Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

Sam Amuka Pemu (born 13 June 1935) is a

Nigerian Nigerians or the Nigerian people are citizens of Nigeria or people with ancestry from Nigeria. The name Nigeria was derived from the Niger River running through the country. This name was allegedly coined in the late 19th century by British jo ...

journalist,

columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Column (periodical), Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the ...

and publisher, who founded the ''

Vanguard The vanguard (sometimes abbreviated to van and also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. ...

'', Nigeria's leading newspaper, and was co-founder of ''

The Punch ''The Punch'' is a Nigerian daily newspaper founded on August 8, 1970. Punch Nigeria Limited is registered under the Companies Act of 1968 to publish newspapers, magazines and other periodicals. The newspaper's aim is said to be to "inform, edu ...

'', one of the most widely read newspapers in Nigeria. He was born in

Sapele ''Entandrophragma cylindricum'' is a tree of the genus ''Entandrophragma'' of the family ''Meliaceae''. It is commonly known as sapele or sapelli ( ) or sapele mahogany, as well as aboudikro, assi, and muyovu. Origin of the name The name ''sape ...

, a city in

Delta State Delta is a States of Nigeria, state in the South South (Nigeria), South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Named after the Niger Delta—a large part of which is in the state—the state was formed from the former Bendel State, on 27 August 1 ...

, southern Nigeria, into the family of the late Pa Amuka-Pemu and Madam Teshoma Amuka-Pemu who died in May 2014.

Journalism career

He was a ''

Daily Times of Nigeria ''The Daily Times'' was a Nigerian newspaper with headquarters in Lagos. At its peak, in the 1970s, it was one of the most successful locally-owned businesses in Africa. The paper went into decline after it was purchased by the government in 1975 ...

'' editor and the first editor of the ''Sunday Punch'' before he established ''

'' with his friend, the late

Olu Aboderin Olu Aboderin (3 September 1934 – 28 February 1984) was a Nigerian newspaper publisher who was a co-founder of ''The Punch'' of Nigeria and was the president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria until his death in 1984. He ...

, in 1971. He later established ''Vanguard Newspaper'' in 1983 with three other Nigerian columnists. Amuka was described as a "Gentleman of the Press" by President

Muhammadu Buhari Muhammadu Buhari (born 17 December 1942) is a Nigerian politician who served as the president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A retired Nigerian army major general, he was the military head of state of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 Augu ...

on his 80th birthday. He was described as an icon and a leading light in Nigerian journalism by

Nduka Obaigbena Nduka Obaigbena CON, Duke of Owa Kingdom is the founding Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY Media Group and ARISE News Channel. Background He was born in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria on July 14, 1959, into the royal family of Owa Kingdo ...

, President of the

Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria The Newspaper Proprietors' Association of Nigeria or NPAN is a professional body concerned with the regulation of journalism in Nigeria. The President of the Association is Nduka Obaigbena, a Nigerian journalist, columnist and founder of '' Thisda ...

. Amuka-Pemu is the oldest practising media professional in Nigeria today who had been cited by peers. A book entitled ''From 1939 to the Vanguard of Modern Journalism'' written by

Kola Muslim Animasaun Chief Kola Muslim Animasaun (born 5 July 1939) is a Nigerian journalist, columnist and former chairman of the editorial board of '' The Vanguard'', Nigeria's leading newspaper. His book, ''From 1939 to the Vanguard of Modern Journalism'', was la ...

, who also trained under him, acknowledged his immense contributions to journalism in Nigeria.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Amuka-Pemu, Sam Nigerian journalists 1939 births Living people Nigerian columnists