ADVENT OF NIGERIAN NEWSPAPERS: NNAMDI AZIKIWE FOUNDER OF THE WEST AFRICAN PILOT

The story of Nigerian newspapers cannot be told without situating it within the ferment of anti-colonial resistance, elite awakening and the struggle to redefine the African image in the early twentieth century. While earlier publications such as Iwe Irohin (1859) and the Lagos Weekly Record laid foundations for indigenous press activism, the nationalist press reached a new ideological intensity in the hands of Nnamdi Azikiwe popularly known as Zik. His newspaper, the West African Pilot, transformed journalism from cautious commentary into a weapon of political mobilisation.

 

Establishment of the West African Pilot

The West African Pilot was established on 22 November 1937 in Lagos not 1973 as is sometimes mistakenly stated. The year 1937 is historically significant because it marked a period when nationalist sentiments were rising but lacked a coordinated media voice. Azikiwe had returned from the United States, where he studied at institutions such as Howard University and Lincoln University. Exposure to Pan-Africanist thought and racial discrimination abroad sharpened his resolve to confront colonial injustice through the press.

The colonial press environment was dominated by conservative elites who were often cautious in challenging British authority. Zik envisioned a mass-oriented newspaper that would speak directly to clerks, traders, artisans and students the emerging urban class. 

He was determined to fight colonalism through the muzzle of journalism. The West African Pilot was the medium he used to register his misgivings against colonialism as well as rediscover the lost consciousness of the African personality in the grip of colonial powers. 

According to Fred Omu, “in November, 1937 Nnamdi Azikwe started the West African Pilot, which immediately became the major forum of the increased nationalist consciousness which had been awaiting a potent outlet and stimulus.

The Weekly Record had died in 1930, the Daily News had ceased to attract serious attention by 1934 and the mid-30s; therefore, no newspaper existed to crystallise and channelise the-growing nationalist influences of the late inter-war years.

The West African Pilot stepped into the void and with Azikwe’s admission to membership of the Nigerian Youth Movement and his election to the Central Executive Committee of the Movement, a new era of politics and nationalism was born. Azikwe as an admirer of Thomas H. Jackson brought into Nigeria a new idealism, of nationalism as well as new techniques of political and journalistic propaganda learned during his training and experience in the United States. His initial platform was the African Morning Post, which he edited in Accra for two and half years until he resigned on 1st April, 1937, a week after the West African Court of Appeal allowed his appeal against the judgment of the Supreme Court, which the previous year had convicted him for sedition.

His influence developed in Lagos with the incorporation of the Zik Press Limited on 5th August and the launching of the Pilot on 12 November. The opening address entitled “The Curtain Rises” described the editorship as “sentinels of popular liberty and guardians of civilisation” whose supreme task was to make assertions in unequivocal terms.

The Pilot’s motto, “Show the light and the people will find the way,” captured this mission. In relatable terms, the newspaper functioned like a megaphone in a crowded colonial marketplace amplifying voices that had long been muted under imperial rule.

Editorial Policy of the West African Pilot

The editorial policy of the West African Pilot was unapologetically nationalist, anti-colonial and populist. Unlike earlier newspapers that relied on elite diplomacy, Zik’s style was confrontational and emotionally resonant. The paper promoted African dignity, criticised racial discrimination, and demanded constitutional reforms.

It adopted investigative and advocacy journalism techniques that were unusual for the time. For example, it criticised the discriminatory policies of the colonial civil service and exposed economic inequalities. Its tone was persuasive rather than deferential. In many ways, it redefined the press from a colonial bulletin board into a political classroom. Readers did not merely consume news; they were educated about rights, representation and self-determination.

West African Pilot and Its Contributions

The West African Pilot contributed significantly to the growth of nationalist politics in Nigeria. It provided publicity and ideological support for the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC), co-founded by Azikiwe in 1944 alongside Herbert Macaulay. Through editorials and opinion columns, the paper articulated the grievances of Nigerians regarding taxation, labour rights and constitutional marginalisation.

The Pilot also revolutionised newspaper circulation strategies. It established a chain of newspapers, including the Eastern Nigerian Guardian and the Southern Nigerian Defender, forming what became known as the Zik Group of Newspapers. 

The advent of newspaper chains:

At the time Zik launched himself into the newspaper venture, there was no trace of chain in existence, Zik’s arrival in journalism scene brought a new dimension into the profession as he introduced “Newspaper Chains” in Nigeria. Zik’s Group of Newspapers Nigerian Limited had the Pilot as the flag bearer, the Eastern Nigerian

Guardian (1940) published in Port Harcourt, Nigerian Spokesman (1943) published in Onitsha, Southern Nigerian Defender (1943) first launched in Warri and later transferred to Ibadan; The Daily Comet (1949); The Northern Advocate published in Jos and the Sentinel published in Enugu.

This expansion created one of the earliest media conglomerates in West Africa, increasing regional political integration.

Importantly, the paper nurtured journalistic talent and introduced modern newsroom practices. It helped transform journalism into a respected profession and inspired subsequent generations of reporters.

West African Pilot Awakening Political Consciousness

Perhaps the most enduring legacy of the West African Pilot was its role in awakening political consciousness. During the 1940s general strikes and constitutional debates (such as the Richards Constitution of 1946), the newspaper served as a rallying platform for public discourse.

Zik (supported by Zik’s Group) embarked on publishing and employing the newspaper chain at his disposal to propagate his political ideals and beliefs. Though the papers were independent administratively, they often closed ranks on controversial issues and took the same stand with the Pilot. In this way, the Zik’s family had their influence felt nationwide. 

Another important feature of the Pilot was that it made use of foreign press association starting from 1945. It consequently became the first post war newspaper to make use of the wire services provided by Reuters. This important foresight has turned out to be a common feature with the present day newspaper houses that rely heavily on international wire service for their foreign news. 

The paper simplified constitutional issues for ordinary Nigerians. For instance, rather than merely reporting on legislative reforms, it explained how these changes affected representation in local councils and access to economic opportunities. In effect, the newspaper translated abstract constitutional jargon into everyday language. This approach demystified governance and encouraged mass participation in politics.

The colonial government frequently clashed with nationalist newspapers, occasionally prosecuting editors for sedition. Such confrontations paradoxically strengthened public support for the press, reinforcing the idea that newspapers were guardians of public interest.

West African Pilot Features of General Interest

Beyond politics, the West African Pilot carried features that broadened its appeal. The Pilot became the first newspaper in Nigeria to introduce columns of general interest. It published human-interest stories, sports updates, women’s pages, literary pieces and entertainment columns. These features ensured that the newspaper was not read only by political elites but by families and young readers as well.

Cartoons and opinion essays were particularly influential. Satirical illustrations critiqued colonial officials in subtle but powerful ways, making political commentary accessible even to semi-literate audiences. In this sense, the newspaper blended activism with entertainment which is a model that contemporary digital media platforms still emulate.

These columns were meant to lighten the heavy burden imposed on people by politics of the day.

Introduction of banner headlines: The paper adopted use of banner headlines across the entire pages especially the lead story at the front and “back pages. It also introduced headlines with a verb, for example, “Zik goes to Court.” There were other innovations like proper newspaper planning, pictorial or photojournalism and other forms of illustrations that metamorphosed into today’s precision journalism. Purely indigenous newspapers: Pilot is the first newspaper in the country to be run entirely by Nigerians contrary to its predecessors, which were run wholly or partially by foreigners.

Pilot and its founder were by all standards devoid of any foreign interest and influence. 

CONCLUSION

The West African Pilot inculcated in the people the virtues of reading and seeking knowledge through the addition of local, news columns.

The objective of the publisher was achieved through wider circulation strategies. This may explain why the paper though it has long disappeared from newsstand has remained indelible in the minds of those who read it. 

In conclusion, the birth of Nigerian newspapers especially through Zik’s West African Pilot marked a decisive shift from missionary journalism to militant nationalism. The paper was more than ink on paper; it was a catalyst for identity formation, political education and collective resistance. Its legacy persists in Nigeria’s vibrant, though often contested, press culture today.