Pioneering Editors Celebrate 20 Years Of LEADERSHIP’s Impact

LEADERSHIP’s Successes Inspire Confidence Of Industry Worth Exploring

Philip Nyam, pioneer News Editor of LEADERSHIP Daily

Let me congratulate everyone at LEADERSHIP. Indeed, a great posthumous congratulations to the founding chairman/publisher, Sam Nda-Isaiah, and my brother and wonderful friend, Danladi Ndayebo. May God continue to rest their souls in peace. The journey of LEADERSHIP Group has been phenomenal. It is the typical story of the power of small beginnings, as “from small beginnings come great things”.

I remember vividly when I joined the company in December 2005 as an assistant news editor. The company was operating in a rented apartment at Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki II. Twenty years later, the company has transformed into an enduring entity. It boasts a state-of-the-art printing press, a permanent headquarters and an extensive reach across the country. Many would never believe that the company did start as a mustard seed. To me, the journey of LEADERSHIP is simply amazing.

When I joined LEADERSHIP, we had just two stables: LEADERSHIP Confidential and LEADERSHIP Weekend. But LEADERSHIP has grown into a formidable institution with different titles and great transformation. There has been a remarkable improvement in the quality and reach of the company, diversifying into other areas. The late Sam Nda-Isaiah had a vision and pursued it vigorously. I think the company’s successes are the result of that. I am proud to be associated with the company. As the pioneer news editor of LEADERHIP Daily, I remember with nostalgia my early days at the company with the likes of my editor, Simon Reef (he invited me over to LEADERSHIP), Shehu Dauda, Theophilus Abbah, Chuks Ohuegbe, Emmanuel Bello, Andrew Oota, Raliat Ahmed, Timothy Golu, Atang Izang, Blessing David (of blessed memory), etc. I must not forget Abraham Nda-Isaiah for his humility and administrative acumen.

LEADERSHIP’s entry into the media market brought competition, especially in the northern part of the country. Before then, Daily Trust was the sole renowned media in the north as the New Nigerian was already going down. But LEADERSHIP changed the narrative. It was not easy, but with the resilience and business acumen of the late Sam Nda-Isaiah, the company broke even, and today, it is a huge success story.

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The exclusive stories and reports from the different titles brought LEADERSHIP to the limelight. To me, the defining moment for the paper was the Third Term Agenda during President Obasanjo’s administration and perhaps the leadership impasse that characterised the illness of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua. These events brought LEADERSHIP to national reckoning as the paper was always ahead of others with breaking stories. Also, the LEADERSHIP Conference and Annual Awards played a significant role in defining its breakthrough.

LEADERSHIP has influenced the media industry by working “For God and Country”. It is a unique package that opened the eyes of others, especially in the North, to delve into the media industry. LEADERSHIP’s successes gave people confidence that the industry was worth exploring.