Alhaji[1]Ismail Babatunde JoseOFR[2] (born in Lagos on 13 December 1925, died 2 August 2008[3]) was a Nigerian journalist and newspaper editor. He was described by The Guardian as the "legendary doyen of Nigerian journalism" and as "one of Nigeria's most significant media figures";[1] by The Independent as the "newspaper editor who dominated journalism in Nigeria for three decades" and as "the mighty tree whose seedlings sprouted other titans of the profession";[2] and by the British Broadcasting Corporation as "the grandfather of Nigerian journalism".[4]
Early life and educationedit
Jose was born to the family of Hamzat and Hajarat Jose, his father was a trader, originally from Ikare[5] in Ondo State, who had moved to Lagos, his mother was of Nupe ancestry. His paternal grand father was Braimoh Jose, once the Seriki Musulmi of Calabar.[6] Babatunde Jose received his education at Lagos Government School, Yaba, Lagos, Methodist school, Yaba and St Saviour's College.[citation needed]
Journalism careeredit
Jose started his career at Nnamdi Azikiwe's Daily Comet, before becoming a trainee at the Daily Times in 1941 at the age of 16. He was transferred to editorial department as a junior reporter in 1946 and then worked as a Times correspondent in the Eastern region and Northern region. In 1947, the Daily Mirror group bought majority shares in Daily Times. From 1948 to 1950, he was political and industrial correspondent of the Times and in 1950, he became the news editor.[7] He worked for several papers (including the Daily Mirror in Fleet Street in London for a year in 1951), then returned to the Daily Times where he was made the assistant editor in 1952. On 13 December 1957, he was appointed the editor before becoming a board member in September 1958. Nigeria became independent in 1960, and Jose benefited from a policy of Africanisation: he "was appointed the company's first African managing director in 1962, becoming chairman as well in 1968". Over the following years, the Daily Times became Nigeria's best-selling newspaper. In 1965, he was awarded the title Officer of the Federal Republic.[1][2]
"Keen on educated journalists," Jose "went out of his way to set up a training school and to employ graduates".[1] According to The Independent, he shaped his trainees and graduates "into irreverent reporters and columnists who could deflate the egos of the pompous politicians and military men who ruled the country", though he "eschewed partisan politics".[2] One of his trainees, Segun Osoba, later Governor of Ogun State, said of him that he "encouraged intellectualism in Nigerian journalism" and "produced an array of highly successful journalists [...] many of whom have also gone on to establish their own newspapers and produce many other journalists".[2]
Following a coup in 1975 by General Murtala Mohammed, the Daily Times was forced to sell 60% of its shares to the government, and Jose was "eased out", departing a year later. The newspaper subsequently declined.[1]
From 1976 onwards, he pursued a career as "a businessman and media guru, holding such positions as chairman of the Nigerian Television Authority".[1] He also served as "president of the Ahmadiyya Islamic movement and on many committees and industry organizations".[2]
Though he never graduated from a university, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by the University of Benin. "Unusually for a Muslim, he [also] received the Pope Pius medal for fostering religious understanding."[2]
In 1987, he published his autobiography, Walking a Tight Rope.[8]
Referencesedit
^ abcdef"Babatunde Jose: Legendary doyen of Nigerian journalism", The Guardian, 25 August 2008
^ abcdefg"Ismail Babatunde Jose: Newspaper editor who dominated journalism in Nigeria for three decades", The Independent, 25 September 2008
^"Remembering Alhaji Babatunde Jose (1925-2008)". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2 August 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
^"Nigeria: Still standing, but standing still", BBC, 23 September 2010
^"Life Story of Ismail Babatunde Jose (December 13, 1925 – August 2, 2008) - Online Memorial Website".
^Daily Times of Nigeria Limited., & Namme, L. N. (1976). P. 92
^Daily Times of Nigeria Limited., & Namme, L. N. (1976). The story of the Daily Times, 1926-1976. Lagos: Daily Times of Nigeria. P. 92
^Babatunde Jose, Walking a Tight Rope, Ibadan : University Press, 1987, pp.421, ISBN978-154-911-4
April 11, 2024
babatunde, jose, alhaji, ismail, born, lagos, december, 1925, died, august, 2008, nigerian, journalist, newspaper, editor, described, guardian, legendary, doyen, nigerian, journalism, nigeria, most, significant, media, figures, independent, newspaper, editor, . Alhaji 1 Ismail Babatunde Jose OFR 2 born in Lagos on 13 December 1925 died 2 August 2008 3 was a Nigerian journalist and newspaper editor He was described by The Guardian as the legendary doyen of Nigerian journalism and as one of Nigeria s most significant media figures 1 by The Independent as the newspaper editor who dominated journalism in Nigeria for three decades and as the mighty tree whose seedlings sprouted other titans of the profession 2 and by the British Broadcasting Corporation as the grandfather of Nigerian journalism 4 Early life and education editJose was born to the family of Hamzat and Hajarat Jose his father was a trader originally from Ikare 5 in Ondo State who had moved to Lagos his mother was of Nupe ancestry His paternal grand father was Braimoh Jose once the Seriki Musulmi of Calabar 6 Babatunde Jose received his education at Lagos Government School Yaba Lagos Methodist school Yaba and St Saviour s College citation needed Journalism career editJose started his career at Nnamdi Azikiwe s Daily Comet before becoming a trainee at the Daily Times in 1941 at the age of 16 He was transferred to editorial department as a junior reporter in 1946 and then worked as a Times correspondent in the Eastern region and Northern region In 1947 the Daily Mirror group bought majority shares in Daily Times From 1948 to 1950 he was political and industrial correspondent of the Times and in 1950 he became the news editor 7 He worked for several papers including the Daily Mirror in Fleet Street in London for a year in 1951 then returned to the Daily Times where he was made the assistant editor in 1952 On 13 December 1957 he was appointed the editor before becoming a board member in September 1958 Nigeria became independent in 1960 and Jose benefited from a policy of Africanisation he was appointed the company s first African managing director in 1962 becoming chairman as well in 1968 Over the following years the Daily Times became Nigeria s best selling newspaper In 1965 he was awarded the title Officer of the Federal Republic 1 2 Keen on educated journalists Jose went out of his way to set up a training school and to employ graduates 1 According to The Independent he shaped his trainees and graduates into irreverent reporters and columnists who could deflate the egos of the pompous politicians and military men who ruled the country though he eschewed partisan politics 2 One of his trainees Segun Osoba later Governor of Ogun State said of him that he encouraged intellectualism in Nigerian journalism and produced an array of highly successful journalists many of whom have also gone on to establish their own newspapers and produce many other journalists 2 Following a coup in 1975 by General Murtala Mohammed the Daily Times was forced to sell 60 of its shares to the government and Jose was eased out departing a year later The newspaper subsequently declined 1 From 1976 onwards he pursued a career as a businessman and media guru holding such positions as chairman of the Nigerian Television Authority 1 He also served as president of the Ahmadiyya Islamic movement and on many committees and industry organizations 2 Though he never graduated from a university he was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by the University of Benin Unusually for a Muslim he also received the Pope Pius medal for fostering religious understanding 2 In 1987 he published his autobiography Walking a Tight Rope 8 References edit a b c d e f Babatunde Jose Legendary doyen of Nigerian journalism The Guardian 25 August 2008 a b c d e f g Ismail Babatunde Jose Newspaper editor who dominated journalism in Nigeria for three decades The Independent 25 September 2008 Remembering Alhaji Babatunde Jose 1925 2008 The Guardian Nigeria News Nigeria and World News 2 August 2015 Retrieved 7 March 2022 Nigeria Still standing but standing still BBC 23 September 2010 Life Story of Ismail Babatunde Jose December 13 1925 August 2 2008 Online Memorial Website Daily Times of Nigeria Limited amp Namme L N 1976 P 92 Daily Times of Nigeria Limited amp Namme L N 1976 The story of the Daily Times 1926 1976 Lagos Daily Times of Nigeria P 92 Babatunde Jose Walking a Tight Rope Ibadan University Press 1987 pp 421 ISBN 978 154 911 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Babatunde Jose amp oldid 1196279534, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
