Adetula: Good Knight In The Fourth Estate -(a tribute to Sir Ademola Adetula)_ By Yemi Olowolabi

The news broke like any other, but it hit the newsrooms with unusual tremors, leaving tears, trauma and trepidation in its trail. Thursday July 30, 2026 was the day journalists stumbled on breaking news but appeared too broken to run with the scoop.

It began like an unfiltered rumour, festering like a fairy tale, trending without refutations and spreading like a harmattan bush inferno. In the end, newshounds resigned to the uneasy conclusion that the tragic news was true after all. Veteran journalist and former Chairman of Owena Press, Ademola Adetula had died in Akure, Ondo State. The filthy tattle became a factual entity.

A pillar of journalism practice has fallen! Those who once sheltered under Adetula’s tutelage became shattered! Tears flowed freely as the news spread fiercely. Adetula exited without a goodbye.

He left with his trademark frankness and landmark fortitude. Indeed, a remarkable life has ended abruptly like a sudden cessation of an intriguing film. What follows is a review or recollections of the life and times of the fallen hero.

The confirmation traumatised the newsrooms with comprehensive metabolic disequilibrium: trembling hands, throbbing hearts and tingling heads. It was an unforgettable day of dysphoria when desks were draped in the sackcloth of sorrows.

Adetula died exactly seven days to his 74th birthday and barely two years to the much venerably anticipated 50th anniversary of his eventful journalism career. Truly, for nearly half a century, he remained steadfast and faithful to the patrician but thankless profession of keeping the society informed, even when you are inflamed.
He wasn’t just a practitioner but a campaigner for a saner atmosphere and better welfare for journalists. Working with other comrades and ideologues, he loomed large in the social struggles championed by Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ. He served as Vice President, Zone D in the national structure of NUJ. As a unionist, he stood out with clarity of thoughts and alacrity of pursuits. He spoke with conviction and acted with determination for the common good of colleagues especially those exploited by their proprietors and those oppressed by state agents.

Highly decorated and prodigiously talented, he dived into journalism on the wings of passion but survived the landmines in the newsrooms with the shield of perseverance, purposefulness, performance and sheer providence.
In 1978, he fulfilled his childhood fantasy for the Fourth Estate when he joined _The Nigerian Herald Newspaper_ in Ilorin. That was the beginning of a lifetime forays in the forests of newsgathering. It was the beginning of an enduring romance with destiny.
Adetula approached his job with utmost dedication, sparing no time for prevarications and tardiness. He wrote great stories. He made headlines. Too focused to be confused, he rose through the ranks to become the News Editor of _The Nigerian Herald._ In those days, the newspaper was synonymous with excellence and prestige in journalism and it was haven of eminent and influential journalists like the former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former General Manager of Sketch Newspapers, late Peter Ajayi, co founder of Newswatch Magazine, Yakubu Mohammed and host of others. Adetula had the privilege of working under the legendary Osoba who was the General Manager of _The Nigerian Herald_ between 1975 and 1984.
Born in Owo, Ondo State on August 6, 1952, Adetula’s home coming was authored by fate. It began in July 1995 when the then Military Administrator of old Ondo State, Colonel Ahmed Usman headhunted him as the Editor of _The Hope_ Newspaper, owned by Ondo State Government.
At _The Hope_ , he built a home where a generation of journalists was raised. Today, his numerous offsprings have become big men and women in the media industry.
In _The Hope_ ,also, he did not only build people, he also advanced his own career. From the initial position of Editor, he grew progressively to become General Manager, Managing Director and later Chairman/Editor in Chief.
In addition to his imperishable footprints in the media, he also made gilt-edged impact in the ministry as a Catholic. He was a member of the Knight of Saint John International, KSJI, a prestigious faith-based institution birthed in 1886 in New York. KSJI is anchored on faith, hope and charity. As a knight, he lived up to the expectations of the exalted honour as an ambassador of Christ, promoting peace and harmony in the society. Adetula, a quiet personality, was loud in the propagation of the gospel. He was unsparing in the repudiation of malfeasance and mediocrity. His voice always rang clear in the condemnation of cant, rejection of injustice and opposition of oppression. That is the fundamental Adetula, the quintessential leader admired for his laudable progressive ideology and audible voice of courage.

While the knighthood was an endorsement from the household of God, he also received tangible acknowledgement from the Nigerian Government. In 2023, he was decorated with a national award as Member of the Order of the Federal Republic, MFR. For him, this came as a pleasant surprise but it was a perfect recognition, well deserved for the love of his compatriots and country.
As we pay our last respect to this outstanding man of valor, his labour of love and legacy of service will continue to abide in the hearts of all that crossed his path. Farewell, a good Knight in the papistry and a shiny armour in the Fourth Estate. Goodnight to a cosmic spirit that brought light into many dark spots and served as the herald of hope to distressed souls in the media.
Sleep on, _Oma Olowu Atamba_