Ben Ameh: My tribute to a friend, mentor, defender

By Rev. Dr. Stanley Ihedigbo

The news of the death of Mr. Benjamin Ameh is one I am still struggling to believe. When I heard that Ben was sick, I immediately made efforts to reach him, but unfortunately, I could not get through to him.

Then, yesterday afternoon, while I was attending the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON) Mid-Year Conference, I received a call from his son, David. He told me that his father had passed away.

I was stunned. How could Ben be gone?
Ben was not just a colleague. He was my friend, mentor, defender and one of those rare journalists who believed strongly in standing for what was right.

I remember that Ben once told me that he wanted my graphic artist to design his newspaper for him. He admired the design of The Mirror Newspaper and wanted something equally professional and outstanding for his publication. I was happy to assist and even arranged for my graphic designer to work with him.

At the time, I knew he was seriously ill, but I never imagined that the illness would take him away so soon. It is painful to think that the great man who was still making plans and thinking about the future is no longer here with us.

A friend who stood by me

I have a particularly strong reason to mourn Ben because of what he did for me during one of the most difficult periods of my life.
During my tenure as National Chairman of the Nigerian Association of Agricultural Journalists (NAAJ), some members, including some members of my executive, accused me of meeting with some senators to collect millions of naira.

The allegations were painful and devastating.
I was the founding National Chairman of the association, and I had personally invited some of the people who later turned against me to join the organisation.

Suddenly, I found myself being accused of using the association for personal gain.
It was one of the worst periods of my life.
But Ben Ameh stood by me. I remember seeing him confront and challenge those who wanted to destroy my name. He was not afraid to speak up. He defended me when it was not convenient to do so.

For that, I will forever be grateful to him.
By the grace of God, I served the association for five years, and I remain proud of my record in office. Interestingly, some members, at different times, called on me to return as National Chairman. I declined because I believe that after serving, others should also be allowed to serve. Ben understood that principle.

A fearless journalist

Ben Ameh was one of those journalists who would not keep quiet when he believed that an association leader or any other person in authority was doing the wrong thing.
He was fearless.

He could confront anybody, regardless of position, when he believed that the truth needed to be spoken. That courage sometimes came at a cost, but Ben remained consistent.

He was not the kind of journalist who followed the crowd simply because it was convenient. He had his convictions, and he stood by them.

He saw the future of online journalism

Another remarkable quality of Ben was his vision. At a time when many journalists and media stakeholders were still uncertain about the future of online journalism, Ben saw what was coming. He left his former position in a state-owned newspaper and established Ameh News.

At the beginning, some journalists laughed at him. Some stakeholders mocked the idea, while others refused to take him seriously.
But Ben persevered.

Eventually, Ameh News became a respected platform, with advertisements and sponsored publications coming in regularly. His courage, doggedness and consistency inspired many of us who later ventured seriously into online journalism.

Today, online media has become an important part of the journalism industry, and I cannot discuss my own journey into online publishing without acknowledging the role people like Ben Ameh played in encouraging us.

Ben was a pioneer in his own way. He saw tomorrow while many were still looking at yesterday. A painful goodbye.

Ben Ameh has left behind a legacy of courage, friendship, service and commitment to journalism.

For me, his death is not just the loss of a colleague. It is the loss of a friend who defended me when I needed someone to speak for me, a mentor who encouraged others to embrace the future of journalism, and a fearless journalist who was never afraid to challenge wrongdoing.

I will miss his voice. I will miss his courage.
I will miss his friendship. Most importantly, I will always remember the way he stood for me when standing with me was not easy.

Ben, you have fought a good fight in your own way. You have left your footprints on the sands of journalism, and those of us who knew you will continue to remember you.

My heartfelt condolences go to his son, David, his immediate family, relatives, friends, colleagues and the entire journalism community.

May the good Lord strengthen the family he has left behind and grant them the grace to bear this painful loss. May your soul rest in perfect peace, my dear friend, mentor and defender, Mr. Benjamin Ameh.

Adieu, Ben.

Ihedigbo, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, The Mirror Newspaper