Our Ogbonnaya Amadi

‘Did you hear about Ogbonnaya Amadi?’ It was a question that carried some weight of urgency and anxiety and so my immediate instinct was “sad news?”, except that I did not figure out what form of sad news. It came as sad news really as the New York correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, Edwin Nwanchukwu broke the demise of our ebullient and gregarious friend and brother to me on phone.

I had given him a call while partnering with a colleague at our campus radio studio in Columbus, Ohio. We had hardly finished exchanging our usual banters when he popped up the question. Though Ogbonnaya and I had not seen for a while he was always part of our discussion here in the United States whenever I am on phone with Femi Aderupatan(former Vanguard reporter) who lives in Chicago, Illinois. And so I immediately sent a text to Femi informing him about the news.

He called back and the sadness and pain was palpable enough to be felt through the phone because we have lost a friend and a brother.

We were all just in our immediate 20’s in 1984 when we met as freelance reporters and interns at the Vanguard Newspaper, Apapa, Lagos. I still remember very vividly with nostalgia the youthful bubbling spirit we all shared to do well as journalists. We were bunch of optimists with desire, determination, and commitment to make Vanguard the newspaper of choice. Many of us were youthful – Femi Aderupatan, Azuka Mordi, Ogbonnaya Amadi and myself. We also had Onochie Anibeze, Tunji Olawuni, Funmi Jolaoso , Joy Ege and Jossy Nkwocha. We were encouraged by our seniors then who gave us the chance to grow and discover our potentials - (Muyiwa Adetiba (Editor), Fola Arogunda, Elly Obasi, Jimi Disu and Frank Aigbogun (News Editor).

Every afternoon in the news room, we looked forward to the outcome of the editorial meeting when we will go and spy Frank’s table to see the position our stories were scheduled. At that time ‘L’ stood for the lead story, ‘F’ for front page story and ‘I’ for inside page. It was always exciting doing this.

We were always not in a hurry to leave for home because of the ‘Canal’ but when we do head home walking the long distance through the quiet road, then, we talk about our dreams – dreams of a great Nigeria; dreams to get married and have children; dreams to own our cars; dreams to become an editor; dreams to own our own publication just like Uncle Sam; dreams, dreams, and dreams.

At the end of the month we put up our claims for the stories published. It was N30 for front page story; N15 for inside page and N25 for back page. We strived to make between N100 and N150 a month and when there are regular stories from a beat like the Airport and Defense Beat, the earnings could get to between N250 and N300. It was fun for us. The earning was not so important to us but the bylines. It was the joy of seeing our names the next day in the newspaper. And so when we are not happy that our stories were not used Ogbonnaya Amadi will create fun out of it and it will be laughter; and so you are encouraged and you prepare for another day. That was Ogbonnaya. Never was there a dull moment with him. He has this driving spirit of achieving; of getting things done and in a very entertaining way which eventually led to him being deplored to the Entertainment Desk.  Most of our set left the Vanguard and some of us returned like me, though left again, the relationship with Ogbonnaya continued. Facebook became our meeting place.

The fact that Ogbonnaya’s death is being reported today in virtually all the newspapers in Nigeria that I read online showed that he worked hard to achieve his dreams, those dreams we had and shared together in the early days of Vanguard Newspaper. He may not have achieved all but his footprint will ever be edged on the footpath of entertainment reporting in Nigeria. And so anyone that passes and studies that path will find Ogbonnaya Amadi.

Our OGBONNAYA AMADI, you played your part, you did well, you fought well and we will miss you but where you are now is better. Sleep well our Ogbonnaya Amadi.  

Deba Uwadiae

Columbus, Ohio

United States of America

August 31, 2012