I can’t remember how I became part of the picture — by Taiwo Obe

I can’t remember how I became part of the picture; yes, I am the one first left in the group picture. That was exactly 40 years ago today: 14 July 1986. It was the day the revolutionary magazine, THISWEEK, was birthed in Lagos, Nigeria.
As I was saying, I wasn’t the topmost editor on the magazine; I was the pioneer copy editor, overseeing the production.

By the way, I came to the job from my position as Editor of The Guardian Sunday Supplement.
Back to the picture.
In the centre was the legendary Gamaliel Onosode. Now late, he was the Chairman of the Board of THISWEEK Limited. Right was Professor Babatunde Kwaku Adadevoh, also late, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, who was also on the Board. Sandwiched between them was J.K Randle, charterered accountant and author of “The Godfather Never Sleeps” and other books. He was not on the board but rather a member of the magazine’s Editorial Advisory Council.

The star of the day was Prince Nduka Obaigbena, standing on my left: the magazine’s Publisher. He was 27 that day. (Happy birthday, The Duke). I would be 26 a couple of days later.

The editor, Sonala Olumhense, was then probably attending to other important matters. Or…Well, thanks to Kole Ade Odutola, you can see the editor in his office on another day. Kole joined the team of photographers later.

Thanks to Dr. Raphael James for providing me the first Publisher’s Statement, so you can see the rest of the stars gathered to change the magazine publishing landscape. A few of us have passed on. We remember them fondly.
If you are in Lagos today, tomorrow or the day after, you can also look in at the Civic Centre where the commemoration of the milestone starts this morning with an exhibition. Olumhense, the one we called SO (Ess Oh) will be appearing this evening on Prime Time on ARISE NEWS.

Cheers, all.