Sam Amuka Pemu

Sam Amuka Pemu
Born13 June 1935
Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
CitizenshipNigerian
OccupationJournalism
Years active1971 – present
Known forFounder of Vanguard newspaper

Prince Sam Amuka Pemu (born 13 June 1935) is a Nigerian journalist, columnist and publisher, who founded the Vanguard, Nigeria's leading newspaper, and was co-founder of The Punch, the most widely read newspaper in Nigeria.[1][2] He was born in Sapele, a city in Delta State, southern Nigeria, into the family of the late Pa Amuka-Pemu and Madam Teshoma Amuka-Pemu, who died in May 2014.[3][4][5]

Journalism career

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.[6] He later established Vanguard Newspaper in 1983 with three other Nigerian columnists.[7] Amuka was described as a "Gentleman of the Press" by President Muhammadu Buhari on his 80th birthday.[8] He was described as an icon and a leading light in Nigerian journalism by Nduka Obaigbena, President of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria.[9] 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, who also trained under him, acknowledged his immense contributions to journalism in Nigeria.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ Agency reporter (12 June 2015). "Buhari pays tribute to Amuka-Pemu at 80". The Nation. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  2. ^ "Robbery Attack: I Was Shaken — Vanguard Publisher, Sam Amuka-Pemu", PM News, 18 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Sam Amuka Loses Mum". ThisDay Live. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Jonathan Mourns Gombe Emir *Kutigi's wife, Amuka-Pemu's mom too". Metro Watch. 28 May 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Uduaghan consoles 'Sad Sam' over mother's death". Vanguard News. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Buhari Pays Tribute to Sam Amuka-Pemu at 80E". ThisDay Live. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Buhari felicitates with Sam Amuka at 80". NigerianNation. 13 June 2015. Archived from the original on 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  8. ^ "Buhari eulogises Sam Amuka at 80". The Punch. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  9. ^ Agbo-Paul Augustine, George Agba (13 June 2015). "PMB Hails Amuka-Pemu On 80th Birthday". Leadership Newspaper. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  10. ^ "1939 to the Vanguard of Modern Journalism". Vanguard News. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Ajimobi, Tinubu urge journalists to be fearless". The Punch. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.