A compendium of stories of 38 ex-staff of Punch Newspapers titled, “Our Punch Years” will be presented to the public on Wednesday, December 20 2023 at the NECA Hall, Plot A2, Hakeem Balogun Stree, Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. The event is expected to start at 10 am.
The book was compiled over 18 months and was edited by Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin, Executive Media Career Development Network. Otufodunrin was the Group News Editor of the publication before he ventured to other concerns.
Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Angela Emuwa is billed to chair the occasion of the launch.
Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, and other dignitaries are expected at the event;
An associate professor of Journalism at the School of Communication, Lagos State University, Ojo, Dr Tunde Akanni will be the book reviewer.
The book is perhaps the first attempt to chronicle the story of The Punch from the perspective of ex-staff. It documents memorable and insightful experiences of accomplished journalists still occupying senior positions in private and public sectors of the economy.
The Launch will also feature a roundtable discussion on best practices for the sustainability of the media in the new media age by top managers of print and broadcast organisations in the country.
Otufodunrin who has over the years been passionate about best practices in the journalism profession, said the collection is dedicated to the founding Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, Chief James Olu Aboderin.
He added that it is also a modest contribution of the former staff to the 50th anniversary of the company.
“We cherish the years we spent in the company which contributed significantly to our career journeys and have chosen to document our experiences for posterity and the benefit of anyone who wants to learn from them,” Otufodunrin explained.
About Punch
Punch Newspapers is Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper. It was founded by James Aboderin, an accountant, and Sam Amuka, a columnist and editor at the Daily Times of Nigeria. Wikipedia notes that “Amuka became the first editor of the Sunday Punch. In November 1976, a few years after the first print of its Sunday edition, the duo started printing their trademark daily newspaper. Both editions were designed to favour a friendlier apolitical approach to news reporting, combining footage of social events with everyday political news. The paper sustains itself by delving[ into broad issues that interest myriad people.”
Over the years, the publication has maintained a pro-people stance. It suffered persecution from several military regimes in the country. Despite the persecution which often led to its proscription on many occasions, the publication has not compromise its editorial slant.