By Abiola Ayankunbi
Contributing Editor
Media as the fourth estate of the realm is meant to inform, educate and entertain the reading public. These three functions are to be done profitably. In accomplishing these functions, those saddled with managing the enterprise engage those who can assist them in achieving the overall goal of the company. However, based on the present crop of editors of newspapers’ in the country, appointments into the top editorial positions are limited to some parts of the country. In terms of geographical distribution, newspapers are also structurally, ideologically and ethnically different . Besides, women are not favoured for promotions/appointments to editorship positions in most of the media firms. Specifically, newspapers owned by southerners are headed by southerners and its the same with those owned by northerners. In order to drive home this observation, 10 newspapers were considered. The newspapers are The Punch, ThisDay, The Guardian, Nigerian Tribune, The Sun, The Nation, New Telegraph, Vanguard, Independent and Daily Trust.
THE PUNCH
The newspaper was founded by the late Chief Olu Aboderin from Ibadan, Oyo State. Ademola Osinubi is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Joseph Adeyeye is the executive director, digital operations and publications, Ademola Oni is the daily editor, while Adedayo Oketola is the editor of both Saturday and Sunday Punch. The editorial board chairman is Adeniran Olusegun. They are all Christians from South West. Since the founding of The Punch in March 1973, only two women have edited its Saturday and Sunday editions. Dr. Bisi Deji Folutile edited Saturday Punch between June 2013 and July 2019. Toyosi Ogunseye, also edited Sunday Punch between January 2013 and December 2017 before taking up a job with BCC as Head of its West Africa Bureau.
THISDAY
The publisher is Nduka Obiagbena; he is from Agbor in Delta State. He is equally the chairman/Editor-in-Chief. Bolaji Adebiyi is the daily editor, Yemi Adebowale is the Saturday editor while Shaka Momodu edits Sunday edition. All the top editorial persons mentioned herein are southerners. In the history of the newspaper that was established in 1995, a woman had edited its daily and Sunday publications; she is Ijeoma Nwagwugwu. She is now the Managing Director of ARISE TV owned by Obiagbena.
THE GUARDIAN:
Martins Oloja is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Alabi U. Williams is the daily editor, Francis Chuks Nwane is the Saturday editor and Kabir Alabi Garba is the Sunday editor. Southerners dominate the editorship positions. Though Ms. Ama Ogan and Nike Sotade once edited the Sunday and Saturday editions of the paper.
THE SUN:
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is the publisher, he hails from Abia State. Onuoha Ukeh is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Ihenacho Nwosu is the daily editor, Tope Adeboboye is the Saturday editor, although in an acting capacity. He replaced Femi Babafemi who is on leave of absence following his appointment as a director, media and advocacy of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Chidi Nnadi is the Sunday editor. All are from the southern parts of the country.Funke Egbemode, a commissioner in charge of information in Osun State was the first woman to edit a title, Sunday Sun, there. However, after her elevation to the position of Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph newspaper, a male replaced her.
THE NATION:
Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the publisher. Victor Ifijeh is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Adeniyi Adesina is the daily editor while Festus Eriye edits both the Saturday and Sunday editions of the newspapers. Sam Omatseye is the chairman, editorial board. All of them are southerners. There is no history of any woman being a title editor there since the newspaper was founded in 2005.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE:
The newspaper was founded by the late Chief Oyeniyi Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo from Ikenne in Ogun State. Edward Dickson is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Alhaji Debo Abdulai is the daily editor, Alhaji Lasisi Olagunju is the Saturday editor and Alhaji Sina Olaseinde is the Sunday editor. Though, generally, they are all southerners and no woman has ever edited any of the titles.
NEW TELEGRAPH
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is also the publisher of the paper. Ayodele Aminu is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Juliet Bumah is the daily editor, Vincent Eboigbe is the Saturday editor and Geoffrey Ekenna is the Sunday editor. This newspaper is gender sensitive to some extent because its present daily editor is a woman while its former managing editor, Funke Egbemode, is a woman. Nevertheless, all of them are from the southern part of Nigeria.
VANGUARD:
Sam Amuka Pemu is the publisher; he is from Delta State. Gbenga Adefaye is the General Manager/Editor-in-Chief, Eze Anaba is the daily editor, Onochie Anibeze is the Saturday editor while Wale Akinola is the Sunday editor. Anibeze took over from Chioma Gabriel who was removed years ago for wrong useage and caption of a photograph on page one of the paper. But then, all of the present editors are from one section of the country, south.
INDEPENDENT:
James Onanefe Ibori is the publisher; he is from Oghara in Delta State. Steve Omanufeme, an Isoko man is the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, Dan Okere is the daily editor, Yemi Adebisi is the Saturday editor and Rotimi Durojaiye is the Sunday editor. All of them are southerners.
DAILY TRUST:
The publisher is Kabiru Yusuf; he is a northerner. Nura Daura is the Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Naziru Mikailu is the Executive Director/Editor-in-Chief, Hamza Idris is the daily editor. Two “unnamed persons” edit Saturday and Sunday editions but report to the daily editor. All of them are northerners.
From the foregoing, it can be established that the top echelons of virtually all the media firms are from the same part of the country where their publishers are from. While it may not be deliberate since the appointments are based on merit, it may be necessary for media houses to be deliberately gender sensitive and also ensure ethnic diversity in the management of their editorial operations. Failure to do so may have negative impacts on both copy and advertising sales, especially in a country like ours that is ethnically divided and target audience consider many factors before patronizing a particular product. There is increasing global and national call for gender equity and diversity in media personnel and the Nigerian media cannot afford to be insensitive to such demands.
….Ayankunbi is also the MD/CEO at AbingMO3 Marketing Management Cons
