By Chido Nwakanma
As one reads Garba Shehu’s According to the President, the deft hand of a master copy editor is unmistakable. Shehu himself acknowledges the invaluable preparatory work of Taiwo Obe—widely known as TO—whose expertise sharpened the manuscript’s edge.
Today, the most distinguished copy editor in Nigeria and West Africa turns 65. He deserves resounding applause.
Obe is the founder of The Journalism Clinic, where he passionately nurtures the skills of both budding and seasoned journalists through rigorous, practice-oriented training. He combines deep academic grounding with global best practices to raise industry standards.
His journalistic journey began in 1980 with an internship at the Evening Times, a title under the Daily Times Group. By 1983, he had become the founding sub-editor of The Guardian Sunday supplement. He later held pivotal roles at ThisWeek magazine between 1986 and 1989, including Editor, Associate Editor, Deputy Editor, and Managing Editor.
TO also edited Media Review, the industry watchdog publication, and, alongside Lanre Idowu, co-founded the respected Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME).
A product of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Taiwo Obe was part of the trailblazing cohort of young professionals selected to join The Guardian through academic recommendation. His global recognition came in 1988 when he earned the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowship in the United States, gaining hands-on experience at Newsweek magazine.
Later that year, he became a correspondent for Newsweek International in Washington, D.C., providing Nigerian audiences with insightful coverage of global affairs.
Obe is also the founder of Taijo Wonukabe Limited, a communications consultancy, and The Journalism Clinic.
We achieved excellent results at Taijo Wonukabe, delivering impactful outcomes for clients such as Tastee Fried Chicken, Union Bank Plc, Nigeria LNG Limited, Aluminium Smelter Company, the Federal Ministry of Information, and the Nigerian Press Council.
The Journalism Clinic stands as a bulwark against careless reporting. Through open-enrolment and bespoke training workshops, it has mentored thousands of journalists in ethics, digital journalism, and investigative techniques.
In 2015, he co-edited Future Tense: Travails of Next and Nigerian Journalism in the Digital Age, a reflective volume on the industry’s challenges. The book drew insight from the “EverythingJournalism” LinkedIn group he launched in 2011, which became a rallying point for professional discourse and reform.
In recognition of his work, Taiwo Obe received the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship for his contributions to media development.
His legacy is marked by integrity, mentorship, innovation, and resilience.
Happy 65th, TO. Here’s to your lasting impact and continued excellence.
Nwakanma is Author, Communication Strategist, Marketer, Journalist, Educator, Mentor and Platform Speaker
