Re: Daily Trust: My omitted story

When I read Malam Ibrahim Sheme’s piece, of the above title last week, I marvelled at the truthfulness of what Sir Ahmadu Bello said 52 years ago. While launching the New Nigerian newspaper, on the 1st of January 1966, The Sardaunan Sakkwato said that we Northerners must learn to blow our own trumpet because if […]

When I read Malam Ibrahim Sheme’s piece, of the above title last week, I marvelled at the truthfulness of what Sir Ahmadu Bello said 52 years ago. While launching the New Nigerian newspaper, on the 1st of January 1966, The Sardaunan Sakkwato said that we Northerners must learn to blow our own trumpet because if we do not, nobody will do it for us, for the simple reason that they will all be too busy blowing their own. 

This was what happened during our 20th anniversary celebration. We were all busy recounting the roles we played in making Daily Trust a brand today, that we just didn’t remember to say Ibrahim Sheme did his part. But it’s a good thing he did so himself. That’s what the Sardauna advocated.

However, I’d like to set the record straight on something Sheme wrote in his piece. I was never anywhere near Media Trust office when the name search was going on. Indeed, I never stepped foot into that office, on Alkali road until after the preview edition was made. Obviously a preview can only be made after a name had been registered. Its is quite possible that Ibrahim Sheme had been to the office at a latter date, after the paper had taken off and was mixing it up with when he went for the name-search meeting. After all its been 20 years, memories can get mixed up after a long time.

The role I did play, with regards to naming the Daily Trust was the one I mentioned here, in my own commemorative piece last month. I disclosed that I suggested the name ‘The Trust’ to my husband, Kabiru, because I didn’t like any of the names shortlisted by his committee. I also said that he didn’t like it at first and that his initial reaction was even ‘How would anyone associate the name Trust with a publication?’ 

And the rest is history.