Osoba, Adeniyi, Omotosho, other journalism greats salute Yakubu Mohammed over Book ‘Beyond Expectations’
By Habiba Kaita
Journalism greats, academics, and public officials — including Chief Olusegun Osoba, veteran journalist and former Governor of Ogun State; Chief Tola Adeniyi, President of the League of Columnists; and Gbenga Omotosho, Lagos State Commissioner for Information — were among the many distinguished personalities who attended the public presentation of Beyond Expectations — A Memoir, authored by former Newswatch Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Yakubu Mohammed.
Held on Tuesday at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), the event celebrated Mohammed’s distinguished journalism career and his contributions to the development of the profession in Nigeria.
The book reviewer, Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, described the work as “a story of miracles and survival.”
He praised Mohammed’s clear writing and the way the book blends personal recollections with faith and history.
Olagunju compared the book’s message to Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, saying Mohammed’s life — marked by faith, hard work, and strong values — reflects a truly Nigerian story of destiny and resilience.
He highlighted key moments from the memoir: the infant rescued from a house fire, the prophetic gift of a pen from Mohammed’s father, early educational injustices, setbacks, and his eventual rise through student journalism to national prominence as an editor and public servant.
On the question of who killed Dele Giwa, Olagunju said the book provided insight.
He explained: “When a friend and colleague of Dele Giwa writes a book — a memoir — he’s expected to answer, or at least seek an answer to the question: Who killed Dele Giwa? Does he answer it? Was Newswatch doing a story on a certain Gloria Okon? Who really was she? Yakubu’s book answers these questions in a manner that may inspire many more people to write their own versions of the truth. Some are reacting already. I have read many accounts that seek to answer that Dele Giwa question.”
The author expressed appreciation for the honour done him by attendees at the event.
He said the memoir was a personal recollection, for which he stands by every line as factual — except for his date of birth.
“The only word that I can express is that the content of this book is based on my personal recollections, and therefore I stand by every sentence. When they said I gave my birthday as 4th of April, that’s the only thing I’m not sure of that is in this book. Every other thing I’ve written in this book, I stand by it. And everything I’ve said here is based on my own information and my own knowledge of the events that I’ve collected.”
In a subtle reference to commentaries suggesting his recollection of the events surrounding Dele Giwa’s death was skewed, he added: “In our society, it is very easy for people to say you are lying, you did this, you did that. Yeah, it’s alright. But what I’m saying is that this is my personal recollection, and it’s my personal memory. And I’m sure anybody else can still write his own memoir and say his own truth.”
Other speakers at the event also showered praises on Mohammed, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who sent a goodwill message; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by Gbenga Omotosho, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Director at the Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS), Professor Anthony Kila; Sam Omatseye, Editorial Board chairman of The Nation, former Newswatch Editor-in-Chief, Soji Akinrinade; former General Editor of the magazine, Maureen Chigbo; the author’s children; and many others.
The Lagos State Government purchased and distributed more than 90 copies of the memoir to Mass Communication students from the University of Lagos and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
