Politics
THE Olori Janet Mba-Afolabi Foundation (OJAF) on Thursday unveiled the Newswatch 5 lecture series/ tribute session for the late media icon, Yakubu Mohammed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mohammed co-founded the popular Newswatch magazine, alongside the late Dele Giwa, the late Dan Agbese, Mr Ray Ekpu and Mr Soji Akinrinade.
Unveiling the lecture, Chairman of the occasion, Chief Tola Adeniyi, said that Mohammed rebranded journalism in his own image.
Adeniyi said that the late veteran journalist did not find himself in journalism but walked into it, prepared and laboured for it.
“He desired, perspired and acquired the journalism feat. By nature, Mohammed was not flamboyant nor loud, but stayed in his own lane,” he said.
In her remarks, the Convener and Founder of OJAF Foundation, Mba-Afolabi, said that the journey of the event started seven years ago when she went to collect Mr Ray Ekpu’s 70th birthday invitation cards to distribute to media colleagues.
She said that she was dumbstruck when she opened the door and saw four of them seated in one small office, with tables facing one other.
“My heart bled, I felt sadness, pity and genuine sympathy for their situation.
“As I stepped out of the office that day, I took a decision to do something for them,” she said.
Mba-Afolabi disclosed that when she got home, she was still overwhelmed by sympathy, carried away in thoughts and didn’t know when the door of her fridge cut her right toe.
She said that while the injury healed from the outside, for five years it refused to heal from inside.
Mba-Afolabi, who is the wife of the Alapomu of Apomu kingdom in Osun, said that when her husband became king six years ago, she felt the burden to write a book on journalism masters who trained her.
“I didn’t forget my roots because God has lifted me.
“After I wrote the book, I sent copies to them; they read it and they were happy, I was happy too. I felt relieved and thought the burden was over.
“When Dan Agbese died. The burden came back stronger. I reflected on my journalism career. I remember the people who shaped, taught, corrected, pushed and believed in me even when I doubted myself, and gave me a platform to soar,” she said.
Mba-Afolabi said that they taught her that journalism was not just a profession but a public trust, that truth matters and that integrity was not negotiable.
She said it was this debt of gratitude that inspired her to organise the event.
NAN reports that highlight of the event was reminiscences and tributes from the former Military President, Retired Gen Ibrahim Babangida as well as family, friends, colleagues and schoolmates. (NAN)
A.I
April 30, 2026
Tags: Chief Tola Adeniyi Olori Janet Mba-Afolabi Foundation Retired Gen Ibrahim Babangida Yakubu Mohammed.