International Journal of International Relations, Media and Mass Communication Studies Vol.8, No.1, pp.1-19, 2021 Print ISSN: 2059-1845 (Print) Online ISSN: 2059-185 (Online 1 @ECRTD-UK: https://www.eajournals.org/ Journal level DOI: //doi.org/10.37745/ijirmmcs.15 HISTORICAL APPRAISAL OF CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO AND DR NNAMDI AZIKIWE’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO NIGERIA’S JOURNALISM Andrew Asan Ate (Ph.D) Department of Mass Communication,Edo University, Iyamho,Edo State, Nigeria. Joseph Omoh Ikerodah Department of Mass Communication,,Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria. Citation: Andrew Asan Ate and Joseph Omoh Ikerodah (2022) Historical Appraisal of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s Contributions to Nigeria’s Journalism, International Journal of International Relations, Media and Mass Communication Studies, Vol.8, No.1, pp.1-19 ABSTRACT: Founding fathers of the Nigerian press have made tremendous contributions to journalism practice in the country. This paper takes a look at the contributions of two towering founding fathers of the Nigerian press- Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, from historical research perspective, digging into archival materials from media historians and evidences from the duo major publications: Nigerian Tribune and The West African Pilot respectively. The work which is anchored on the gatekeeping concept of the media has put in proper perspective the contributions of two media icons of the mid-twentieth century Nigeria’s journalism for academic and professional scrutiny. Lessons from the professional ups and downs of the probed veteran journalists and their relationship with their audience will, in no small measure, justify the social relevance of the discourse. The study recommends among other things that journalism institutions in the country should identify and teach contributions of the founding fathers of the Nigerian press to enable young journalists have a solid foundation in their profession. The study also recommends among other things that modern day journalists in Nigeria should sustain the fire brand journalism practice of the duo which appears to have gone into extinction. KEYWORDS: Nigerian press, journalism, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Newspapers INTRODUCTION It is completely and absolutely impossible to discuss in historical terms, the Nigerian press, without laying a foundation of the African experience. Akalugo (2001, p.1) noted that “the emergence of printed word in Africa is closely associated with the coming of the whiteman to the continent.” The Portuguese, the Spaniards, the Belgians, the English, the Dutch, the French and the Germans all rushed to Africa for economic, political and religious interests.Sierra Leone, Gold Coast among other countries played critical roles in the birth of West African Press. A renowned media historian, Jones-Quartey traced the history of West African press back to what he described as the “very beginning of the 19 th Century, the history of what we call the Anglo-African press.”