In 2007, back when I was at the Federal Road Safety Commission, my driver had a standing weekly task: head to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport and collect a copy of the Financial Times of London. British Airways would leave fresh copies at their Abuja lounge, and my staff—thanks to kind-hearted lounge attendants—always secured one for me.
My wife often joked about my “news addiction”—FT and The New York Times were my daily companions. The McKinsey Quarterly also arrived faithfully by post to my FRSC office. These publications were more than news for me; they were portals—fuel for my restless imagination. Many of the reforms and innovations we implemented at the FRSC were seeded in those pages.
Today, the habit continues. I now subscribe digitally to FT, NYT, and the (still free) McKinsey Quarterly, along with a suite of newsletters from McKinsey. In my view, McKinsey’s newsletters are the best-kept secret in the world of ideas. Try them—you’ll see what I mean.
But old habits die hard.
As Chidinma and I were heading to board a flight today, she pointed at a newsstand. There they were: FT and NYT in print. Without hesitation, I rushed over like an addict spotting a fix. Yes, I already have them on my phone—but nothing beats the feel of print.
She laughed, shook her head, and snapped this photo. Guilty as charged.
I am proudly Gen X. We grew up on Pacesetters, James Hadley Chase, and comics—all in hard copy. And sometimes, the rustle of paper and the ink on your fingers is more than nostalgia. It’s home.
Osita Chidoka
5 June 2025
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