By Joke Kujenya
DECADES OF unparalleled commitment to journalism came full circle as Prince Sam Amuka-Pemu, renowned newspaper publisher and pioneer media figure, marked his 90th birthday with national accolades and glowing tributes.
Revered across Nigeria newsrooms as “Uncle Sam,” he remains the country’s oldest practising newspaperman and one of the most enduring figures in the country’s press history.
From his early start at the Daily Express under the mentorship of literary icon John Pepper Clark, Amuka-Pemu progressed to the Daily Times, where his rise reflected not only talent but tenacity.
At the Daily Times’ peak, under the formidable leadership of Babatunde Jose, Uncle Sam stood out as a trusted editor and columnist, known for his thought-provoking writings under the pseudonym “Sad Sam.”
His editorial brilliance shone through in his stewardship of Sunday Times between 1967 and 1971, where he was praised for matching the international standards of quality journalism.
That excellence carried into his co-founding of The Punch with the late Chief Olu Aboderin, and later, the founding of Vanguard in 1984, a publication that has remained a fixture on newsstands for over four decades, even amid turbulent periods in Nigeria’s media landscape.
President Tinubu Eulogises Pa Amuka
Celebrating Amuka-Pemu’s lifetime contributions, President Bola Tinubu conferred on him the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), to align with the milestone of the 2025 Democracy Day observance.
The President lauded him as a doyen of journalism and a national treasure whose impact transcends media and touches public service and regional leadership in the South-South.
He said Uncle Sam’s influence is generational as many of Nigeria’s finest journalists credit their foundational training to his mentorship.
Described as a “teacher of teachers, editor of editors,” the President said his legacy is woven through the very fabric of Nigerian journalism.
Also, the humility with which he carries the title “Uncle Sam,” a name adopted from his famed columns, remains one of the many enduring traits that endeared him to both peers and protégés, President Tinubu notes.
The history of the Nigerian press is incomplete without his name.
From the birth of Spear Magazine in 1963, where he was appointed its first indigenous editor – to navigating censorship and crackdowns, including the temporary closure of Vanguard in 1990, President Tinubu said Amuka-Pemu exemplified the values of editorial courage and professional resilience.
Meanwhile, as tributes continue to pour in from across the country, Uncle Sam’s nine decades is described as a assertion to the power of principled journalism and unwavering dedication to truth.
Some even said his continued presence remains a moral compass for the noble profession in Nigeria just as his story, a living archive of Nigeria’s media evolution.
