Nda Isaiah: Ode To The Persistent Force @58
BY SIMON REEF MUSA
I share the same birthdate with one of Nigeria’s prominent media impresarios whom many of his present and former staff still refer to as ‘Chairman’, even long after they had left his employ. He remains a metaphor for relentlessness in the pursuit of excellence and never bereft of bustling vision to face glaring cul-de-sacs. Once he is determined to embark on a venture, all fiends of impracticality in hell can’t stop him. In his dictionary, there is no word like ‘impossibility. For him, all things are possible.
His gusto to realise dreams and ability to throw everything in the fire make him a ferocious dreamer who is never tired of dreaming new frontiers in walking through the walls of impossibility. Once he is convinced of a venture, there is no night and day for him until success is attained. Such is the irrevocable attribute of the man, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah, upon which LEADERSHIP was founded.
Only a few people would remember him as the pharmacist who now runs one of the nation’s most successful newspapers. Always brimming with new ideas for new venture, Chairman would later set the pace for the launching of weekly edition of LEADERSHIP in September 2004 after publishing LEADERSHIP Confidential, a newsletter that enjoyed massive subscription and readership.
I recall vividly his adventurous standpoint when, even against strong views of his editors, he insisted that LEADERSHIP must go daily in February 2006. The editor, Mallam Ibrahim Sheme, had to resign when Chairman, who holds the traditional title of Kakaki Nupe, insisted the order for the paper to go daily was not negotiable. To most of us, the insistence by the Chairman that the newspaper go daily amounted to walking through the walls. The world almost stopped for us the day before the daily edition hit the streets. Mr. Isaiah had left the comfort of his high office and took a permanent seat in the production room. He was everywhere and screaming orders to fire the production process that was used to the weekly mode. The first editor of the daily, late Mallam Shehu Dauda (may God rest his soul), was everywhere as he walked up and down responding to Chairman’s inquiries and, at the same time, conferring with others to ensure a hitch-free production. The Kakaki would blow hot over a misspelt word; sometimes he would simply hissed and shook his head in amazement. It was a tough day for gentle and soft-spoken Dauda whose competence was being tried. At the end of the production, Dauda had done his best, so we thought. An hour before midnight, I retired home to wait for the maiden copy of the daily edition.
On the morning the daily edition debuted, I resumed early to review the previous night’s efforts. When I requested the receptionist to get me a copy, she disclosed that the sales staff were yet to arrive with copies. I called the staff in charge of production, Suleiman who quickly told me there had been technical hitches that delayed the printing at the Heritage Press, but quickly assured me that the marketing staff were on their way to the office with copies.
My heartbeats raced as I hurriedly flipped through the pages of the first copy of the daily edition printed on low quality newsprints. Considering the quality of newsprints and numerous misspelt words, including wrong captioning of pictures, I was cocksure that the roof would come down. When Chairman walked in few minutes before midday, the entire office premises embraced a graveyard silence. Like others, I would later be summoned through the intercom for an editorial meeting in the Chairman’s office. We filed silently and took our seats. The publisher was neither happy nor sad; his disposition was not reflective of his inner feelings. When Dauda whose product was to be the subject of the meeting walked in like a lamb, he looked despondent.
Speaking in a measured tone and in complete control of his emotions, Chairman blurted, “All of you seated here have put in not less than 15 years of experience in journalism. So, we have over 100 years of experience behind the production of this poor and embarrassing edition? I think we should just close down this paper and go home”.
He immediately left the conference chair and walked to his decision table, and then sat on his rocking chair. It was the shortest meeting ever to be called by Chairman. With bowed heads, we returned to our offices, oblivious of what to do next. Less than an hour after the meeting, the production room came alive as Dauda resumed his pacing up and down in preparation for the next production. As the daily production continued in the days ahead, there were remarkable improvements in the quality of both content and newsprints. Within the first six months of daily production, the resilience and crave for excellence by Chairman paid off, as the daily edition soon attracted endorsements for a frontline position in national dailies.
As someone born on May 1, hard work is Chairman’s crucial trait. He is never anxious by the challenges of the moment, but inspired further by future successes. Unlike others who may be satisfied with triumphs in certain ventures, The Kakaki Nupe sees the success of one project as building blocks for yet another venture. With him, there is no end to new boundaries to be conquered.
As a man whose accomplishments are hinged on steep brute of willpower founded on unyielding vision, broadening the frontiers of conquest dominate and drives him. Through the years, the pharmacist-turned- publisher has continued to enlarge new-fangled landscapes in journalism and brought exciting innovations that has placed his media outfit in the prime position of national importance.
Kakaki’s walk to his present preeminent position has not been wanting of challenges, but he has always braved the tide. He founded LEADERSHIP at a time when the North had become a media cemetery. When hope was all gone and no one dared to tread on a field avoided like a plague by the professionals, Chairman rolled up his sleeves and established a media outfit that has continued to survive against all odds.
Against the backdrop of a ravaging pandemic made worst by a reclusive national leadership, the life of the Kakaki Nupe, characterised by daring audacity and altruistic vision, remains an inspiring metaphor for emulation. Considering his excellent management of his newspaper, it clearly demonstrates that there is no force that can stop a man determined to succeed. Focus, consistency and the audacity to remain loyal to a cause are Chairman’s greatest assets.
Beyond the applauses that present achievements bring, the publisher possesses the perseverance of an unconquerable spirit that can wrestle a thousand devils to the floor. Little wonder LEADERSHIP has survived the stormy waters of publishing, and still growing stronger in leaps and bounds.
As he turned 58 on May 1, 2020, there is no auspicious moment than now to wish that national leadership should embrace the viciousness of a dream that is anchored on emancipating the citizenry from the shackles of deprivations and development as epitomised by the life of Mr. Isaiah.
Having done well in the thorny field of business and survive the sharks of politics, there can be no greater vision than re-aligning with critical forces to salvage what is left of the Nigerian project in order to make the country a true pride for Africans. Happy belated birthday wishes to Chairman Isaiah who has stubbornly sustained a newspaper amidst the winter of opposition.
May what you dream for your country be realised in your life time.
