The Guardian (Nigeria)
Encyclopedia
The Guardian is an independent daily newspaper published in Nigeria
by Guardian Newspapers Limited.
The Guardian has been described as "Nigeria's most respected newspaper".
and Stanley Macebuh, a top journalist with the Daily Times newspapers. The Guardian was a pioneer in introducing high quality journalism to Nigeria with thoughtful editorial content.
The paper was first published on 22 February 1983 as a weekly, appearing on Sundays.
The paper started daily publication on the 4 July 1983.
In the early 1980s the Guardian had a long-running campaign against the use of traditional chieftancy titles, calling for Nigerians to be addressed simply as "Mr" or "Mrs".
, reporters Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor were both sent to jail in 1984 under Decree No. 4 of 1984, which suppressed journalistic freedom.
On 26 August 1989 the Guardian published a long letter by Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti, a human-rights activist, titled "Open Letter to President Babangida" in which he criticized what he saw as increasing government suppression of free expression of ideas.
The owner, Alex Ibru
, escaped an assassination attempt during the military regime of General Sani Abacha
. On 2 February 1996 his car was fired upon and Ibru was hit. He was rushed to the hospital with one of his eyes dangling from its socket.
Following Abacha's sudden death in June 1998, legal proceedings began against his son Mohammed Abacha
and his Chief Security Officer Major Hamza al-Mustapha
. Eventually, in December 2010 a Lagos High Court acquitted those accused of the attempt.
It claims to be independent of any ethnic group, religious community, political party or other interest group. However, rightly or wrongly it has been accused of hate-mongering against the Igbo people
.
The Guardian is the main competitor to The Punch
for advertising, although not for circulation. Unlike The Punch it focuses on business content rather than on what the editor of The Punch refers to as "appeal to the working classes".
The Guardian is read by the most educated section of the elite, while The Punch can be understood by anyone with basic literacy. Other Nigerian papers fall between these extremes.
The paper is one of the few relatively long lasting national papers in Nigeria. It is believed its durability is a result of its broad range of issues, and contacts, its close link to the Ibru family and non-partisanship.
In its early stages of circulation
, The Guardian was of one the few national dailies
that did not publish advertised obituaries. Since 1989, the policy has changed and elite advertisement
now makes a large percentage of the newspaper's revenue.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
by Guardian Newspapers Limited.
The Guardian has been described as "Nigeria's most respected newspaper".
Foundation
The Guardian was established in 1983 by the entrepreneur Alex IbruAlex Ibru
Alex Ibru was a Nigerian businessman, founder and publisher of The Guardian newspaper, who was Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.-Background:...
and Stanley Macebuh, a top journalist with the Daily Times newspapers. The Guardian was a pioneer in introducing high quality journalism to Nigeria with thoughtful editorial content.
The paper was first published on 22 February 1983 as a weekly, appearing on Sundays.
The paper started daily publication on the 4 July 1983.
In the early 1980s the Guardian had a long-running campaign against the use of traditional chieftancy titles, calling for Nigerians to be addressed simply as "Mr" or "Mrs".
Struggle for freedom
During the administration of General Muhammadu BuhariMuhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari was a military ruler of Nigeria and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 presidential elections...
, reporters Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor were both sent to jail in 1984 under Decree No. 4 of 1984, which suppressed journalistic freedom.
On 26 August 1989 the Guardian published a long letter by Dr. Bekolari Ransome-Kuti, a human-rights activist, titled "Open Letter to President Babangida" in which he criticized what he saw as increasing government suppression of free expression of ideas.
The owner, Alex Ibru
Alex Ibru
Alex Ibru was a Nigerian businessman, founder and publisher of The Guardian newspaper, who was Minister of Internal Affairs from 1993 to 1995 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha.-Background:...
, escaped an assassination attempt during the military regime of General Sani Abacha
Sani Abacha
General Sani Abacha was a Nigerian military leader and politician. A Kanuri from Borno by tribe, he was born and brought up in Kano, Nigeria. He was the de facto President of Nigeria from 1993 to 1998....
. On 2 February 1996 his car was fired upon and Ibru was hit. He was rushed to the hospital with one of his eyes dangling from its socket.
Following Abacha's sudden death in June 1998, legal proceedings began against his son Mohammed Abacha
Mohammed Abacha
Mohammed Abacha is the eldest surviving son of Nigeria's former military dictator, the late General Sani Abacha, and Maryam Abacha.-Money laundering:During his father's military rule, Mohammed Abacha was involved in looting the government....
and his Chief Security Officer Major Hamza al-Mustapha
Hamza al-Mustapha
Hamza al-Mustapha was the Chief Security Officer of General Sani Abacha, military head of state of Nigeria from November 1993 to June 1998. After Abacha's death he was arrested and tried for murder and attempted murder...
. Eventually, in December 2010 a Lagos High Court acquitted those accused of the attempt.
Content
The Guardian is owned by a member of an ethnic minority and has a national outlook in terms of reach and content.It claims to be independent of any ethnic group, religious community, political party or other interest group. However, rightly or wrongly it has been accused of hate-mongering against the Igbo people
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
.
The Guardian is the main competitor to The Punch
The Punch
The Punch is a Nigerian daily newspaper. It is the second largest newspaper in the country in terms of circulation, with 80,000 copies published daily in 1999.-History:...
for advertising, although not for circulation. Unlike The Punch it focuses on business content rather than on what the editor of The Punch refers to as "appeal to the working classes".
The Guardian is read by the most educated section of the elite, while The Punch can be understood by anyone with basic literacy. Other Nigerian papers fall between these extremes.
The paper is one of the few relatively long lasting national papers in Nigeria. It is believed its durability is a result of its broad range of issues, and contacts, its close link to the Ibru family and non-partisanship.
In its early stages of circulation
Newspaper circulation
A newspaper's circulation is the number of copies it distributes on an average day. Circulation is one of the principal factors used to set advertising rates. Circulation is not always the same as copies sold, often called paid circulation, since some newspapers are distributed without cost to the...
, The Guardian was of one the few national dailies
Dailies
Dailies, in filmmaking, are the raw, unedited footage shot during the making of a motion picture. They are so called because usually at the end of each day, that day's footage is developed, synched to sound, and printed on film in a batch for viewing the next day by the director and some members...
that did not publish advertised obituaries. Since 1989, the policy has changed and elite advertisement
Elite advertisement in Nigeria
Elite advertisements in Nigeria are various forms of personal leaning print, audio and visual ads sponsored by Nigerian elites to elaborate the achievements of a deceased acquaintance or to congratulate a fellow colleague, family or friend...
now makes a large percentage of the newspaper's revenue.