Ajuluchukwu Brown
Three years ago, at the 42nd International Convention of the Association of Nigerian Authors, (ANA), held at the Mamman Vatsa Writers Village, Mpape, Abuja, poet, journalist, scholar and media relations practitioner, Tunde Olusunle was one of the select inductees into the Faculty of Fellows of the Association.
The honour was in recognition of his redoubtable contributions to the development of Nigerian literature, both as a creative writer and a literary scholar. Over the years, Olusunle has carved a niche for himself as a prolific poet with four very well received, voraciously studied published volumes of poetry.
To be sure, Olusunle’s ouvre has been studied and referenced by respected literary and language scholars like Sunny Awhefeada, Sola Babatunde, Taofiq Alabi, Segun Ayobolu, Okon Dati Etim, Oladeji Olayemi Adenike, Chris Anyokwu, Clement Odia, and so on.
Many of Olusunle’s contributions to literary scholarship are indeed regarded as groundbreaking, even as his scholarly contributions have been published in several journals, books and festschrisfts, locally and internationally.
He has equally raised the bar of literary journalism and has published five well-articulated compendiums of essays on topical sociopolitical issues and human-interest topics, which collectively hold nearly 300 essays.
Saturday September 26, 2026, in the famous Coal City, Enugu, Olusunle was once again festooned with another professional medal. At the impressive Enugu International Conference Centre, one of the signature projects of the wonder-working, multitasking Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Olusunle was one of four seasoned journalists inducted as a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE), at the closing ceremony of the Guild’s 22nd All Nigeria Editors Conference, (ANEC).
Other inductees were Husseina Akila Bangshika, former Director of News, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN); Ogbuagu Anikwe, former Editor of Daily Times; and Tunde Rahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Special Duties. The new Fellows took the oath of professionalism administered by Emeritus President of the Guild, Baba Dantiye. They are now entitled to add FNGE to their existing titles.
For Olusunle, the fellowship marks another milestone in a career spanning about four decades across journalism, government communication, academia and literature. He began his journalism career with the primordial Daily Times of Nigeria in 1990, rising from staff writer to senior staff writer and assistant editor before serving on the newspaper’s editorial board. Between 1999 and 2007, he served in the Presidency as Special Assistant to President Olusegun Obasanjo, with responsibilities covering national orientation, public affairs, press liaison and special services. He previously served as State Director of Information and Public Affairs in Kogi State and as Director of Press Affairs/Chief Press Secretary to one civilian Governor and two Military Administrators, between 1992 and 1997.
Beyond the newsroom, Olusunle holds a PhD in Media Arts from the University of Abuja and has written extensively on Nigerian literature, journalism, theatre and politics. His books include On the Trail of History: A Reporter’s Notebook on Olusegun Obasanjo; Atiku: Perspectives on a Phenomenon and Orisirisi: Vistas on Contemporary Politics in Nigeria, Volumes One and Two. His poetry collections include Fingermarks, Rhythm of the Mortar, A Medley of Echoes and the most recently published Newland. He is currently a Faculty Member of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies.
Adding colour to the Enugu gathering graciously hosted by Governor Mbah, was the presence of 90-year-old Vanguard publisher, Sam Amuka-Pemu, the Guild’s Member No. 001 and widely regarded as Nigeria’s oldest living journalist. Former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba, is Member No. 002, while Chief Ugochukwu, a former Guild President and pioneer Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), is Member No. 003. Former Managing Director of Tribune Group of Newspapers, Folu Olamiti; Managing Director of THISDAY, Eniola Bello; former Managing Director of The Guardian newspapers, Martins Oloja; Editor-in-Chief of Vanguard newspapers and President of the Guild, Eze Anaba; former Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, (NIJ); Secretary to the Government of Enugu State, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, were among the dignitaries who also attended the ceremony.