A celebration of words, visuals, and an enduring journalistic legacy kicks off today, December 16, 2025, as the inaugural Uncle Sam Amuka (USA) Art Exhibition opens at Alexis Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos.

At the heart of the exhibition is Professor Dele Jegede, the acclaimed Nigerian-American painter, art historian, cartoonist, curator, and teacher, who pays tribute to the nonagenarian journalist, satirist, and newspaper publisher Sam Amuka—fondly known as “Uncle Sam.”

The exhibition’s title, USA, is an acronym for Uncle Sam Amuka, and as Prof. Jegede notes, it has nothing to do with the United States. “Through sheer serendipity, it became a fitting moniker for Uncle Sam Amuka, the Grand Patron of this exhibition,” he said.

A Rare Breed of Nonagenarians

Prof. Jegede celebrates Amuka as part of a distinguished group of Nigerian nonagenarians known for moral probity, discipline, and purposeful living, alongside luminaries like Tai Solarin, Aminu Kano, and Wole Soyinka.

“Sam Amuka, co-founder of The Punch and founder of Vanguard, is the youngest 90-year-old inductee into this club of preeminence,” Jegede stated, describing him as “hip, avuncular, and companionable” and officially a living legend.

Championing Cartooning in Nigerian Media

While Amuka’s achievements as a journalist and businessman are widely celebrated, Prof. Jegede highlights his pivotal role in fostering cartooning in Nigeria.

“When Amuka co-founded The Punch in 1973, his interest in cartoons transformed the landscape of Nigerian press graphics,” he said. Under his patronage, cartoonists like Kenny Adamson, Tayo Fatunla, Dotun Gboyega, and others flourished, establishing newspapers as hubs of creativity. By the time Vanguard was founded in 1984, cartooning desks became a staple, with the “Vanguard school of cartoonists” continuing to thrive today.

Dada Adekola, Cartoon Editor at Vanguard, affirms that Amuka’s guidance shaped the careers of generations of cartoonists. “Uncle Sam influenced the department directly, rewarding outstanding work and shaping standards,” he said.

Professor Dele Jegede: The Celestial Aesthetics

Prof. Jegede, a powerhouse of creativity, has a career spanning continents as a painter, art historian, and curator. Among the highlights of the USA Exhibition is his “Celestial Aesthetic Series 2”, a spiritual and evocative work created as a cathartic response to the loss of his son 14 years ago.

“For some inexplicable reason, I gravitated toward windows. When I returned to the studio, the series poured out looking to the heavens,” he wrote.

Curated by Dr. Osa Mbonu-Amadi, the exhibition celebrates the intersection of literature, art, and performance, honoring Uncle Sam Amuka as a Godfather of progressive journalism and a renaissance figure in Nigerian arts.