By Folu Olamiti
It was sometime in 1984. I was seated at my desk as Editor of Sunday Tribune when an unusual visitor barged into my office. He had a tiny frame, wore an oversized safari suit, and looked visibly restless. He hadn’t booked an appointment—he just stormed in. But behind the hurried manner, I sensed vision and drive.
Without offering him a seat, I asked him to see my secretary first—partly to calm him down. A few minutes later, my secretary ushered him back in.
“Gentleman, what are you looking for?” I asked.
Without hesitation, he replied, “My name is Seye Kehinde. I want to be a journalist and a writer.”
“Your qualification?” I queried.
“I’m finishing up at University of Ife now (Obafemi Awolowo University), majoring in History,” he answered confidently.
I didn’t waste time. I gave him a topic and asked him to turn in a piece in 30 minutes. He returned in 25. While the piece lacked the polish of professional journalism, the grammar and syntax were excellent. I saw promise—a teachable mind and a hardworking spirit. I knew instantly he would be an asset to the Sunday Tribune, then rated by ABC as Nigeria’s second-largest circulating paper after Daily Times.
The very next day, I had an appointment with Chief Obafemi Awolowo at his Ikenne home. I needed someone to accompany me and help transcribe the interview. I didn’t look far—I called on Seye.
What I didn’t know was that God was using me to fulfill a young man’s lifelong dream. Meeting Papa Awo was a milestone for him. Back in the office, I asked Seye to summarize the interview. To my amazement, he produced a masterpiece.
He worked with me for a few months before telling me he needed to move on—his family was in Lagos. I wanted him to remain as our Lagos correspondent, but sadly, there was no vacancy at the time. Seye was always restless, always pushing ahead. That same restlessness gave birth to City People, a brand that will turn 30 next year.
He once wrote:
“I am 60, and the City People brand has come of age. Hmmm! It has been by the Grace of the Highest God. I still cannot fully explain how a simple idea I conceived as a second-year History undergraduate at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) evolved into the big brand it is today.”
From Imalefalafia—the historic home of Nigeria’s oldest surviving private newspaper—Seye, the once ruddy-faced, restless young man, nurtured his dream beyond expectations.
Seye, I’m proud to be part of your journey. As you turn 60, may you live many more years to grow your seed into the mightiest oak.
Folu Olamiti (FNGE) is a veteran journalist and publisher of online newspaper Newspot.
