I prolong my warmest congratulations to Mr Oyinlade “Ladbone” Bonuola, veteran journalist, distinguished editor, and former Managing Director of The Guardian Newspaper, on his eightieth birthday.
This milestone birthday reminds us of your enduring contributions to journalism, your skilled excellence, and your dedication to creating Nigeria’s media trade.
Recognised by media friends and mentees as a craftsman par excellence, Bonuola started his profession on the Daily Times in February 1971 as a trainee sub-editor, rose by way of the ranks, and joined The Guardian in 1982 as pioneer editor, later serving as Managing Director until 1999. He later co-founded the defunct Comet newspaper, the place he served as Managing Director. He additionally served as Managing Director of Nigerian Compass.
At 80, you stand tall as one in all Nigeria’s most revered figures in journalism, a person whose skilled excellence, editorial braveness, integrity, and dedication to the reality have left an everlasting imprint on the nation’s media panorama.
As one of many twentieth century’s distinctive editors, your contributions to Nigerian journalism stay indelible. Through a long time of devoted service, you helped form the language of media reporting, uphold accountable journalism, and strengthen the media’s position as an important pillar of democracy and a keeper of factual information. Your dedication to accuracy, equity, integrity, and public accountability is a price that continues to be integral to the media’s accountability to tell residents, maintain public establishments accountable, and strengthen democracy.
At the Daily Times, your weekly column, Caught Out, was a must-read for practising journalists, college students and the general public at massive.
As former Managing Director of The Guardian and co-founder of The Comet, which later turned The Nation newspaper, you demonstrated distinctive management, mental depth, and a eager understanding of the press’s energy to construct a simply, knowledgeable, and progressive society.
Your profession displays a profound perception that journalism should serve the general public curiosity, maintain leaders accountable, and provides residents the data they should make knowledgeable choices. Your affect extends past the newsrooms you led.
As we have fun this outstanding milestone with you, I acknowledge your legacy of professionalism, mentorship and repair to our nation. We have fun your invaluable contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Your life and profession remind us that journalism’s enduring worth lies not merely in reporting occasions however in shaping concepts, nurturing knowledgeable residents, and preserving the reality for future generations.
On behalf of my household, the Government, and the folks of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I want you a cheerful eightieth birthday and plenty of extra years of fine well being, peace, fulfilment, and continued service to our pricey nation.
May your outstanding legacy proceed to encourage generations of journalists and media practitioners.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces
Federal Republic of Nigeria
October 25, 2026
