This week, we are celebrating a leading light in the journalism profession in Nigeria, a worthy and very distinguished Deltan, Prince Sam Amuka Pemu, popularly called ‘Sad Sam’.
Born 13 June 1935, he is a journalist by profession, a columnist and publisher, who founded the Vanguard, one of Nigeria’s leading newspapers, and was co-founders of The Punch, one of the most widely read newspapers in Nigeria.
Born in Sapele, in Delta State, into the family of the late Pa Amuka-Pemu and Madam Teshoma Amuka-Pemu who died in May 2014.
He was a Daily Times of Nigeria Editor and the first Editor of the Sunday Punch before he established The Punch with his friend, the late Olu Aboderin, 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 on his 80th birthday. He was described as an icon and a leading light in Nigerian journalism by Nduka Obaigbena.
Interestingly, he is the oldest practicing 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, who also trained under him, acknowledged his immense contributions to journalism in Nigeria.
Uncle Sam, as he is fondly called, and as the publisher of Vanguard, is a great team player. Always leaves a lasting impression on his audience, as he listens to everybody’s opinion and the justification for such opinion.
He remains as ever a self-effacing Nigerian patriot of uncommon class and carriage. Call him “Sad Sam” or “Uncle Sam” who deserves a bow, for he is a splendid role model to scores of journalists.
Recall that he was the pioneer Editor of the magazine Spear, published by the Daily Times stable, and in
his heydays as a journalist in the 1960s, he ranked as a foremost columnist of coveted distinction, and excelled as the Editor of the bestselling Sunday Times from 1967 to 1971.
He wrote a must-read column “This Nigeria” under his celebrated pen-name, Sad Sam, and was witty at every turn.
He once wrote a column on a beggar he used to give some coins during his break-time. On one occasion, he told the beggar that he did not have the needed loose change to offer only for the beggar to reply that he had the necessary change. Sad Sam promptly told the beggar that it clearly showed that the receiver was actually richer than the so-called benefactor.
The iconic publisher of Vanguard newspapers Uncle Sam remains as ever a self-effacing Nigerian patriot of uncommon class and carriage. Call him “Sad Sam” or “Uncle Sam” who deserves a bow for he is a splendid role model to scores of journalists.m
The guru called Sad Sam was the pioneer editor of the magazine Spear, published by the Daily Times stable.
In his heyday as a journalist in the 1960s, he ranked as a foremost columnist of coveted distinction, and excelled as the editor of the bestselling Sunday Times from 1967 to 1971.
He wrote a must-read column “This Nigeria” under his celebrated pen-name, Sad Sam. He was witty at every turn.
The birth of The Punch newspapers in March 1973 owes lots to the gumption of Sam Amuka, who partnered with the business tycoon, Chief Olu Aboderin, in founding the trailblazing newspaper.
A man about town, Sam Amuka gave Punch the needed style and panache. The newspaper broke bold ground in covering they “unknown soldier” incident in which armed soldiers burnt down Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s Kalakuta Republic, around Empire Hotel at Yaba, Lagos.
While Sam Amuka did the journalistic beat of giving Punch its cherished place in the sun, he did not adequately cover his business interests in the newspaper.
Information has it that he ended upset being schemed out of the newspaper he had founded. He was too trusting as to understand the underground motives in entrepreneurship. He felt deeply betrayed, and only had to settle out of court for a pittance in lieu of all that he had offered in founding and steadying the ship of Punch.
With the loss bearing down on him, he told all his friends that he would no longer be involved in newspapering.
He said he would be settling down in his village in the old Bendel State to do some farming, describing himself as “a bushman”. He eventually only indulged briefly in fish business in the Lagos area.
In late 1983, Sam Amuka started nursing the idea of founding another newspaper to be called Vanguard. He worked night and day without rest for the refreshing paper that first hit the news-stands on July 15, 1984. The newspaper gave Nigerian womanhood pride of place.
Worthy of mention is Sam Amuka’s knack for spotting and nurturing talents, which many say is nonpareil. Even as he had lost much through his trusting nature, it never stopped him from imbuing his subordinates with the needed trust to accomplish their duties. He believes in working hard and enjoying hard. He has no stomach whatsoever for laziness and incompetence.
Little wonder, therefore, he is celebrated anywhere he goes.
He has literally given all his life to journalism, and has thus helped in enriching Nigerian lives across generations. He is the epochal history of Nigerian journalism.
