BEFORE THE SUN GOES DOWN

The wise ones say we should make hay while the sun shines and so, if you have enjoyed viewing and reading posts in this blog since it was started then you may be interested in knowing that Henates or Henry Atenaga turned 65 today and likes to use the opportunity to pay tribute to those who impacted on his professional career since 1976.

That is, before the sun goes down and the journey beyond takes over.

The first person worth mentioning is late Terry Agbelemoge, who died in 1980 as Editor Times International in the Daily Times group after years as Science editor of the Daily Times.

I was a non-degree holder and still remain one and Terry it was who got me to join Times International on my own terms as Economic Reporter back in 1979, at a time graduates were still basking in the after glow of their victory over   non-graguates under the legendary Alhaji Babatunde Jose. I didn't meet Jose, by then the Daily Times had been taken over by the government.

Terry turned out to be the best boss and friend I ever had. His death was a big blow.

Before Terry though, there was Uche Chukwumerije, the publisher of Afriscope magazine, the only one of its kind published from African soil in the 1970s of active freedom movement for most parts of Africa.

Uche was my first employer in life and for a brief period, I reported not to him but the Economics Editor, Mr Chuks Anyanwu.

After Anyanwu left, I had the privilege of reporting directly to Uche and boy, it was a school of sorts. The day my script came out of Uche's office without any change or editing, I knew I was ready for the world.

He exposed me not only to magazine journalism, also to production through which I interacted with lay out guru, Jackie Payne; adept typesetter Sunny Afagwu and also to how magazine libraries are updated and kept.

Olu Aboderin of the Punch Group comes in for mention too. He it was who heard I had resigned from the Daily Times group and sent Alhaji Liad Tells to ask me to see him. I did and he didn't care if I had no degree, all he wanted was for me to edit the Financial Punch, a weekly until I did, that was edited by two masters holders, Victor Ogundipe and Kanmi Ademiluyi. 

I went on to become the only Financial Punch editor elevated later to the Chair of the Group Editorial Board after Olu Aboderin's death in 1984.

I also like to recall Onyema Ugochukwu, the editor of the Business Times in 1981. I transferred to the Business Times after a brief spell working under Femi Ogunsanwo and Dr Chinwoke Mbaduniju as editors of Times International.

So it was Onyema who asked me to report directly from the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Hayford Alike was the Director General then and no one else, in Africa had such an opportunity before I did. It was a pioneering job and with my accounting background, it actually turned out to be a piece of cake.

Credit should also be given to people like UAC's Mike Okereke; Dennis Odife, Mrs Brume Opute, Professor Green Nwankwo, Tola Mobolorin, Mac Oviaghele, and Hayford Alike who always had time to chat and share knowledge with me any time I visited.

Let's not forget late Martin Akpoveta, then marketing director of PZ, who was the only Urhobo man who thought it fit to visit me, express his delight and cautioned for my best since I was the first Urhobo to be appointed the editor of a financial paper.

Finally, if I were to give award to any subordinate, it will go to Ugo Okoroafor for his can do spirit; while a man like Kevin Ejiofor while in charge of Cadbury Nigeria's image, took risky decision in my favour during the preparations for the launch of the epoch making Cereal. Conversion Plant (CCP).

Thank God I met these people and many others like Fred Brume, publisher of Business in ECOWAS magazine in the course of my career as a financial journalist and editor.