Reporter to Editor: My Vanguard Story
By Mideno Bayagbon (The Fifth Editor)
The first time I came to Vanguard Newspapers, I was more or less a greenhorn, a dreamer, but one who boldly harboured the ambition of honing my writing skill as quickly as possible, rising through the ranks and one day attaining the pinnacle of the profession.
I was then a student of Mass Communication at the outstanding University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and had chosen Vanguard as the place to do my internship.
Before this time, however, l have had stints writing for the federal government owned Nigeria Illustrated magazine, Daily Times owned Lagos Weekend, and had had a number of articles published in newspapers and magazines.
Coming to Vanguard for my internship was a given for two reasons. I lived in Olodi Apapa, a nearly stone throw from Kirikiri Canal, home to Vanguard newspapers.
Secondly, Vanguard, in its then short life, had established for itself an enviable reputation as a leading newspaper in Nigeria with a mass appeal that cuts across all sectors: politics, economy, education, sports, entertainment, fashion, social issues pertaining to the family, the civil society and so on.
It was also regarded in many quarters as the ideal family newspaper such that its unique selling point became the paper the boss takes home.
For this reason, it was easily the popular newspaper of choice at most newsstands across the country at the time; at least with the benefit of my experience at the campus.
So, coming to Vanguard was not a difficult choice or decision. Who wouldn’t want to be part of an outstanding success story in the Nigerian media industry?
First for me, was to undertake a pilgrimage to a place that had carved an enviable niche for itself and was home to several famous journalistic talents who were then holding sway in the highly competitive Nigerian media space.
My mission was simple: to meet these dazzling stars of the media in Vanguard, to see them in work-related action and to learn from them in order to gain more practical experience to fulfill my dream of becoming an accomplished journalist.
It was a decision that eventually brought me face to face with the familiar names whose write-ups I had only been reading on the pages of the newspaper and who I had also come to admire, if not envy. Top of the cast in this regard is the man I have come to admire, if not hero-worship as the oracle of the Nigerian media, Mr Sam Amuka, the publisher of Vanguard who we all popularly refer to as Uncle Sam. Then there is the ubiquitous Bizlaw (Bisi Lawrence) now of blessed memory. My first editors were Jimi Disu and Frank Aigbogun. There was the renowned published author, Helen Ovbiagele. The lipstick girl, Doyin Omololu (later Okojie); Chris Okojie, Ikeddy Isiguzo, Alhaji Kola Animasaun, Fola Arogundade, Ely Obasi, Jossy Nkwocha, Hakeem Ikandu, Ogbonnaya Amadi, and so on and many others who formed a formidable galaxy of journalistic stars at the Vanguard stable.
The initial experience, when meeting this media stars, was one of awe and trepidation. But I later discovered that my fear was misplaced, that there was no cause to worry.
For example, Uncle Sam is such a simple, easy-going, highly tolerant, and accommodating personality that you always feel at ease in his presence. He it was who introduced me to the Vanguard troop, and on account of his words of encouragement, everyone was happy and eager to make me feel welcome.
Following my personal encounter with most of those who made things happen in Vanguard, it occurred to me that Vanguard was like a big family performing like an orchestra made up of very talented individuals who brilliantly interpreted their roles as the choir master directed proceedings.
The Editor then, Toye Akiyode, and his lieutenants were in their elements, barking orders or dishing instructions to their subordinates to get things moving as the newspaper production process got under way.
Initially, I was a mere spectator to all this. But it was not long before I got fully involved in the process of writing stories for Business, News, Literary Vanguard, Entertainment, and Features.
As it turned out, it was love at first sight or encounter. A job was promised even before the internship ended; and the rest is history
My 31 years of romance with Vanguard eventually saw me anchoring at the features desk from where l spread my tentacles to other beats. I soon found myself promoted as the Deputy Features Editor and Features Editor in record time. After years of serving in this capacity, I was invited by Uncle Sam one day, who informed me that I had been promoted to a Senior Assistant Editor’s post. Not long after, I was once again summoned in like manner and was informed of my appointment as the Deputy Editor to Mr Gbenga Adefaye; a role l was to later combine with being the AGM/Chief Marketing Officer of the paper. The climax of this, of course, was my appointment as the fifth editor of Vanguard Newspapers.
I am proud to be an alumnus of this outstandingly impactful medium whose four decades of existence have moulded great stars and led frontally in the efforts at creating the Nigeria of our dreams.
It is still a work in progress.
