Human rights activist and Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and a scholar, Prof Ayo Olukotun, will speak on indigenous culture and the Nigerian child at a book presentation and symposium titled: Tolu’s October 1st Birthday at NECA House, CBD, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos today.
Falana, who will chair the event, will, with the Special Guest of Honour, Prof Olukotun, give in-depth exposition on dearth of culture among children is affecting raising great children and a great nation. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Compact Communications, Mr. Chuddy Oduenyi, will be the book presenter at the epoch making day, while the Acting Editor, Saturday Independent Newspaper, Mr. Yemi Adebisi, an award winning culture writer and author, is the Book Reviewer among other dignitaries.
Author of ‘Tolu’s October 1st Birthday, Grace Modupe Oluwa Edema, a journalist, creative writer and public relations expert, said she was motivated to write the book by the norms of culture, described as a staple of the society from which knowledge, art, moral, law, customs and other capabilities and habits are acquired and developed by children who are the future leaders.
She said the book also encourages parents, teachers, guardians and governments to imbibe indigenous culture in Nigerian youths, through their actions and inactions, for greatness of children and the nation.
“The book is words carefully woven together for the purpose of raising great children. It tells how children can inculcate indigenous culture in selves and celebrate Nigerian cultures by showcasing our native dresses, foods and drinks of different tribes in the country. Nigerian culture is great,” she said.
Former Secretary to Lagos State Government (SSG), Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, has received accolades for his selfless leadership, mentoring and putting Nigeria above other considerations.
Basorun turned 80 this week.
The commendations came yesterday in Lagos at the public presentation of his biography, titled: Paramole O K’oro Iwosi, written by the General Manager, Manpower, Development and Training of Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation titles, Mr. Soji Omotunde.
The chairman of the occasion, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, who was represented by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, said Basorun put public interest above personal gains.
He said the politician’s contribution to nation-building will remain evergreen, while his admirers would benefit from his exemplary life.
According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain has not changed from the credibility he is known for.
Durojaiye said: “This is a man who I have known for a very long time and who I consider to be deserving of all the encomiums poured on him. Our path crossed in the 1790s when he worked as an Assistant Director at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“Immediately he saw me as a Nigerian who valued service to the nation far above any pecuniary interest, we stuck together. Severally, he had to travel to the far end of the country at very short notices.
“He did this without grumbling or complaint. Never minding there was little connectivity via bus, this means he had to connect where he was heading via routes that put him at risk.
“On one of such occasions, he was mandated to take a trip to Yola. On his way back, due to the bad weather, his plane was forced to crash-land at Kaduna. Thankfully, they all came out unhurt.
“He ensured the reports of the trip reached the office at the end of the day. I am glad to confirm to you that the same Basorun is still the same person who offered quality service above personal interest.”
Ashafa, who was the book launcher, said the celebrant had become synonymous with hard work, service, integrity and fairness.
The Lagos senator noted that Basorun propelled great things in the country.
He said: “Considering his path as a lawyer, banker and Second Republic SSG in the civilian administration of Lagos State, his wealth of experience will continue to be of immense value.
“On this note, I must thank him for taking the pain to document his journey in the service of humanity and God so far in life. His wisdom and direction were very key in stabilising the Lagos East Senatorial District.”
Omotunde said the book would assist those who want to understand the path the politician took to arrive at the exploit he made.
He added: “The book marks a new milestone in the life of this leader. The fact is that God has a purpose for him. That is why He kept him alive at 80. We should give thanks to God for him.
“In writing the book, you have to understand the man very well: his journey, battles and triumphs. That is to say you must study, read about the man. In doing that, I have learnt a lot about the journey of life.”
The CSS Bookshops Ltd, in collaboration with Soluas Associates, is to organise a public presentation of a book titled: ‘Revolution of Accountancy Profession in Nigeria: History of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)’, by Olumuyiwa Sosanya.
The event will hold on Thursday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, from 11am.
The book will be reviewed by Mr. Segun Ayobolu, a respected columnist and member, Editorial Board of The Nation.
A statement by the organisers said Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to deliver a keynote address, adding that the chief host is Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (retd), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the chairman and the special guest of honour is Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd).
The organisers said the Minister of State for Planning and Development, Benin Republic, Abdoulaye Bio Tchane, is the guest speaker. The royal father of the day is Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi Lamido, among other traditional rulers, friends and associates of the author.
The Nation learnt that the co-chief launchers include Chairman/CEO, Oriental Energy Resources, Dr. Muhammadu Indimi, President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mrs. Folorunso Alakija and Chairman of Globalcom, Chief Mike Adenuga.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu are expected today at the International Conference Centre, Abuja for the launch of a book on banking reform in Nigeria.
The book “Banking Reform in Nigeria – The Laws, The Prospects and The Challenges’ was written by Hon. Bode Ayorinde, lawyer, chartered banker and member of House of Representatives.
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is the Special Guest of Honour.
IT was banters and reminisces all the way as former military Head of General Yakubu Gowon, former President Olusegun Obasanjo and a former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali, relived old times at certain points in their military carriers.
The occasion was the launch of Ali’s biography, “Many Colours Of A Rainbow”, at the Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja yesterday.
Obasanjo was the chairman of the occasion and Gowon was father of the day.
As chairman of the occasion, Obasanjo was listed to deliver the welcome address. Typical of him, he did not come with a prepared speech. He mounted the podium and cleared his throat in his characteristic manner.
Expectedly, reporters that came to cover the event immediately adjusted their sitting positions. Some were ready with their tape recorders while others had their writing materials in the ready.
Their ears stood erect like a rabbit’s as they waited with bated breath for the usual “bombshell” from the old soldier-politician cum farmer. The news hounds were sure that Obasanjo was going to “vibrate”.
Protocols over, the reporters had already set their tape recorders rolling. The old man cleared his throat once again.
“When we were discussing earlier, Ahmadu (Ali) said Gen. Gowon is older than him but that he (Ali) claimed to be older than me. Then I asked Gen. Gowon if his date of birth was recorded and he said his late father wrote it down and kept it in his Bible.
“I asked Ahmadu if his own date of birth was recorded and he also said his father kept the record. And I told them that’s why they could talk like that. My own date of birth was recorded in my mother’s memory.”
And the entire hall roared in laughter for a while.
•From left: Ali, Obasanjo, Ali’s wife Mariam, Gowon and former Deputy Governor Plateau State, Mrs. Pallen Tallen…yesterday. PHOTO: Femi Ojo
Then Obasanjo cleared his throat once more and said: “When I was in primary school, my teacher sent me home from school to get my date of birth. On getting home, I asked my mother for my date of birth and she shouted at me that I was being stupid.”
Obasanjo quoted his mother as saying: “I gave birth to you on Ifo Market Day. I had prepared to go to the market with other women on that day but I fell into labour at dawn. So, I could not go the market. The other women went to the market and came back only to find that I had given birth to you. So, go and tell your teacher that you were born on Ifo Market Day”. The hall erupted in another bout of prolonged laughter.
He then went down memory lane to capture his relationship with Ali, who was then a fellow Army officer. According to the former president, it was way back in 1975 when Ali approached him for assistance. Ali, then a Federal Commissioner for Education, wanted a particular building located close to Race Course, Lagos, for use as office accommodation.
Incidentally, the said building was being occupied by an agency of the United States as operational office.
“So a few days after, I conspired with Admadu and mobilised troops to surround the building as early as 4am. When the officials of the agency came to report for work in the morning, soldiers prevented them from entering the building. That was how I seized the building for Ahmadu and his staff,” Obasanjo recalled.
Then hell was let loose. The United States government protested the action, which sparked a bitter diplomatic row between the U.S. and the then Federal Military Government, headed by Gen. Gowon. Consequently, Obasanjo was summoned to Dodan Barracks, where he said he was tongue-lashed by Gowon and other superior officers at the time.
“I was scolded and dressed down by General Gowon and other superior officers for my actions. I was seriously washed down,” he said.
That was in 1975. And Gen. Gowon, as then head of state, never knew that it was Ahmadu Ali that instigated Obasanjo into flushing the Americans out of the building.
Obasanjo had kept the secret since 1975 and only revealed it to Gen Gowon yesterday. That is, 43 years after!
“General Gowon was shocked earlier this morning when I told him that it was actually Ahmadu that instigated the action. He asked me why I did not say it then and I told him that I did not want to expose my friend”, Obasanjo said.
General Gowon was to corroborate Obasanjo’s account of the incident when he mounted the podium after Obasanjo was done.
Gowon said: “That incident caused us serious embarrassment and I really tongue-lashed Obasanjo. But for his good service record, he would have been made to face the consequences. It’s only this morning that he confessed to me that Ahmadu Ali was deeply involved in that action”. Gowon also went down memory lane to recall his student days at the Barewa Collage, Zaria, where he was a class ahead of Ahmadu Ali.
“That Ahmadu Ali you see there is a short man devil but very intelligent”, Gen Gowon teased.
The retired General revealed that he and Ali were amateur boxers while in Barewa College. He told of how he had to relinquish his captainship of the school’s boxing club to Ali, when he was saddled with too much responsibilities. He described Ali as a very good sportsman and a fine boxer.
Gowon also recalled the ‘Ali Must Go’ episode in the 1970s, when university students demonstrated against his continued stay as federal commissioner of Education. Gowon said Ali had mixed with the protesting students and he was also chanting “Ali Must Go” without the students detecting who he was, until it was safe for him to sneak away from their midst.
It was another old boy of Barewa College, Prof. Jibrin Aminu that eventually revealed how a “good boxer” Ahmadu Ali was.
Aminu, a former Vice Chancellor, a former two-time federal minister, a former ambassador and a former senator, gave an insight into what many consider a reflection of Ali’s leadership style in later life.
This approach may not be much different from the way Ali ran the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during his tenure as national chairman. With his friend and ally, Obasanjo as the then President, scenarios, similarly to the eviction of the Americans in 1975 and the boxing incident at Barewa College replayed themselves several times over with the Obasanjo/Ali tag team while they held sway at the PDP and the Presidency.
Perhaps, if elder statesman, Chief Tony Anenih, had attended the event, he also would have had a story to tell about the Obasanjo/Ali team when the ex-police chief was PDP’s Board of Trustees chair. Like the Americans in 1975, Anenih also got “evicted” as chair of PDP’s BoT when in 2007, another Obasanjo/Ali “conspiracy” yanked him off the seat and got Obasanjo enthroned as BoT chair.
That was just another example of the many “conspiracies” hatched by the two buddies during their sojourn in the erstwhile ruling party. It goes to reinforce the old saying, that the boy, is indeed, the father of the man.
Younger sister to celebrity blogger Linda Ikeji, Laura Ikeji last Sunday brought together bigwigs in the Nigerian entertainment industry for the launch of her book titled ‘How to make money on Instagram’.
Present at the launch were Monalisa Chinda, Linda Ikeji, Grace Ama, Ubi Franklin, Bryan Okwara, Marie Miller, Deyemi Okanlawon, and Debbie Rise, who gave an outstanding performance, among others.
Speaking on the launch, the fashion entrepreneur revealed that a lot of the books have been bought and paid for, while some have been donated or asked to be given out for free.
She also appreciated actor Deyemi Okanlawon, who she said made the day stress-free for all.
“Dear Deyemi, a day where most of my celebrity friends were hurrying to #omotola4point0 you came through for me, you anchored my event and made sure I made enough cough cough lol. You touched a soul today baby. You did. God bless you @deyemitheactor”.
Nollywood actress Grace Ama, who has been missing in action, but graced the launch described the event as impactful. She stated; “Beautiful and Impact full memories today at the book launch ‘How to make money on Instagram’ by Laura IkejI Kanu. I commend and congratulate you Laura on a beautiful Job done.”
Laura is also schedule to be at University of Lagos tomorrow for a talk about brand influencing, with the theme: “Love yourself! Yes you matter”.
The management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has shown appreciation to its former Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Oladele Amoda, who retired from the company after 35 years of meritorious service.
Amoda also used the event to launch his autobiography.
The 800-seater hall of Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island in Lagos was filled to the brim with dignitaries from all sectors honouring the former EKEDC chief.
Amoda joined the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) in 1983 as an engineer and served in various capacity within the organisation until his appointment as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of EKEDC in 2011.
The array of guests confirmed the respect the celebrant has in the sector.
Aside from celebrating his exit from EKEDC, the occasion also afforded Amoda the opportunity to launch his autobiography, titled: Forget Not His Benefits, which showcases the lifetime, lifestyle, strengths and weaknesses of the celebrant.
Leading traditional rulers at the event was the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, as well as the paramount ruler of Iperu in Ogun State, Oba Tijani Adetunji Akinloye, the Alaperu of Iperu-Remo.
Also, the board of directors of EKEDC, led by its chairman, Mr. Charles Momoh, was on hand at the ceremony.
In commemoration of his 50th birthday celebration, Yemi Adebisi, Life Editor of Independent Newspapers Limited, will be hosting the world at the public presentation of his book, Adventures of Konko Biire.
The event, which will kick off by 10am on Saturday, November 18, 2017, under the chairmanship of Senator Shehu Sani, will be held at Prestige Catering and Hotels, Beside Fela Afrika Shrine, Agidingbi, Lagos. The special guest of honour is the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bola Ambode.
There will be poetry performance by renowned artists-cum-journalists, Akeem Lasisi and Evelyn Osagie, even as world class saxophonist, Saxmuel and gospel artiste, Fido Clef, will engage guests with cool music.
Expected guests include Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers, Ade Ogidan; President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mrs Funke Egbemode; President, Nigeria Folklore Society, Dr Bukar Usman; National President, Association of Nigerian Authors,
Mallam Denja Abdullahi; Chairman, Committee of Relevant Art, Jahman Anikulapo; renowned global art collector, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon; Abolore Sobayo; Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State governor, Habib Aruna and host of others.
THE highly theatrical Dino Melaye (APC–Kogi West) created the perfect irony last week in Abuja when he organised a public presentation of his book, Antidotes For Corruption: The Nigerian Story. There was nothing spectacular in the high-priced book, nor the fact that it is redolent of malapropisms, said reviewers; but there were many riveting things about its presentation. Not only was the author there, grandstanding as he is wont, Nigeria’s number three and number four citizens were also there, pontificating quite extraordinarily.
While Senate President Bukola Saraki suggested in his remarks that the anti-corruption war had become sensational and selective, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara (APC–Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa) forcefully argued that the war seemed to target only the symptoms of corruption. “Let us imagine a society today in Nigeria where all the proceeds of corruption are well utilized rather than the one-minute or five-minute sensation that we see in the fight against corruption,” began Dr Saraki earnestly. “It is my view that we must fight corruption with sincerity. We must aim to go to the root of the problems. We need to strengthen our institutions. We should not base the anti-corruption war on individuals… I am convinced that we must return to that very basic medical axiom that prevention is better than cure. Perhaps, the reason our fight against corruption has met with rather limited success is that we appeared to have favoured punishment over deterrence. We must review our approaches in favour of building systems that make it a lot more difficult to carry out corrupt acts or to find a safe haven for corruption proceeds within our borders.”
On his own Speaker Dogara said: “Corruption, for those who are farmers, is like a tree that grows vigorously. If you end up pruning the trees and not attacking the roots, there is no way you will deal with that thing. So, when those who celebrate the successes of the fight against corruption in terms of the high profile investigation, high profile prosecution and even detention, they are missing the point because that is dealing with the symptoms of corruption. That is punishing corruption. But how are we developing remedies that we can apply to ensure that the tree dies?”
Though both top lawmakers offered many other arguments that are difficult to accept, let alone defend, their arguments quoted above are difficult to dismiss. The anti-graft war has sometimes seemed to be sensational and showy, and has also seemed to be targeted at the symptoms rather than the roots. But it is also hard not to think that the two top lawmakers are simply engaged in sophistry: Hon Dogara more for loyalty to his fellow lawmakers than any genuine passion for ridding the country of graft; and Dr Saraki more as an insidious, multi-pronged defence for his legal woes. What is even more damning is that the man for whom they graced the book presentation is himself of doubtful reputation — jocose, ingratiating, pompous and almost wholly without principles. It is hard not to think the book presentation was anything more than a small town racket to which the little good the National Assembly has proved capable of has been deplorably wasted.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the First Lady, Mrs. Aishat Buhari, are among guests expected at the launch of a book on women challenges and achievements by renowned Professor of History Bolanle Awe.
The launch of the book, Nigerian Women Pioneers and Icons, is slated for 11am on Thursday, at the MUSON Centre, Lagos.
According to the book’s publisher, Mr. Tokunbo Ajasin of Childsplay Books Ltd, dignitaries expected include sultan of Sokoto, governors of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Lagos, Ekiti, Sokoto, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Imo, Cross River states, women members of the National Assembly, women rights’ groups, family of living female icons reviewed in the book, as well as representatives of some of the deceased icons.
Deputy Governor of Osun State Mrs. Titilayo Tomori is expected to chair the event; Mr. Modupe Alakija of Famfa Oil is the chief launcher, and former Secretary to the Niger State Government, Professor M. K. Yahaya, will review the book.
Mrs. Buhari, through her Special Assistant, Mrs. Hajo Sani, praised the publication as “beautiful and a useful resource’’.
In his comment, Obasanjo hailed it as a “laudable effort,” which will “complement her (Awe’s) seminal works on contributions of women in the political and economic history of Nigeria.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that the book will be an asset to the nation, and a source of inspiration to many, young and old. Indeed, the proposed public presentation of the book could not have come at a better time as I am sure the content will offer direction and guidance for the generality of Nigerians,” Obasanjo said.
