Olori Janet Afolabi, a CNN award-winning journalist and convener of the Newswatch lecture series, has described legends of Newswatch magazine—Dele Giwa, Ray Ekpu, Dan Agbese, Yakubu Mohammed, and Soji Akinrinade—as true custodians of the nation's journalism standards. She made this statement during the Newswatch 5 lecture series and tribute session for the late media icon Yakubu Mohammed, held recently in Lagos.
Journalism as a Public Trust
Afolabi, who is also the founder of the Olori Janet Afolabi Foundation (OJAF), recalled, "They taught me that journalism is not just a profession but a public trust. That truth matters. That integrity is non-negotiable. It is this debt of gratitude that made me organise this event." She further disclosed that the journey of the event began seven years ago when she went to collect Ekpu's 70th birthday invitation cards for distribution to media colleagues. She said she was dumbstruck when she opened the door and saw four of them seated in one small office, with tables facing one another. "My heart bled; I felt sadness, pity, and genuine sympathy for their situation. As I stepped out of the office that day, I took a decision to do something for them," she added.
Inception of the Lecture Series
Janet Afolabi, who is the wife of the Alapomu of Apomu kingdom in Osun State, added, "When I conceived the idea to celebrate my journalism fathers, who are legends and patriarchs of journalism in a lecture series, I told Mr Soji Akinrinade. He said it was a good idea. He asked me to tell Ekpu and Yakubu Mohammed. I met them and they supported the idea. On January 1st this year, Mr Mohammed sent a message and confirmed full support. Two weeks later, he passed on. Since Mohammed was aware of the event, I suggested to Mr Ekpu and Mr Akinrinade that the first edition of the lecture series should be dedicated to him, and they agreed."
Tribute to Yakubu Mohammed
The Acting Head of the Department of Mass Communication at the University of Lagos, Professor Tayo Popoola, recalled that Mohammed was the first editor of Unilag Sun, the training newspaper for Mass Communication students. Before then, the don recalled, the paper was called Unilag Communicator. Popoola added, "He was the person that changed the name to Unilag Sun. Therefore, he was a pace-setter, a first amongst equals, and a foresighted man." Describing Unilag Sun as a brand, he added, "We give God the glory for what the late Yakubu Mohammed did for the Department during his time. His name, along with other great alumni of the Department, are listed in the strategic publications of the Department and always mentioned in some of our courses such as History of Nigerian Mass Media and Media Biographies to encourage our students to work hard and sustain the global ranking of the Department as a World Bank Centre of Excellence in Multimedia Journalism as well as a UNESCO Centre of Excellence in Journalism Media Training in Africa."
Saying the department is grateful for the decision by the Estate of Yakubu Mohammed to donate his books to the Departmental library, he also prayed for God's care upon the family he left behind. It is noteworthy that after the death of Dele Giwa, Akinrinade joined Ekpu, Mohammed, and Agbese, making the quartet complete again.
