The executive members of the Photojournalists Association of Nigeria (PJAN), led by National Chairman Princess Alaba Igbaroola, alongside the End-of-Year Symposium Committee, paid a courtesy visit to Mr. Sam Amuka-Pemu, publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, at his Lagos residence on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.
The visit aimed to brief Mr. Amuka-Pemu on PJAN’s annual symposium, scheduled for December 12, 2025, in Lagos, and to honour him for his outstanding contributions to photojournalism in Nigeria.
Fondly known as “Uncle Sam,” the veteran publisher welcomed the delegation and shared valuable insights on the media industry. PJAN Secretary Mayor Kazeem Bakenne introduced the visiting team and highlighted Mr. Amuka-Pemu’s achievements in journalism and his enduring passion for photojournalism.
Chairman of the Symposium Committee, Mr. Bode Agbede, explained that the association had initially planned to honour Mr. Amuka-Pemu during the 2025 World Photography Day celebration but postponed the event due to his prior commitments and the event’s location. He also invited the publisher to share his experiences at the symposium, to which Mr. Amuka-Pemu responded: “News is incomplete without photography. PJAN, Lens is power.”
The publisher graciously accepted the invitation and pledged to attend the event.
Princess Alaba Igbaroola commended Mr. Amuka-Pemu’s dedication to photography, particularly his effective use of photographs in Vanguard publications. She also acknowledged him as a key employer of photojournalists within his publishing firm.
The visit concluded with a group photograph and individual portraits with the celebrated publisher. Also in attendance were Mr. Sunday Adedeji, Senior Photo Editor at Tell Magazine, and Comrade Leke Adebanjo, PJAN Financial Secretary.
