Dance, laughter as Vanguard’s ex-staff return home to launch book, dine, wine with the family

By Benjamin Njoku Last Wednesday was a day of overflowing joy for the patriarch of Vanguard Family, Sam Amuka-Pemu, widely referred and revered as Uncle Sam. The journalists he had mentored, nurtured and sent out into the world returned to say ‘Thank you.’ The air was heavy with memories, laughter and gratitude. It was a reunion that restored roots, revived bonds and reminded everyone of where it all began.

Amid tributes and applause, Uncle Sam stood in quiet awe, honoured not just by the words spoken, but also by the lives his guidance had shaped. Indeed, it was a homecoming that rekindled nostalgia and renewed old bonds at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the venue for the reunion of Vanguard Alumni and a book launch to mark 40 years of the newspaper. For over 40 years, many of the returning alumni had been away from their roots.

Yet the moment they stepped in, the hall was filled with an unmistakable aura of reconnection. Uncle Sam was not only elated and honoured as he reunited with his many “sheep” scattered across the world who once drank from his fountain of journalistic wisdom, but he was also moved to awe by the encomiums poured on him. The event, defined by memory, pride, and the enduring power of mentorship, drew friends of Vanguard, prominent personalities from the political, business, diplomatic, security and media sectors, as well as former and current members of the Vanguard family.

In attendance were representative of former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, (retd), Professor Mohammed Yahaya Kuta of the University of Ibadan; former Governors Olusegun Osoba, Rotimi Amaechi, and Peter Obi. Other dignitaries included Publisher of This Day Newspaper and founder of Arise News TV, Prince Nduka Obaigbena; the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero, who is also a former staff of Vanguard; Laos State former Commissioner of Information, Steve Ayorinde; the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu; media executives and numerous former staff of the company who testified to Uncle Sam’s kind-heartedness and human nature. Setting the tone for the evening, Osoba recounted Amuka’s journey in Nigerian journalism, including his role in establishing The Punch before founding Vanguard Newspaper in 1984.

He said Amuka briefly left journalism for the fishery business after parting ways with The Punch, b…