Nigeria: Aremo Segun Osoba at 87: The editor who never left the guild

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

On July 21 2026, Chief Aremo Olusegun “Segun” Osoba turned 87. Across Nigeria, the day was marked with tributes to an accomplished journalist, former Governor of Ogun State, elder statesman, and one of the country’s most respected public figures. 

For those of us in the Nigerian Guild of Editors, however, the celebration carries an additional meaning. It is a tribute to a man who, despite reaching the highest levels of political office, never cut ties with the profession that formed him. In one sentence: Aremo Segun Osoba is an editor who never left the Guild.

The Guild of Editors has produced many distinguished professionals who went on to become publishers, proprietors, ministers, ambassadors and elder statesmen. As their responsibilities grew, most naturally drifted away from the day-to-day life of the newsroom and the professional associations that nurtured them

Yes, he rose to become Governor of Ogun State and one of Nigeria’s foremost political leaders. But he never let go of journalism. He remained close to colleagues, continued to identify with the craft, and stayed willing to contribute to the growth and prestige of the Guild.

There are journalists who become editors. There are editors who become media executives. There are executives who go into politics. And there are politicians who, once in office, quietly distance themselves from where they started. Aremo Osoba defied that pattern. The newsroom never left him, and neither did he leave the Guild.

My association with him spans several decades, but it deepened in 2001 when I was elected General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, with the late Mrs. Remi Oyo as President. Those were defining years for the organization.

Throughout that period, Aremo Osoba was one of the Guild’s most dependable pillars. He was always available with counsel, judgment and quiet encouragement whenever leadership needed guidance.

What stood out most was that he never sought the spotlight for it. He didn’t need a title to exert influence. His authority came from experience, credibility and the respect earned over decades of distinguished service. He believed the Guild was bigger than any individual, and that every editor had a duty to protect its integrity and unity.

As our relationship grew, I came to know him beyond the public persona. He treated me with warmth and genuine friendship. He never made me feel I was speaking to a former governor or national political figure. To him, we were colleagues in one professional family. That humility is one of the qualities I admire most about him

At Nigerian Guild of Editors conferences, at the Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference, ANEC, which we started in 2004 during my tenure as President, at lectures, seminars and award nights, we met often and had long conversations about journalism, governance, leadership and the future of Nigeria. Listening to him was like attending a masterclass taught by someone who had lived every part of the media and public service experience.

And then there were the lighter moments. Colleagues will remember his graceful dancing at gala nights and induction ceremonies. Those moments revealed another side of him — warmth, humility, and the ability to connect across generations.

One of his most remarkable traits is consistency. Public office did not change him. Political prominence did not detach him from journalism. Even after serving two terms as Governor of Ogun State, he remained approachable, accessible, and genuinely interested in the welfare of journalists and the progress of the Guild.

It is why he rarely misses major media events. Whether it is the Guild’s National Convention, ANEC, a memorial lecture, a book launch, or an anniversary, Aremo Osoba is usually there. His presence is never ceremonial. It is a statement of loyalty to journalism and to the Guild that remains his professional home.

His attendance sends a message to younger journalists: journalism is not just a stepping stone to something else. It is a calling worth pride and commitment. Professional relationships should be nurtured, no matter what heights you attain.

Mentorship has become one of the defining features of his life. Across generations, countless journalists, editors, publishers and media managers have benefited from his guidance. He doesn’t mentor by giving orders. He mentors by example. He follows younger colleagues’ careers, celebrates their wins, and quietly offers advice when needed.

Aremo Osoba’s journalism credentials are already etched in Nigeria’s media history. He started at the Daily Times and distinguished himself as one of the country’s finest investigative reporters before rising to become Editor and later Group Managing Director. 

His stories were respected because they were accurate, courageous and professionally done. He earned the confidence of readers and the respect of colleagues through competence, not sensationalism.

When he moved into politics, he carried those same values with him. His administration in Ogun State was marked by discipline, accountability and dedication to public service. Yet political success never erased his identity as a journalist. He remained proud of his roots and never hesitated to stand with his colleagues in the media.

The Nigerian Guild of Editors has benefited immensely from his continued involvement. Successive leaderships have drawn from his wisdom and institutional memory. His interventions have often helped promote unity, stability and professionalism within the Guild.

In an age when titles often create distance, Aremo Osoba has remained refreshingly different. He has shown that greatness is measured not only by the offices you occupy, but by the relationships you preserve. That humility and achievement can coexist. That leadership is ultimately about service.

For me personally, I am deeply grateful for his friendship, encouragement and confidence over the years. His guidance strengthened my own commitment to the Guild and reinforced my belief in the enduring values of ethical journalism. Like many others, I have benefited from his generosity of spirit and his faith in the future of the profession.

As Nigeria celebrates Aremo Segun Osoba at 87, we are celebrating more than longevity. We are celebrating a lifetime devoted to journalism, public service and nation-building. We are celebrating a man whose influence extends beyond newspaper pages and political office into the lives of generations of journalists he has inspired.

To many of us in the Nigerian Guild of Editors, he is more than an elder statesman or former governor. He remains a trusted colleague whose passion for journalism has never diminished. His presence at Guild activities, his readiness to mentor, and his commitment to professional ideals make him, in every sense, an editor who never left the Guild.

As he marks 87, I join his family, friends, colleagues and admirers across Nigeria in thanking God for a life of uncommon accomplishment and selfless service. May He grant him continued good health, strength, peace of mind, and many more years of service to journalism, to our country, and to humanity.

Happy 87th Birthday, Aremo. Your life remains proof that while offices come and go, character, friendship and professional loyalty are the true measures of greatness.