It was the French novelist, Marcel Proust, who subliminal observed that “Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
In counting my blessings, Dan Akpovwa, the Great Publisher, ranks amongst the Top5! Since meeting him about 18 years ago in extraordinary circumstances, it has been about counting my blessings and naming them one by one. Akpovwa is not just another publisher to his staff, but a father, brother, uncle, counsellor and an inspiration.
This Edo College ‘boy’ is a blend of the polished, not-so-polished and toughie asthe situation demands. With his bulky frame which has remarkably dropped so ishis large heart.
A graduate of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State where he studied Arts majoring in Communication Arts, he will go on to obtain a Master of Social Science (International Journalism) at the University of Westminster under the Chevening Scholarship. With forays at Newswatch magazine, Quality, Classique magazines and the ubiquitous Thisday Newspapers as its first Diplomatic Editor, Akpovwa carved a niche for himself in the diplomatic community and established long term relationships that have benefitted some of us.
He will leave journalism briefly to take up an appointment as media aide to the then Minister of Aviation, Kema Chikwe, and later move to the NDDC from where hewill leave to start The Abuja Inquirer…The Pulse of the City!
According to him, his vision was to own a newspaper before turning 40, and 21 years counting, the newspaper has weathered many storms and stayed true to its founding of being a city newspaper despite several takeover attempts by those with a different understanding of its brand.
In an interview not long ago, he explained that his first choice as a youngster was to be a lawyer as his late beloved mother worked at the Warri High Court where he was always in contact with lawyers.
So what changed? “But, in 1986, I did my internship with Newswatch magazine. I was there when Dele Giwa (the founding editor-in-chief) was killed. I saw the outpouring of grief. Everyone was there to commiserate with us and I read a lot of his writings, and I noticed instantly that this guy was a force for good. He must have been doing something right to positively affect the society.
“So, that changed things for me: I decided that journalism was it. No, not that I wanted to be killed, I just felt that I could affect people positively by being a journalist.”
Spurred by the burning desire to be a force for good, Akpovwa who was initially posted to Jigawa State for his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) sought for redeployment to Lagos State and succeeded.
The interesting aspect of it was asking his new place of primary assignment, the lucrative oil giant, Chevron, to reject him. Crazy! Back to the NYSC secretariat, he requested to be posted to The Guardian where he was assigned to the Features Desk with Harriet Lawrence as the editor.
He explained; “I chose The Guardian because I wanted experience in a newspaper as I had done my internship with a magazine.
“When I finished at The Guardian, I began to have the urge of being on my own and felt I could go into public relations. It was not that I was getting bored with journalism. Indeed I liked the grind of having to go and interview people, carry out research – which was difficult in those days because there was no Google – write stories and all that. It was crazy.
“What I found out was that the stories I did at the publications where I worked, because I felt I had something to prove, I put in more effort into them and made sure that they were thorough. I put in my best into them so that they would be published without much surgical operation by the editors. When I compared my work with the final output, there were minimal changes. I learnt from that, and I was also fulfilled.”
With his perspective changing about continuing with journalism, ThisDay will offer a new challenge when it opened its operations in 1995 as one of the pioneer staff. Akpovwa will become known as one of the Duke’s Boys given his special relationship with him.
It was from ThisDay he left for Chevening Scholarship and returned in 2001 and was invited by the pioneer Managing Director of the NDDC, Godwin Omene, to join him. Together with Mr. John Araka and others, they set up the corporate affairs department of the commission.
Barely three years at the NDDC, Akpovwa left and in March 2004, and established The Abuja Inquirer.
“For The Abuja Inquirer, we wanted a newspaper which would cater to the city.
“When we started, a lot of people said that the name would be a hindrance when it came to advertising. I insisted that we would go with the name. When I started I had Udo Silas who had worked with me at ThisDay as our first editor.
“We took over the city by storm. All of a sudden, people started reckoning with us. We had stories that even the national newspapers were culling. If there were some major stories in the federal capital, the major newspapers called us for more insight,” he once gave insight.
On a personal note, I do not know what trajectory my journalism journey would have been like. Having served with the Nasarawa State Newspaper, Nigerian Newsday, in Lafia and then posted to Abuja in late 2001, I got enmeshed in the politics of the NUJ right away and few years later, my bosses felt I had grown too fast and decided to send me back to Lafia. I resigned, and Iyobosa Uwugiaren, then Bureau Chief of The Insider Magazine first gave me a freelancing role, then correspondent.
It was at the magazine I was detailed to interview Akpovwa at his office in Area3. After some few delays, I got the interview done, and published. Giving the less than 15k earnings then, the reporter was also a delivery boy with the hope that “something will fall.” I took the magazine to him alongside the Irrepressible Chizobs, then nothing was in our heads oh, just friends. “Is this your babe?” Akpovwa asked as we were ushered into his office. We both chorused “no!” Anyways, something did fall and we left smiling.
When The Insider and I parted ways, story for another day, and I was at sea of my next move, Chizobs narrowed on Akpovwa and encouraged me to go and see him. “He likes you. Just try him.” That singular motivation fell through. One evening at about 4pm when we knew he could be in the office and owing to their weekly production, I got to his office and told him I needed a job. After listening and asking a few questions, he asked me to do an application on his desk as senior correspondent. But I had no credentials with me as I wasn’t expecting any offer. Akpovwa will further give me some money to ease my movement. He comes out of his office as I was leaving and sees Chizobs. “You guys should marry oh!” He says and disappears into his office. Chizobs is filled with glee and felt vindicated.
Therein began a relationship that has endured with only gratitude. Akpovwa was responsible for my first trip under the Mashav Israel Scholarship in 2007/2008. He will again facilitate my first and second trips to the United States. On the first trip, he took me shopping and did generous buying for Alexis and Chizobs. On the second trip, he gave me his ATM to go buy my ticket and still gave me a fair DTA.
I can’t count the number of times he has come through for my family and his staff. When I went to tell him that I was leaving to take up an appointment with the Cross River State Government, we had a long discussion and gave me his blessings though he wasn’t persuaded when he learnt I have never before the appointment met my principal, the affable Governor Bassey Otu. It was just about that. As we stepped out of his home, he turned and gave me the key to his Passat CC. “Take, it is yours. You are a good man. Just remember anytime you want to leave, your place will be here.” My eyes welled with tears and still do.
Has it always been rosy? We have had our bursts, but he will always say, “you are my guy, but we must enforce discipline.” Akpovwa’s dad is my greatest fan! Never a time he sees me on TV or hears my voice he isn’t excited. His family, especially the pace-setting Doris, his wife, has been kind and complements her husband’s generosity.
For Dan Akpovwa, I am thankful and my family prayer is one: God be with you always. Happy Birthday, Sir!