Citation on The Guardian's Publisher as he received the THISDAY Lifetime Achievement Award
(http://ngrguardiannews.com/images/resized/images/stories/2011/march2011/alex-ibru_news_28-3-11_200_160.jpg) ALEXANDER Uruemu Ibru, known simply as Alex Ibru, is the publisher of Nigeria's leading newspaper, The Guardian. The arrival of The Guardian on the newsstands in 1983 changed the character of newspaper publishing in Nigeria with its insistence on conscience and truth as pillars of the trade as well as its emphasis on greater intellectualism in newspaper reporting and analysis. The Guardian soon established itself as the inspiration of an emergent tradition in Nigerian journalism: A tradition of robust activism and creativity. The newspaper's continued success is an affirmation of Mr. Ibru's vision and commitment.
Before The Guardian, Alex Ibru was a businessman with investments in the automobile, construction and hospitality sectors; he decided to set up a newspaper out of a resolve to give back to society.
"From 1978," he says, "I started asking God, what am I going to do with all I have been blessed with? What is the purpose of my contentment?"
It is not through The Guardian alone, established with a resolve to empower the poor, the defenceless and the voiceless in society, that Mr. Ibru has since given back to society: He is in addition, Chairman of Trinity Foundation, a philanthropic organisation which provides support for the poor, and founder of the IBRU Centre which supports the Christian Anglican denomination and Ecumenical studies.
Born on March 1, 1945, Alex Ibru attended Yaba Methodist Primary School (1951 – 1957), Ibadan Grammar School (1958 –1960), Igbobi Grammar School (1960 – 1963), and the University of Trent (formerly Trent Polytechnic) (1967-1970), where he studied Business Economics.
Alex Ibru is a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Club International, a former member of Nigeria's Provisional Ruling Council, and former Minister of Internal Affairs (1993 – 1995), in which capacity he introduced far-reaching reforms in the management of Nigeria's prison and immigration services. He is a recipient of D. Litt (honoris causa) of the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. He plays squash and enjoys travelling.
For his commitment to and faith in the Nigerian project, his philanthropy, his contributions to the development of the mass media, his outstanding entrepreneurship, and his life-long commitment to the values of service and industry, Mr. Alex Ibru is being honoured.
Source: The man Alex Uruemu Ibru (http://ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=43000:the-man-alex-uruemu-ibru&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)