Like most Corporate Organisations, TELL Communications Limited, which today is one of Nigeria's leading publishing companies, had a humble beginning. Though the company was incorporated in 1989, its first edition, TELL weekly magazine, arrived the newsstands on April 8, 1991. The coming of TELL into the Nigerian news business market marked a new dawn in journalism practice in the country. Since then, the company has not looked back.

TELL magazine changed the face of investigative journalism in Nigeria. Its founding editors at inception set some cardinal principles for themselves, key amongst which was that they will tell their stories exactly as it is, and ensure balanced reporting by giving opportunity to all those involved to also state their side of any story. More importantly they pledged to uphold the rights of the citizen and uphold the rule of law by crusading for equity, justice and fairness. These are no mean assignments. No sooner had all these lofty ideals been set, than the magazine and its editors found themselves in the trenches, fighting the military dictatorship of General Ibrahim Babangida until a coalition of groups forced him to step aside on 27 August, 1993. The “war” against the military continued under another despot General Sani Abacha, who took over the reigns of government from the unelected Interim National Government, ING, of Chief Ernest Shonekan. Those were indeed dark days in the life of the company.

TELL magazine changed the face of investigative journalism in Nigeria. Its founding editors at inception set some cardinal principles for themselves, key amongst which was that they will tell their stories exactly as it is, and ensure balanced reporting by giving opportunity to all those involved to also state their side of any story. More importantly they pledged to uphold the rights of the citizen and uphold the rule of law by crusading for equity, justice and fairness. These are no mean assignments. No sooner had all these lofty ideals been set, than the magazine and its editors found themselves in the trenches, fighting the military dictatorship of General Ibrahim Babangida until a coalition of groups forced him to step aside on 27 August, 1993. The “war” against the military continued under another despot General Sani Abacha, who took over the reigns of government from the unelected Interim National Government, ING, of Chief Ernest Shonekan. Those were indeed dark days in the life of the company.

It is on this pedestal that TELL Communications Limited built a reputation for itself (as it's now dubbed the people's parliament) and its products. TELL has become Nigeria's largest, independent weekly newsmagazine. It is this same doggedness, integrity, and the upholding of the ethics of the profession and good business practices (good corporate governance policy) that established the TELL brand. The magazine fought on the side of the people and the people were quite appreciative of its efforts and the price that the editors and the management of the company had to pay. This was highly rewarded by a grateful citizenry with the magazine recording unprecedented volumes in sales. What later came to be known as guerilla journalism or underground publishing.

The magazine fought on the side of the people and the people were quite appreciative of its efforts and the price that the editors and the management of the company had to pay. This was highly rewarded by a grateful citizenry with the magazine recording unprecedented volumes in sales.
It is on this pedestal that TELL Communications Limited built a reputation for itself (as it's now dubbed the people's parliament) and its products. TELL has become Nigeria's largest, independent weekly newsmagazine. It is this same doggedness, integrity, and the upholding of the ethics of the profession and good business practices (good corporate governance policy) that established the TELL brand.