Content area
Full Text
Despite his humble nature and self-effacing personality, Osso has affected Nigeria more than any other librarian. He is indeed, Nigeria’s most successful bibliophile. When I was employed by Newswatch in late 1984 (the magazine debuted in ’85), I was the second editorial staff. Nyaknno was already there before me. I joined Newswatch the same day with my friend, the late Wale Oladepo. Osso was the first staff employed by Newswatch. The first editorial staff was Dele Olojede who was to become a global phenomenon as the first African to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism. Rolake Omonubi from the Nigerian Tribune, was to join us in earnest.
There were no google search in those days, but Osso was equal to the task. Newswatch did not just have a library. It had the Research Library to emphasise its crucial role of research in the nascent days of the magazine. Osso was the Master Mind in charge of the library and his contributions to the early days of Newswatch was immense. Every reporter was expected to background his story with research from the library. We did not just have newspapers and magazines cuttings; we had access to rare books and research materials.
It was not a surprise that when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected President of Nigeria in 1999, he moved Osso from the...