Reminiscences Archives -

Oby: It’s yes and no; First thing, first

July 10, 2026July 12, 2026Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

By Abdu Rafiu Three weeks ago, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister and a frontline activist, wrote in her characteristic thoughtfulness on what should top our national agenda at this moment and her summative conclusion is that restructuring the country should come before the decentralization of police architecture as it stands today. While acknowledging the seriousness […]

My days with lady boss Bukky: A tale of charms, challenge, and growth

June 28, 2024June 28, 2024Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

By Sola Adeyegbe About 37 years ago, in my twenties, I worked at a law firm on Towry Street in Lagos. Under the stern supervision of my no-nonsense principal, whom we’ll call Lady Boss Bukky, my journey through the legal profession was anything but dull. Lady Boss Bukky had a reputation for being tough—a real […]

The making of a The Guardian reporter – Part 7

May 13, 2021May 13, 2021Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

On Scales and Balances By Yinka Fabowale My career as the Oyo State correspondent benefitted immensely from the magnanimity of my departing colleagues. Although they could not wait to personally introduce me to their news sources because their resumption in Lagos was overdue, they passed me a directory in the office containing a list of […]

The making of a The Guardian reporter – Part 6

May 11, 2021May 13, 2021Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

High Commissioner Jonathan Richardson meeting with former Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of The Guardian newspaper, Mr Eluem Emeka Izeze and former Editor, now Editor-in-Chief, of the newspaper, Mr Martins Oloja, in 2014 On scales and balances By Yinka Fabowale “How are you, Yinka? How would you like to go and work in outstation?” The gentleman […]

The making of a The Guardian reporter – Part 5

May 7, 2021May 10, 2021Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

A piece of Silver in the Smithy’s forge By Yinka Fabowale At last, a path to escape this prison of numbness and shame was shown, and from the most unlikely of places! Of all my ‘traducers’, there was none I probably feared more than Mr. Razaq Adedigba, the Chief Sub Editor. I really wouldn’t know […]

The making of a The Guardian reporter – Part 4

May 6, 2021May 10, 2021Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

A piece of Silver in the Smithy’s Forge By Yinka Fabowale I reported to the News Editor, who to my delight I discovered penned a favourite column of mine that told of the experiences of a metropolitan reporter on his beat round in a pithy and yet lighthearted style in The Guardian p.m. sister paper, […]

The making of a The Guardian reporter – Part 3

May 4, 2021March 15, 2022Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

He who would dance with the gods By Yinka Fabowale Piece of silver in the smithy’s forge The Guardian Editor asked to which desk I would like to be sent for the one-month assessment. Since I had natural flair for the literary/performing arts, I chose Mr. Ben Tomoloju’s arena. Although I’d never met him, I […]

The making of a The Guardian reporter – Part 2

May 3, 2021May 10, 2021Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

He who would dance with the gods By Yinka Fabowale The call A 1986 graduate of Communication and Language Arts from University of Ibadan with a postgraduate diploma of the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos, I had worked as an Information Officer at the Lagos State Ministry of Information and Culture since 1987, […]

The making of a The Guardian reporter – Part 1

May 2, 2021May 13, 2021Olabanji AyoolaLeave a Comment

He who would dance with the gods By Yinka Fabowale Here begins the series of my reminiscences as a journalist in The Guardian published in the newly-out “The Making of Nigeria’s Flagship: A story of The Guardian.” In the following days, I will be sharing my contribution to the book detailing how I was forged […]