Americans sometimes refer to their national government amusingly   as Uncle Sam. The origins of the two words have been traced to the abbreviation of the United States, U.S.

But in the world of Nigerian journalism the name Uncle Sam is exclusively reserved for the accomplished journalist, Prince Sam Amuka Pemu, who would turn 90 on Friday. The old and young in the media industry fondly call Amuka Uncle Sam.

However, septuagenarians and older persons would most likely call the nonagenarian  “Sad Sam” in a nostalgic reference to his celebrated column of the 1960s and 1970s focusing on the troubles in the land. In the column, Amuka explored substantial issues of the society and polity in his inimitable style laced with humour.

The trajectory of Amuka’s career has provided ample lessons from his days as an editor in the old Daily Times to his position as the founder of the Vanguard Newspapers. These are profound lessons of professional commitment, patriotism, infectious humility and exemplary modesty in personal life. 

In a way, journalism has been Amuka’s life. He belongs to the vanishing breed of those in their youth who forgot other things of life in their devotion to journalism.

To secularise a Biblical passage, when two or more people are gathered to discuss journalism or matters related to it Amuka would be one of them even at 90. Amuka shares this passion for journalism with his professional brother, Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Ogun State governor. The word “doyen” is often misused in the media. You can only have the doyen of a profession and not a doyen or doyens. In other words, there can only be the doyen at a time! Indisputably, Uncle Sam is today the doyen of the journalism profession. As the Chairman of the THISDAY/ARISE Media Group, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, often acknowledges publicly, Amuka is the oldest and most revered personality in the Nigerian media. And there is no indication yet that Amuka is tired despite the inescapable biological realities of old age.

In any situation, Amuka would instinctively be on the side of an independent media and free expression. He has a network of friends within the Nigerian establishment cultivated for decades. Yet in the event of any dispute between a media house or a journalist and those in power, you would find Amuka on the side of the media working for the resolution of the issues. He fiercely defends journalists and their media organisations against persecution by oppressors. Amuka is a personification of solidarity in the media.

On a larger note, the veteran journalist’s sympathy is understandably for the underdog and his philosophical outlook is unmistakably anti-injustice. Without a combative mien, he exudes a passion for social justice and fair play.

Simultaneously, he is also concerned about the quality of output and ethics in the media. He is always at home when discussing the enhancement of professionalism in the media. While Amuka applauds reportorial excellence and notes with admiration diligent editing, he frowns at sloppy newspaper production. Amuka’s role in the evolution of tabloid journalism seems not be adequately acknowledged. Ever before the founding of VANGUARD, Amuka’s practice of journalism in the Daily Times Group and later the role in the development of THE PUNCH would be evidence of his flair for the tabloid genre.   It is a veritable theme for media studies.

A quintessential patriot, Amuka’s quest for free speech is never in contradiction of his working towards the national interest. Of course, in his many decades in the media industry, he might have found out that the national interest sometimes would be at variance with the pursuits of regimes in power at different periods in history. Amuka has doubtless been a witness to history at those different periods with a knowledge of what is called in the newsroom “the inside story.”  Amuka has succeeded in balancing journalistic integrity with his patriotic duty.  And this is no mean achievement. Indeed, there is an organising principle to Amuka’s media practice. This is not a common virtue.

Amuka’s life is devoid of undue ego. His idea of competition is remarkably healthy. This much is illustrated in his unique relationship with Obaigbena. In ordinary terms, VANGUARD and THISDAY are competitors in the increasingly difficult newspaper business. So, conventional morality would probably not permit effusive compliments being paid to THISDAY’s owner by the publisher of VANGUARD. Not so for Amuka, who calls Obaigbena “the star.” On many occasions, Amuka has praised Obaigbena’s creativity, resourcefulness and resilience in the media industry. The camaraderie exhibited by the duo is instructive in the industry.  In reciprocation, whenever he has the opportunity to say it, Obaigbena refers to Amuka as “a leading light of our profession.”  Their relationship is like that of a father and his son. It is, therefore, a welcome proposition that Obaigbena is working on the establishment of the Sam Amuka College of Media Studies at the Western Delta University, Oghara, Delta State. It’s a project that is estimated to cost hundreds of millions. When it is done, it would be a fitting tribute to the nonagenarian for his immense contributions to the development of the profession of journalism and the media industry.

A man of a small physical size with a towering professional and societal stature, Amuka’s life is also defined by unmistaken modesty. You can call him Mr. Modesty, if you like.  His personality is devoid of vanity. Here is a media owner who is shy of publicity. He seems to sometimes crave anonymity. He had “escaped” days before the celebrations organised to mark his previous milestones. Everyone earnestly hopes that this year’s own would be different!  

Amuka’s humility will make the most supercilious person to be humble. He maintains a friendly disposition with the high and the low. His sense of humour would electrify any occasion. This reporter can bear a personal testimony with immense gratitude to this aspect of Amuka’s huge personality. My wife, Funmi, was on the editorial team of VANGUARD. Uncle Sam humorously calls her “the wife of a big man.”  The old man has visited us on occasions spending hours with the family and sharing his rich experience.

He is indeed a jolly good fellow.  

Happy Birthday to the only uncle in the Nigerian media!