how sir FOLU OLAMITI spent 30 yrs at the TRIBUNE

• His New Book, A Peep Into The Past Reveals Details

On Thursday 30th November, 2023 Journalism Icon, Sir Folu Olamiti launched his book titled “A Peep Into The Past” at the International Conference Center, Ibadan.

The event which coincided with his 72nd birthday had in attendance many forerunners in the Journalism profession, dignitaries, political leaders, royalties, religious leaders, as well as Very important personalities among which were Femi Adesina OON, Oba  Adedokun Abolarin (Orangun of Oke-Ila), Chief Olusegun Osoba (former governor of Ogun State), Bashorun Dele Momodu (Publisher of Ovation International), Maye Olubadan (High Chief Lekan Alabi), Prof. Bishop Dapo Ashaju (former Vice Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University) and Mr. Raheem Adedoyin.

Also in attendance was Prof. Motunrayo Olumakaiye, Mrs Modupe Olubanjo of Globacom.

Others include Prof Abiodun Ilesanmi (former CMD of UCH), Pastor Segun Olatunji and Rev. Taiwo Olaoye. Also in attendance was Mr Ayo and Mrs Ronke Akinyemi, Dr Anthony Omolola ( president Club 66 Idanre), Mr Taiwo Obe (founder Journalism Clinic, Lagos), Mr Dare Babarimisa, Mr. Adekanye J. O (Sector Commander Oyo State Command representing Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps), Mrs F. O Alade (Unit Commander Moniya Command  representing FRSC) and Comrade Jare Ajayi.

Also in attendance was Chief Yinka Fasuyi (Asiwaju of Ijesa land ), Mrs. Yemisi Aluko-Olokun, Mr Edward Dickson (Managing Director Tribune Newspaper), Dr Funso Akindunni, Prof. Biodun Ilesanmi, Dr. Festus Adedayo, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, Alao Adedayo (Publisher of Alaroye), Obafemi Oredeyin (former editor Sunday Sketch), Dr. Lawrence Adeyemola Adegoke, Oyinlola Olatunji, Olusegun Olatunji, Prof. Yinka Oyewo (representing Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan), the celebrant’s wife and son; Adejoke and Kayode Olamiti amongst others.

Some of the guests talked about the good deeds of Sir Folu Olamiti, as a reputable person and one of the fathers of modern Journalism practice in Nigeria. Among the speakers was Chief Olusegun Osoba, who also was the Chairman of the occasion and in his words, “Sir Folu Olamiti is one of very colleagues who I respect a lot and I have no regret making such sacrifice to attend his book launch cum birthday celebration as I had to squeeze time out of my busy schedule to be here.”.

Doing the review of the book, Femi Adesina, who  was ex-President Mohammed Buhari’s aide, described the content of the book as a collection of works done by author which reveals his innermost character traits as a humanist and philosopher” He also congratulated him for his 72nd birthday.

One of Sir Folu Olamiti’s mentees, Pastor Segun Olatunji, the Director, African Newspaper said he was brought into Tribune in 1987 by the celebrant, after his Youth Service, adding that he’s the greatest mentor anybody can work under as he groomed him and many other notable journalists.

The event was brought to an end with the book launch and many copies were sold out. The Vote of thanks was given by Sir Folu Olatimi himself.

Many don’t know a lot about his impactful life. Only a few know his full names, for instance. He revealed it all in his 303 page book. It is Lawrence Mofoluwaso Olamiti, popularly known as Folu Olamiti. Lets tell you more about him. He was born on the morning of 30th November, 1951 in Idanre town, then in the Western Region of Nigeria, but now in Ondo State. His parents, Pa Daniel Akinseye Olamiti and Mama Juliana Olawemimo Olamiti were devout Christians who spent their entire lives serving in the vineyard of the Lord.

Pa Olamiti started life as a Teacher, after completing the Standard 6 of elementary school because he was unable to further his education for lack of funds and sponsors.

Because of his zeal for the Lord, he decided to serve the Lord and was appointed a Catechist in the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) where he worked until he eventually retired. Pa Olamiti married his wife in 1939 and they were blessed with 6 children, four males and two females. Sir Folu was the 3rd child of his parents. Mama Olamiti was a small business woman throughout her life, preparing and selling pap (Ogi) and frying snacks known as chin-chin. Folu Olamiti as a child helped his Mama hawk these items all over the towns and villages where his father served as Catechist in the Ondo Province of the old Western Region.

Folu Olamiti had his elementary education in Alade Idanre, Ondo, and 4 other towns in Ondo Province because his father was being moved around by the Anglican Church, and each time his father moved, the family moved with him, necessitating the changing of school and environment for the children. Folu Olamiti  was enrolled at St. Mary’s Church School, Agbala Maria, Ondo, in 1957. Two years later, he was moved to the church school in Ajue, near Odigbo, when his father was transferred to Saint John’s Church, Ajue. In his 4th year in elementary school, the family again moved to All Saints Church Ogbonkogho and after only one year, his father was yet again moved to Saint Paul’s Church, Odode in Idanre, where Folu eventually completed his primary school.

It was at Odode in Idanre that Sir Folu Olamiti sat for the entrance examination into Olofin Grammar School, Idanre, where he had his secondary school education under strenous circumstances as his father’s salary as a Catechist could not adequately cater for his 6 children who were all in school. After completing his school certificate in flying colours, Folu moved to Ilesa Grammar School for his Higher School Certificate (HSC).

Sir Folu Olamiti’s parents could not muster the resources for him to proceed to the University after his HSC due to paucity of income, much as Folu and his father wanted him to have university education. In fact, Folu applied and got admitted to a university in Canada and also the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. But he was unable to take up the offers because he could not secure scholarships and neither could his father raise the fees.

Sir Folu Olamiti moved to Ibadan, the capital of the Western Region, to become the Personal Assistant (P A) to his uncle, the influential politician, Chief Akin Deko, who was then the Chairman of the Western Nigeria Development Corporation (WNDC). Not finding the PA job challenging enough Sir Folu decided to quit, and like his father, became a Teacher under the regional government at Molusi College, Ijebu-Ode.

How did he become a Journalist? Folu Olamiti never set out in life to be a journalist, even though he had wanted to study up to the university level and acquire a degree, and even though he was good in English language and literature and led in literary debates in his school days; journalism for him was not an initial career choice. He became a journalist by accident and even in his early days in the profession, he had thought of quitting because of the stress and strains of the job.

When he got to Ibadan to work with his uncle, Folu Olamiti linked up with his childhood friend, school mate and townsman, Eric Teniola, who was already working as a journalist with the Tribune newspapers and in his spare time, Folu often visited Eric in the offices of the Tribune and even accompanied him to assignments on occasions. Folu and Eric became inseparable, like in their school days. When Folu took up the teaching position at Molusi College, Ijebu-Igbo, he came to Ibadan every weekend to hang out with Eric, and it was during one such visit that Eric persuaded Folu to try the journalism vocation. Folu was reluctant at first, but later allowed himself to be convinced by Eric who introduced him to the then Editor of the paper, Mr. Olukayode Bakre.

On January 19, 1972, Eric was at Folu’s house to collect his application to the Tribune in which he requested to be engaged as a Reporter. Eric submitted it and Folu was invited for an interview a week later. At the interview, the Editor merely asked Folu if he could write well which he affirmed. Then he was asked when he wanted to start work to which he said, ‘Immediately’. Three days later; Folu assumed duty as Reporter on a monthly salary of 17.50 pounds. Thus began one of the most glorious and glamorous careers in the anals of Nigerian Journalism.

Folu Olamiti worked for the Tribune from 1972 to 2002, a period of 30 years. He held various important posts in the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc., publishers of the Tribune titles, rising from the ground floor to the pinnacle of the profession.

He rose from being a Reporter to become the News Editor 5 years after joining the newspaper in 1977. He was appointed the Editor of the Sunday Tribune in 1985, Editor of the flagship of the ANN Plc, the Nigerian Tribune, in 1991, the Executive Director (Operations) of the ANN Plc in 1995 and Executive Director (Publications) in 1999, an equivalent of Editor-in-Chief; the post he held until he retired from the organization in 2002.

Though he joined the ANN Plc with the Higher School Certificate qualification, Folu went back to school while on the job to acquire theoretical knowledge in Journalism having had substantial practical experience and instructions from his Editor, Mr. Bakre and the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, who late became the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State.

About one year after joining the Tribune, Folu Olamiti was sent to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) at Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island, to do a short news reporting course. He so impressed the Director of the NU, Mr. John Lahey, that he immediately recommended Folu to the management of the ANN Plc to allow him to do the full two-year diploma course. Alhaji Jakande, the Managing Director, not only approved that Folu should proceed for the diploma course, he assented for him to be given study leave with half pay, an uncommon practice amongst newspapers at that time. He completed the course in 1976, and in 1978, he was again among 12 journalists selected from all over the developing world to undergo the advance diploma course injournalism by the Thomson Foundation, Cardiff, Wales, in the United kingdom. Shortly after completing this course, he was again admitted to the Institute of Journalism in the then Western Germany for three months.

In the course of his career as a journalist, Folu Olamiti covered many important events, both local and international. Prior to the return to Civil rule in Nigeria in 1979, the Chairman and Founder of the ANN Plc and leader of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) , Chief Obafemi Awolowo, specifically requested from the management of the Tribune that Folu be assigned to cover his campaigns as the presidential candidate of the UPN. Thus, he travelled through the length and breadth of Nigeria to cover the campaigns of Chief Awolowo from 1978-1983 when the elections were held. He covered several meetings of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Vienna, Austria, attended many meetings of the International Press Institute (IFI), which is rotated among many countries of the world. He has covered the American presidential election in the United States of America, in addition to many important local events.

In his career, he also worked as a Consultant. Folu Olamiti left the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc., after a glorious career spanning over 30 years and a few years later, began life as a Media Consultant to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). For Folu, this was a new role slightly different from his role as a journalist. As a journalist, he was a watchdog of public institutions and public officials keeping them on their toes by reporting their activities and by being critical of their actions which sometimes drew their ire. But as Media Consultant, he was the image-maker of the ICPC and he was to ensure that the organization enjoyed goodwill from the public and that the public understood the role and functions of the institution.

Being a veteran journalist, he used his wide contacts in the media to project the image and activities of the ICPC to the world. Folu, who as a journalist, had always abhorred corruption and had used his pen to fight it, consolidated his fight against corruption at the ICPC by helping the organization to form ant-corruption vanguards all over the country, especially among the youths in various campuses of higher institutions. This is one of the indelible marks he left at the ICPC.

Sir Folu Olamiti  is currently Chairman, Board of Management of Church of Nigeria Anglican Cable Network of Nigeria Television (ACNN) , a new role he assumed after leaving the ICPC.

He is a staunch Christian and a deeply committed family man, values he inherited from his father. He got married to his heartthrob, Adejoke, in 1980 and together they have 2 lovely boys and a daughter. Oluwakayode is now a Pilot, Kolawole, a Software engineer based in the United States of America and Omowunmi who has 2 Master’s Degrees in Computer Security and Computer forensic from Great Britain is now married in USA. Adejoke, his wife of almost 40 years, is a Lecturer in Computer Science at the prestigious University” of Ibadan.

Adapted from Folu: Epitome of Perseverance (1995) by Toye Akinrinlola and Tunde Babalola, published by Femyink Ventures Limited, Ibadan.