faithful driver, Rasheed Aderibigbe, who knows Lagos more than the Lagosians as he pilots our staff day in day out in search of news and adverts. We also have Debo and Rofiyat, serviceable assistants, and lastly, Segun Adeniyi Adesuyi anf Teslim Abiodun, so dedicated that they were elevated to full staffers because of their commitments.
These add to the others from Concord Group mentioned earlier, who buttered this community paper – Dele Alake and Late Dimgba Igwe.
Though, the salaries I pay my staff may be considered not enough but I ensure that it is paid regularly and on time too. I also give incentives/motivation to my team mates as the need arises.
I am particularly grateful to God for the favour he has been granting me, whereby, even the Governors of this state (past and present) recognize my paper and support it. Even though Ikorodu people do not give enough advert support, the State Government fills the gap and keeps this publication going with adverts and supplements. I appreciate them all.
For the forty (40) years of my journalism career, I feel proud that I am one of the best newspaper production editor in Nigeria. Oriwu Sun can compete with any newspaper in the world in terms of its production quality and content.
The vast experience I have gathered in these forty (40) years of journalism is no joke. They form part of what I intent to share very soon in a book I am writing on Practical Community Newspaper Report, which I believe would be of immense benefit to Journalists and students of Mass Communication in tertiary institutions.
The several papers, I have delivered in seminars, conferences and other for a will be part of this book in the making. The interesting thing about this intended book is that it is exclusive to the experiences I gathered on the job and not what I read about others or the profession. For example, the fact that a grassroots Journalist is known by everyone, I makes it dangerous to write without caution.
Unlike national papers, where a reporter is not known to anyone, the case is different in community journalism; thus, highlighting the dangers which face a community newspaper publisher and his reporters.
It is my belief that this book will be a reference material just as Oriwu Sun has become a focus point in journalism. All year round, interns from different institutions (universities/Polytechnics) come for their Students Indsutrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) or Industrial Training. We now serve as an oracle for many institution and establishments on grassroots journalism. We have trained more than 2000 students in the past twenty six (26) years.
I strongly believe, therefore, that whenever anyone discusses or writes about community journalism in Nigeria, my name and Oriwu Sun will surely gain a prominent mention alongside the great team I have piloted this project with.
When I look back at my journey so far, I remain grateful to my late father, Chief Lamidi Osho Dawodu-Olowosago, who sent me abroad to study journalism, my sister, Wind Cdr. Mistura Dawodu-Shitta, who has supported me strongly in this venture, as well as my brothers, Murphy Olowosago, Dr. Bayo Olowosago, Alhaji Damilola Olowosago and other family members, notably my lovely wife, Biodun, who is the past twenty six (26) years has been a strong pillar; same goes for my children, Tope, Goriola, Eniafe, Biodun and Doyin. All of these people and our readers and advertisers have been the backbone of my forty (40) years venture and success in journalism.
I also remember those I may have offended through my writings, I want them to bear with me and see my erring as part of the risks of this noble profession. I pray for long life, good health and prosperity to serve more years of my life as a worthy Journalist in this country.