Mumini Alao: My Brother, Friend, And Colleague

On Sunday, August 10, Mumini Alao, one of Nigeria’s foremost sports journalists, will host family, friends, colleagues, and associates at an event in Lagos to formally present his Autobiography – his third book – which vividly captures his life story as a sports writer and media entrepreneur. Alao also shares stories on his education, private life, challenges, and accomplishments. The book, delivered in his inimitable writing style which has earned him fans all over the world, is a rich and riveting tapestry of the life and times of a great, but humble man.

Dignitaries expected at the book presentation and public lecture include the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko; former Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Raji Fashola, SAN, who is the guest speaker; Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh; Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon Kabiru Amadu, and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, amongst others.

In his quest to contribute to the body of knowledge, Alao – a great “Akokite” – went back to the University of Lagos for his Master’s and PhD degrees, which demonstrates his commitment to excellence and lifelong learning. As a football aficionado and iconic sports writer, his PhD thesis – as you would expect, and you probably guessed right – was on football. His research topic was: ‘The Influence of Audience Preference on Media Coverage of Domestic and Foreign Football in Nigeria (2020).’

Alao and I have come a long way together. He is reliable and can be trusted. He is also a dependable friend and colleague with an unassailable quantum of integrity. I call him “my brother.” Since our paths crossed as fresh graduates 37 years ago at Complete Communications Limited (CCL), the company noted for publishing Complete Football, Complete Sports, Sports Souvenir, Complete Football Extra, International Soccer Review, Complete Football International, and Climax, we have been related like Siamese twins. Our bond of friendship has flourished because of mutual respect and trust between us.

How did it all begin? Let us dial back to 1988 when Dr. Emmanuel Sunny Ojeagbase (1950 – 2022), a renowned sports journalist and arguably the doyen of sports publishing in Nigeria, offered Mumini and I employment. Call it an act of providence or mere coincidence, but that was what happened, and we shared the same desk in the newsroom when we resumed for work.

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Whereas I did my NYSC (after graduating from the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State) at the Anambra State College of Education, Awka (as it was then known) where I taught mathematics in 1986-87, Alao did his national youth service at the Anambra Motor Manufacturing Company (ANAMMCO), Emene, Enugu in 1987-88, where he was a public relations assistant.

At different times in 1988, we simply walked into Ojeagbase’s office in Okota, Lagos, as young graduates, asking for jobs that were not advertised. When S.O. saw the determination in our eyes and the conviction to excel like him in the sports writing business, he welcomed us with open arms.

Although I am not the book reviewer, I was privileged to get an autographed copy from the author which I read voraciously. Please don’t blame me, Alao is a gifted writer and great storyteller, and his flowery prose is gripping. Once you start reading the book, you don’t want to put it down because it is unputdownable.

Alao’s first story in Complete Football magazine was published in the October 1988 edition which sold for N3.00. It was an exclusive story about the man behind the exodus of Nigerian footballers to Belgium, Dr. Willy Pluym. From that moment onwards, Alao did not look back, as he went on to build a flourishing sports journalism career that took him to over 30 countries in Africa, Europe, and North America.
By March 1989, Alao was assistant editor, and for the first time, the football magazine reached a historic 50,000 copies print run milestone with a projected 90 percent sales. The Publisher could not hide his joy, so he penned him a congratulatory letter. Barely a year after Alao resumed work at the company, he was promoted as editor of Complete Football magazine. He was only 26 years old. That was when it dawned on him that he was in for a marathon, not a sprint, at the sports publishing company.

During his active years at CCL, Alao demonstrated all the time that he was committed to the vision and ideals of the company. He was loyal to the business 100 percent and the sports writing guru was equally trusted by the Publisher and directors. It was a relationship that had its challenges, and on more than one occasion, Alao might have quit over disagreements with the Publisher.
But that did not happen because he reflected on the deep, personal relationship between him and his boss. Each time, he discussed the matter with his wife, Medina, and his father. Both of them prevailed on him not to walk away.

The Publisher, who did not hide his admiration for Alao, was equally accommodating and always cheered and praised him for being a worthy friend and dependable business partner he could count on.
In 1996, Alao won two significant awards: Sports Reporter of the Year, Nigerian Media Merit Awards, and the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence – the first sports journalist to win both awards in the same year. This achievement was not surprising because Alao has demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting sports development in Nigeria, highlighting the importance of sports in national growth and unity.

The author, being a versatile sports journalist, also presented sports programmes on radio and television.

Alao also groomed several generations of reporters and editors, and he continues to mentor them even when some of them have moved on to take up other roles, because, as he says, “we are a big sports family.”

My brother Alao is a Muslim and deeply religious man. He is married to Medina, his wife of over 30 years, and they are blessed with three lovely children: Mustapha, Abdulmueez, and Mariam.

Alao’s hobbies include reading, writing, travelling, and discussing sports. He has been a longstanding Liverpool fan and his favourite food is Ogi (the Nigerian equivalent of custard) and akara (bean cake). At 60 years old, Alao says the biggest life lesson his father taught him was integrity. We are at liberty to add values such as respect, humility, hard work, perseverance, and loyalty to his integrity playbook.

He authored ‘Soccertalk: Selected articles on contemporary issues in Nigerian football (2008)’, and ‘The making of Nigeria’s Dream Team: Football gold medal winners at Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games (2021)’. His fourth book, a biography on the late Peter Rufai, popularly known by his nickname, Dodo Mayana, will be coming out soon.

Alao is grateful to God that his mother who played a selfless role in his life, is hale and hearty at 88 years old. What more can I say about this great mind and patriotic Nigerian who has also served the country in different capacities and built significant monuments of excellence, one brick at a time.

We need more devoted men like Dr. Mumini Alao with proven abilities and extraordinary skills to make Nigeria – and indeed the world – a better place. Congratulations, my dear brother, on your steady climb to the top. I am personally proud of our friendship, sincerity, and shared values, which have enabled a longstanding relationship between us.

Best wishes always in the years ahead.

–Braimah is a public relations specialist and publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times. He freelanced for the BBC for a while and made his mark as usual as a professional who is always committed to his craft.