By BABA DANTIYE On 15 July 2026, Chief Aremo Olusegun (Segun) Osoba turned 87. For many Nigerians, the occasion is an opportunity to celebrate 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, it is also a moment to celebrate something even more enduring—a man who, despite attaining the highest levels of public service, never severed his bond with the profession that made him. If I were to describe him in one sentence, I would simply say: Aremo Segun Osoba is an editor who never left the Guild. The Nigerian Guild of Editors has produced many distinguished professionals who went on to become publishers, media proprietors, ambassadors, ministers and elder statesmen. As they assumed greater responsibilities, many naturally became less visible in the day-to-day affairs of the profession that shaped them. Aremo Osoba chose a different path. Though he rose to become Governor of Ogun State and one of Nigeria’s foremost political leaders, he remained deeply rooted in journalism and steadfastly committed to the Guild. He stayed close to his colleagues, continued to identify with the profession and remained ever willing to contribute to its growth and prestige. There are journalists who become editors. There are editors who become media executives. There are media executives who venture into politics. And there are politicians who, after attaining high office, gradually distance themselves from their professional roots. Aremo Osoba belongs to that rare class of Nigerians who defied this pattern. The newsroom never left him and, more importantly, neither did the Guild. My association with Aremo Osoba spans several decades, but it became much closer following my election as General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors in 2001, when the late Mrs. Remi Oyo, of blessed memory, was serving as President of the Guild. Those were defining years in the life of our organisation. Throughout that period, Aremo Osoba remained one of the Guild’s dependable pillars. He was always available with wise counsel, sound judgment and quiet encouragement whenever the leadership sought his advice. What impressed me most was that he never sought recognition for his contributions. He did not need an office to exert influence. His authority came from experience, credibility and the respect he had earned over many decades of distinguished service to journalism. He believed that the Guild was bigger than any individual and that every editor had a responsibility to protect its integrity and strengthen its unity. As our relationship grew, I came to know him beyond the public image. He treated me with warmth, affection and genuine friendship. He never made me feel that I was dealing with a former governor or a national political figure. Rather, he related to me as a colleague and a member of one professional family. His humility remains one of the qualities I admire most about him. At numerous Nigerian Guild of Editors conferences, the Annual All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC)—initiated in 2004 during my tenure as President of the Guild—lectures, seminars, award ceremonies and other media engagements, we regularly met and shared memorable moments. Those occasions provided opportunities for meaningful conversations on journalism, governance, leadership and the future of Nigeria. Listening to him was like attending a master class delivered by someone who had experienced virtually every aspect of the media profession and public service. Beyond the formal sessions, the social moments at Guild gatherings also remain memorable. Many colleagues will fondly recall his graceful dancing steps during gala nights, induction ceremonies for new members and Fellows, and other informal interactions. These lighter moments revealed another dimension of his personality—his warmth, humility and ability to connect effortlessly with colleagues across generations of the journalism profession. One remarkable characteristic of Aremo Osoba is his consistency. Public office never changed him. Political prominence never detached him from journalism. Even after serving as Governor of Ogun State and becoming one of Nigeria’s leading political figures, he remained approachable, accessible and genuinely interested in the welfare of journalists and the progress of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. It is, therefore, not surprising that he hardly misses major and not even so major media events. Whether it is the Nigerian Guild of Editors’ Annual National Convention, the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference, a memorial lecture, a book presentation, an anniversary celebration or any significant gathering of media professionals, Aremo Osoba is usually there. His attendance is never a mere formality. It is a demonstration of his enduring loyalty to journalism and to the Guild tha
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