A brief walk into the origin of local print media

February 6, 2018 5:56 PM

The content of the newspaper was news of church activities, arrival and departure of religious dignitaries, ordinations etc.

In 1854, Rev. Henry Townsend, a Presbyterian Church missionary, established the first printing press in Nigeria. Five years later, it would publish the country’s first newspaper known as "Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Ara Egba Ati Yoruba."

"My objective is to get the people to read and to beget the habit of seeking information by reading." -- Rev. Henry Townsend.

Although, it is the opinion of many that, in contrast to his purported objective, the purpose of Rev. Henry Townsend newspaper was to foster the outreach of Christian religion at the time; it cannot be denied, however, that the "Iwe Irohin" played a very significant role in the history of Nigerian newspaper.

History has it that the first edition of Nigeria’s first newspaper, "Iwe Irohin," came out on November 23, 1859. The newspaper was published every fifteen days and sold for 120 cowries, which is equivalent to a penny.

It would be highly patronized by the few literates in Yoruba land. And the circulation of the paper was around 3,000 as at that time.

The content of the newspaper was news of church activities, arrival and departure of religious dignitaries, ordinations etc.

It would be broadened by introducing stories that revolve around Abeokuta, as well as cotton and cocoa statistics.

The newspaper would also include advertisements from local firms and government agencies from 1860.

Eight years later, "Iwe Irohin" was printed in two versions, one in English and the other in Yoruba.

However, due to cultural and political clashes that occurred between the Egbas and the British which resulted in the expulsion of all Europeans in Egbaland, the printing press was razed in 1867.

And as a result, Nigeria’s first ever newspaper met with its end.

Be that as it may, the purpose for which the newspaper was formed has been fulfilled: The reading habit of the people has developed to a point whereby they now yearn for news after the demise of the “Iwe Irohin.”

The second Nigerian newspaper was Anglo-African.

It was established in 1863 by Robert Campbell and was the first paper published in Lagos. In those days, the newspaper can be said to be the paper of its times.

And just as the title indicated, it was purposed for African self-improvement through the utilization of Western and African systems of knowledge.

It would take another seventeen years before the establishment of the third Nigerian newspaper, known as The Lagos Times and Gold Coast Colony Advertiser.

Established on 10th November 1880 by Mr. Richard Olamilege Beale Blaize and was edited by Mr. Andrew M. Thomas and Mojola Agbebi, The Lagos Times and Gold Coast Advertiser was sold for sixpence newspaper was printed every fifteen days.

Unlike Rev. Henry Townsend “Iwe Irohin,” it is said that the newspaper was mainly concerned with the critical issues and matters of the period.

Records even have it that The Lagos Times and Gold Coast Colony Advertiser was actually the first to publicly denounce the extravagance of the colonial government in one of its editions published in 1881.

However, the newspaper would go out of circulation on October 24, 1883; only to reappear seven years later with little or no success.

Another newspaper that played a very important role in the history of Nigerian newspaper is the West African Pilot.

With a motto that reads: "Show the light and the people will find the way," the West African Pilot was launched in Nigeria by Nnamdi Azikiwe ("Zik") in 1937. And it was dedicated to the fighting for independence from British colonial rule.

It is said that from 1937-1947, Nnamdi Azikiwe edited the West African Pilot, personally.

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