A visit to ‘The Brook’: A personal account

My recent official visit to the new office complex of BusinessDay newspaper in Apapa Lagos rekindled in me my years in the mid-80s as a budding features writer at Vanguard Newspaper under the tutelage of the great Ely Obasi of blessed memory; and in the 90s at Newswatch magazine under the unmatchable Ray Ekpu.

Apart from what I had learnt in school, Ely Obasi taught me the power of descriptive writing, or what he usually called racy prose. At Newswatch, Ray Ekpu consolidated my writing skill with what he usually called elegant prose. And when I eventually “grew up”, I came up with my own version called seductive prose.

Since moving into public relations, I am sure I have lost much of my writing prowess. However, I am tempted to write again — to paint a picture of my facility tour of “the Brook”, the multi-million naira corporate office of Nigeria’s prime medium of business intelligence whose slogan is “News you can trust”.

‘The Brook’ sat there in the mid-day sun like a virgin, legs crossed, waiting to be discovered. Her seductive pose invites you to explore her epic innocence. ‘The Brook is indeed like a maiden, exquisitely beautiful and rapacious.

And as her name implies, she sits like a river goddess, a clay pot on her head, pouring out waters of strategic business knowledge and wisdom, which have been the hallmark of BusinessDay since its inception in 2001; and makes it a first-line choice of economic policy makers, the business community and advertisers.  

Painted in glossy light ash and red colours, the Brook, is located on 4-6 Point Road, on a large expanse of land in the serene Government Reserved Area (GRA), Apapa.  It is an architectural masterpiece, which gives BusinessDay one of the best media environments in Nigeria — which adds a sweet perfume on the newspaper’s brand equity and superiority.

It is not surprising that since the Lagos State governor, His Excellency, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, inaugurated the new offices on 1st April, 2014, the place, despite the traffic gridlock in Apapa, has become a Mecca of a sort for corporate guests who come to felicitate with the irrepressible publisher/CEO, Mr. Frank Aigbogun and his bubbling team on this remarkable achievement. Mr. Aigbogun has in fact proved himself to be, not only a damn good journalist, but also a quintessential media manager, shrewd business icon and an uncommon boardroom strategist.

As I walked up to the reception, the door opened electronically!  The lady receptionist, Tonia, petit, delectable, fair-complexioned, was sharp and professional in receiving me. In few minutes, she contacted the secretary of Mr. Aigbogun to announce my arrival. Thereafter, I was ushered into the second floor stylish pent-house of the urbane publisher. Wao! A uniquely designed new addition to the complex, furnished tastefully in simple but elegant, artistic furniture.

Frank was our news editor at Vanguard in the mid to late 80s — feared by most reporters. He rose to become the editor of the newspapers for over ten years.  At the time he left to set up BusinessDay, I had already sojourned through TopNews, Quality, and Newswatch magazines, and veered into public relations practice. I visited him one day and he showed me the newspaper of his dream — on a drawing board. When the newspaper took off, he got me to write a fortnightly column on “public relations case studies”.

So, Frank was quite elated to receive me in his pent-house office that early afternoon. The office looked every inch a presidential resort. “Jossy”, he said, looking straight into my eyes, “yes, we have worked extremely hard, no doubt, but this is the Lord’s doing”. Dressed in a rich blue tie on light-stripped white shirt and dark-blue trousers, Frank looked like and spoke like a yuppie Pentecostal pastor.

The publisher went ahead to tell me the moving story of how in April 2013 the company acquired a seriously dilapidated, abandoned, decrepit complex inhabited by weeds, rodents and snakes — which used to be a hospital complex. After taking possession of the place, the company developed big headache of how to renovate the place and make it useful

However, God’s grace prevailed. Pronto! Diamond Bank appeared from the blues and provided a loan. Pronto! A very creative architect showed up to work on the complex. And in few months, a new chapter in the history of 4-6 Point Road was opened! The company moved into the brand-new complex in December, 2013.

Frank took me on a brief tour of the complex: the advert department, accounts department, all looking like offices abroad. Then, the printing press – brand new; an amphitheater that seats about 100 persons meant for trainings and public events; an e-library; offices for editors and other line managers.

He also took me to the company’s staff canteen — very neat restaurant on the ground floor for staff and visitors; and hold it — a gym for employees to keep fit after work on weekdays and fully on weekends! This, I must say, is unique for a media house, where journalists are always glued to their PCs or laptops, not engaged in any exercise — a lifestyle that endangers their health.

We ended up in the newsroom, modern newsroom – spacious, airy and dotted with new computer sets. Adjoining the newsroom is the editorial conference room, where the editorial meeting was going on, being presided over by the daily editor, Mr. Philip Isakpa and assisted by the editor of BusinessDay On Sunday, Mr. Charles Ike-Okoh.

It is important to note that Mr. Isakpa, a no-nonsense professional has driven the ethical editorial policy of the newspaper since his appointment in 2006. He was quite excited to see me. He introduced me to his team and urged me to join in the editorial meeting. I felt the excitement of journalism practice all over again.

They discussed various story ideas. Editorial meetings are always interesting as originators of story ideas brief the house on the newsworthy issues that need to be investigated; and why a story should be done. It is then debated, and then either approved or dropped.

The meeting is a clearing house for stories. This helps to eliminate stories that may have ulterior motives. I contributed in two instances and the contributions were hailed by the finance analyst and economist, Mr. Patrick Atuanya.   

After the editorial meeting, the editor asked for an interview, commending my company (Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals) as being Nigeria’s best privatised company, run professionally and profitably. I thanked him for his kind words for our company, but declined an interview, insisting my visit was a mere courtesy call to rejoice with BusinessDay for a milestone.`

It was then lunch-time. Bill Okonedo, the news editor and Don ‘Kere, his deputy, entertained me at the restaurant, which operated very much like “The Canal” as our Vanguard canteen was called – cheap but good food — where both junior and senior staff mix freely as one big family.

The story of The Brooks is a story of resilience, careful planning and hard work. It shows that journalists can manage their businesses profitably and make a difference. It shows that newspaper business is profitable, if managed well. The Brooks makes a strong statement about professionalism and excellence, hard work and tenacity.

I left The Brooks filling inspired and happy — which helped to ease-off the fatigue of driving out of Apapa through the terrible traffic jam that has become daily nightmare for many motorists.

• Nkwocha PhD, a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) is the head of Corporate Communications / Special Adviser to the Managing Director, Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited (IEPL), Port Harcourt. He was General Editor of Newswatch Magazine.