Punch Newspaper: Founders, Leadership, Location, and Legacy

Who Is the Founder of Punch Newspaper?

The Punch Newspaper was founded by two pioneering journalists: James Olubunmi “Olu” Aboderin and Sam Amuka-Pemu. Their collaboration dates back to August 1970, when they established the newspaper with the mission to “inform, educate and entertain” Nigerians

Olu Aboderin, a trained accountant who had worked as Chief Accountant at the National Bank of Nigeria, partnered with journalist Sam Amuka-Pemu to launch the Punch. While Amuka-Pemu had editorial experience at the Daily Times and later founded Vanguard newspaper, Aboderin brought financial acumen and operational vision to the venture 1.

Their joint effort saw the newspaper’s launch and its eventual expansion into the Sunday Punch (1973) and the Daily Punch (1976).

Who Is the New CEO of Punch News?

Information about a “new CEO of Punch News” in the mainstream news context is not clearly documented. However, in terms of digital and foundational leadership at Punch Media Foundation a nonprofit arm associated with Punch the Chief Executive Officer is Adeyeye Joseph, who heads that foundation’s operations

For the main newspaper entity (Punch Nigeria Limited), publicly available records do not show a recent change in the CEO title. The operational roles may differ between the commercial newspaper entity and the Media Foundation. As such, “new CEO” likely refers to the foundation’s CEO, Adeyeye Joseph, though further updates would require direct official confirmation from Punch Nigeria’s corporate announcements.

Where Is Punch Newspaper Located?

Punch Newspaper’s headquarters moved in October 2009 to a permanent location at Kilometer 14 on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, in Magboro, Ogun State, Nigeria 4.

Additionally, another source lists an address in Lagos: “1, Olu Aboderin Street, Onipetesi, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria,” which serves as another prominent contact location for Punch Nigeria.

Therefore, Punch in Nigeria operates from a significant facility on Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State, while maintaining corporate or advertising offices in Lagos.

Who Is the Current Editor of Punch?

The current leadership of editorial operations for both print and digital is led by Adeyeye Joseph, who was appointed as Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Punch Nigeria Limited.

Separately, on the digital side, Obafemi Obadare serves as the Chairman of Punch’s Editorial Board as of May 2024. He leads editorial governance and contributes to shaping Punch’s editorial direction across platforms .

Who Is the CEO of Punch Pubs?

“Punch Pubs” refers not to the newspaper, but to a UK-based pub company named Punch Pubs & Co. As of late 2024, Andy Spencer is the Chief Executive Officer of Punch Pubs & Co.—succeeding Clive Chesser in September 2024

Andy Spencer was previously the company’s Chief Operating Officer and took over to lead the pub chain, entirely separate from Punch Newspaper’s operations.

Who Is Olu Aboderin?

Olu Aboderin (James Olubunmi Aboderin; 1934–1984) was a Nigerian accountant-turned-newspaper publisher and co-founder of Punch Newspaper. Born in Ibadan, he studied in London and returned to Nigeria as Chief Accountant of the National Bank.

In 1976, he and Sam Amuka-Pemu launched the Daily Punch, which later expanded the brand. Aboderin also served as president of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria prior to his death in 1984 

His leadership and vision helped establish Punch as a pillar of the Nigerian media landscape. He was known for bringing professional structure and business thinking to newspaper publishing in Nigeria a legacy that continues to shape the Punch brand today

Summary Table

The Punch Newspaper has a rich history rooted in the collaboration of two visionaries—Olu Aboderin and Sam Amuka-Pemu. Today, its operations are overseen by seasoned media executives such as Adeyeye Joseph (as Managing Director / Editor-in-Chief and CEO of the Foundation), with editorial direction supported by Obafemi Obadare. Its headquarters sits strategically along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, while its legacy continues to be celebrated across Nigeria. In contrast, Punch Pubs is a wholly separate UK entity, led by Andy Spencer. Understanding these distinctions clarifies the company’s leadership and broad influence in media and beyond.