What was the motivation for joining the staff at the Vanguard,  considering you were already a famous writer?

Wow!  A famous writer? Thanks for the thought, but I don’t consider myself that by any stretch of the imagination.   I merely strung words together to inform, educate, and entertain readers in  the seven romance novels that have been published in the PACESETTER SERIES.

After a hectic seven year stint at PEUGEOT AUTOMOBILE NIGERIA LIMITED engaged in bilingual work for its Managing Director, (1976 to mid 1984), I decided to put regular work on hold and focus more on the home and my budding writing venture.

I had had four books published at the time, so in order to reach a wider audience to promote women’s interests, and draw attention to the plight of the underprivileged in our society, I decided to write newspaper articles on freelance basis.

Mr. Sam AMUKA-PEMU, OON, had left the PUNCH and was establishing his own outfit THE VANGUARD at the time, so I approached him for freelance work. 

He gave me several topics to write on.  He must have liked my efforts because my article under ‘VIEWPOINT’ and my interview with late Chief (Mrs.)  BOLA KUFORIJI-OLUBI appeared on the very first copy of the SUNDAY VANGUARD: the first title he floated when he started in 1984.

I was satisfied with the freelance work, which I thought would be for just once a week. However, when the VANGUARD was going to go daily, the publisher invited me on board to head the Woman’s Desk.  I was in a fix as I hadn’t seen that coming, and I didn’t want to embrace the work of a journalist.  What to do?  I thought an outright rejection of the position would be rude, so, I told the him that I didn’t think I would have the time to carry out duties that are bound to be stressful and would require coming to the office every week day.

‘Oh, you don’t need to come in every day,’ he assured me, ‘provided you produce work for the pages you’re allocated.’

Working for him had been such a pleasant experience those few months that I couldn’t say ‘no’ in the long run.   He was a strict but patient teacher who helped to bring out the best in one.

What was Vanguard like in the early days?

In those early days of ‘cut and paste’, newspaper production was rigorous, and it was frustrating when the work you submitted came out with flaws when published.  I used to get all worked up when my articles were messed up because I felt that the reading public would question my ability to write good English.

‘Helen, that work is gone. Let it go,’ the publisher would tell me when I complained.

That his attitude taught me not to allow mishaps to affect my productivity but to move on and get on with life. A good lesson.

Can you share two or three anecdotes,  particularly involving Uncle Sam and other iconic figures.

MR.  SAM AMUKA is widely acknowledged as the foremost newspaper publisher in Nigeria, with a wealth of experience that he freely shares with others in the field, some of whom became publishers of newspapers and magazines themselves.

He’s fondly called ‘UNCLE SAM’ by most people.  He has an eye for excellence, and he does read every page of his newspaper.  He looks at the quality of your work; not the string of university degrees that you have acquired, and no one is too high and mighty to be upbraided by him for poor productivity and performance.  You just don’t mess up his paper. He had a famous line for those who did that in the early years, which may translate to be ‘go hug a transformer’ that people use these days.

It wouldn’t be fair to say here that there were some iconic figures at the VANGUARD of my time, as contributions to the growth of the paper varied from person to person.

What are your dreams for Vanguard for the near future?

My dream for the VANGUARD is that it will continue to be refreshingly different from other publications, and go on working towards a better life for the people, until the masses are liberated from all the suffering and hardships in present day Nigeria.

Goodwill message to the Vanguard team.

CONGRATULATIONS on the 40th anniversary of this great newspaper.  The publishing world may be tough right now globally, but the VANGUARD is in a class of its own and will rise above all challenges by the grace of God.

(Interview by Morenike Taire)