The news of Mr Alex Ibru’s death was a shock to me. A shock, not because I know him personally. No. Shock, not because I expect him to live forever. No.
Shock, because Alex Ibru was a good man. A quiet philanthropist who one way or the other affected so many lives in Nigeria and all over the world.
Mr Alex Ibru was a man of history. Good history in Nigeria. Here was a man who reinvented journalism in Nigeria. In 1983 Alex Ibru took a big step by converting the popular (car showroom) RUTAM HOUSE to a newspaper house. This marked the beginning of The Guardian newspapers.
Holding the paper was a dream of every literate Nigerian at that time. I was always eager to flip through copies of the newspaper. This was the time the darling newspaper in Nigeria was the Lagos Weekend. It was the rag tag of the days.
However came the fresh raced Alex Ibru and bham journalism in Nigeria would never be the same again.
As a young guy, i was interested in the unfolding development in journalism. This, eventually, changed my life’s adventures.
I was opportuned to be part of Alex’s dreams when in 1992 the then editor of Guardian on Sunday, Emeka Eluem Izeze, certified me fit to join the flagship of Nigerian journalism. And this started my journey in the field of quality journalism, editing and print design. How proud I was to be among the few that puts the paper to bed every night.
And from here did I learn the basics of employment.
Whatever I may be today, The Guardian was the start of it. No doubt, The Guardian opened many doors of opportunities for me. The name, The Guardian, was a magic.
Thanks to Alex.
Without your dream there would not have been some other dreams.
Good night, big guy with big dreams and big heart. Rest in perfect peace.
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