The Making of the Nigerian Flagship – A Story of the Guardian Newspaper by Aaron Ukodie and O’seun Ogunseitan; Flagship Publishing & Promotions; 2021; 590pp 

By Uzor Maxim Uzoatu

The appearance of The Guardian newspaper on the Nigerian newsstands in 1983 was revolutionary. There was the pre-appearance advert that went thus: “Sooner than later, you’ll read The Guardian.” 

The Making of the Nigerian Flagship – A Story of The Guardian, co-authored by Aaron Ukodie, The Guardian’s pioneer Communications Correspondent, and O’seun Ogunseitan, the newspaper’s pioneer Science Editor, chronicles the conception, planning, birth, and nurturing in Lagos of Nigeria’s most intellectual and internationally renowned newspaper in the last 40 years. 

Aremo Olusegun Osoba, the distinguished journalist and former Governor of Ogun State, writes in the Foreword: “Established on February 27, 1983, as a weekly, the vision for The Guardian started in 1977 one evening at Alex Ibru’s house on Louis Solomon Close, overlooking the waterfront.” 

Publisher Alex Ibru provided the start-up money for the founding of the newspaper. The pioneer Managing Director and Executive Editor, Dr. Stanley Macebuh, added intellectual heft to the vision in hopes of making The Guardian rank amongst the five topmost newspapers in the English-speaking world. 

Lade Bonuola and Femi Kusa put into reckoning a newsroom that was different from anything ever seen in Nigerian newspapering. The OP-ED pages, an innovation in the industry, were ably marshaled by the pioneer Editorial-Page-Editor and Chairman of the Editorial Board, Professor Onwuchekwa Jemie. 

It is remarkable that the co-authors of The Making of the Nigerian Flagship – A Story of The Guardian conceived the book from Facebook and WhatsApp groups. 

The first copy of The Guardian hit the newsstands on Sunday, February 27, 1983, and ran as a much-sought-after Guardian on Sunday weekly until five months later when the daily edition was launched on Monday, July 4, 1983. 

Aside from Macebuh, Jemie, Bonuola, and Kusa, other celebrated makers of The Guardian include Dr. Yemi Ogunbiyi, Olu Oke, Nick Iduwe, Jide Oluwajuyitan, Femi Osofisan, Edwin Madunagu, Chinweizu, Sonala Olumhense, Godwin Sogolo, Emvho Biakolo, Chidi Amuta, Olatunji Dare, Alade Odunewu, Andy Akporugo, Eddie Iroh, Ted Iwere, Sunmi Smart-Cole, Bisi Ogunbadejo, Rufai Ibrahim, Amma Ogan, Sully Abu, Ashikiwe Adione-Egom, Tunde Thompson, Nduka Irabor, Eluem Emeka Izeze, Sunny Ojeagbase, Ben Tomoloju, Lanre Idowu, Taiwo Obe, Ayogu Eze, etc.

The Making of the Nigerian Flagship – A Story of The Guardian is a collector’s item deserving a special place in every library.    

Uzor Maxim Uzoatu is a renowned poet, journalist, and author.

Ayodele Johnson

Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.