President Bola Tinubu on Thursday conferred the national honour of CON on Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, a legendary Nigerian journalist and publisher of international repute.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports President Tinubu conferred the CON national honour on Uncle Sam and other heroes of democracy during his address at the joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day 2025.
“I confer the national honour of CON on Uncle Sam Amuka Pemu, a legendary journalist and publisher who remains true to his lifetime calling as he marks his 90th birthday tomorrow, June 13,” Tinubu declared.
Uncle Sam, the oldest practising media professional in Nigeria today, was a Daily Times of Nigeria editor and the first editor of the Sunday Punch before he established The Punch with his friend, the late Olu Aboderin, in 1971.
He later established Vanguard Newspaper in 1983 with three other Nigerian columnists.
He was born born 13 June 1935 into the family of the late Pa Amuka-Pemu and Madam Teshoma Amuka-Pemu in Sapele, Sapele local government area of Delta State.
90 years of Uncle Sam remain indelible – Buhari
Meanwhile, former President Muhammadu Buhari has joined family, friends and the nation in celebrating the 90th birthday of Uncle Sam.
This is contained in a statement by Buhari’s spokesperson, Malam Garba Shehu, on Thursday in Abuja.
Buhari said that those years of Uncle Sam would be written in gold in the annals of the nation’s history.
Pemu, popularly refered to as Uncle Sam, is a journalist, columnist and publisher of Vanguard newspapers and co-founder of the Punch.
The former president said he had a beautiful relationship with the journalist and publisher.
“He had used his years in the media to spread light. I owe a deep debt to him.
“They call him ‘Sad Sam,’ from the name of his column, but the distinctive style of his communication was spreading light.
“Not only did one get information from reading him but also vision, which is very valuable.”
The former president said Uncle Sam used his pen as broom for cleaning up the rot in society, adding that this was unparalleled.
“By continuing to awaken the government and society, the Vanguard newspapers, which he founded, continue to be in the forefront of service to the nation.
“I wish him many more years in good health and happiness, and continued service to his profession and the nation.”