Twelve years after I last came to Nigeria in 2013, I returned home last month. The purpose? To launch my new book, titled “In The National Interest: The Road to Nigeria’s Political, Economic and Social Transformation.” The event, held at the famous MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on Thursday, November 20, 2025, was both splendid and memorable. Indeed, so memorable that, just a few days later, I felt its remarkable impact through a personal encounter at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Tuesday, December 2, as I headed back to the UK.
As an airport official pushed my luggage through the main entrance of the departure lounge, an officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) accosted him and directed him to another officer for a spot check. I swiftly dashed forward and took control of the trolley to identify myself to the stern-looking officer as its owner.
On top of the trolley were two copies of my book in an open bag. The officer looked at them. “In The National Interest!” he gasped, pleasantly surprised. “I have heard and read a lot in the news about this book,” he said. “Are you the author?” I nodded. “You may go, Sir. Have a safe trip,” he said, waiving me, with a broad grin, to the check-in counters. It was a salutary experience: the media publicity around the book launch earned me a crucial positive recognition at the airport, saving me from needless scrutiny and unnecessary delay. All because of the successful book launch!
But that success did not happen by happenstance. It was a product both divine and human. Divine, because God is ultimately behind every endeavour, and to Him, first and foremost, I give the thanks, glory and adoration for the event. Human, because God works mostly through human agency, and, without a doubt, there were extraordinarily powerful human forces behind the book launch’s success.
In its report, titled “In the National Interest – book that says it all”, The Nation newspaper said: “The programme attracted high calibre personalities who came to identify with the author and the Vanguard family.” The newspaper was right. The occasion was graced by high calibre personalities, and it was predominantly a Vanguard family affair! Indeed, it was sponsored by Vanguard, supported by BusinessDay.
Uncle Sam Amuka, the legendary publisher of Vanguard newspapers, a man of enormous generosity and goodwill, put his personal influence and Vanguard’s institutional support behind the book launch. But the book launch/presentation itself was a culmination of many months of planning, during which Uncle Sam, Eze Anaba, Vanguard’s Editor, Frank Aigbogun, Publisher of BusinessDay, and Clifford Ndujihe, Vanguard’s Politics Editor, worked extremely hard to ensure a successful event.
The fact that I arrived in Nigeria just a week before the event shows that a lot of the groundwork was done in my absence. Most of the credit goes to Mr Ndujihe, who project-managed the event and did the legwork. But credit also go to Patrick Oduone, Vanguard’s technical consultant, who oversaw the beautiful decoration of the hall, as well as to Mrs Funmi Ajumobi, Vanguard’s corporate affairs manager, who followed up the invited guests and secured an extensive media presence, evidenced by the broad coverage in most of the major print and broadcast media.
This is an unusually personal piece for this column, but its aim is to put on record my gratitude to those who played crucial roles in ensuring the successful launch of my book, and who made my stay in Nigeria enjoyable, particularly Uncle Sam who gave me a car and a driver to ease my movement.
I also have fond memories of the special treatment I received during several visits to Vanguard’s premises at Kirikiri Canal, Apapa, and two visits to the Vanguard Guest House at Anthony Village, the last to meet the editors – an intellectually robust encounter! Nor can I forget my visit to BusinessDay at Ikoyi, during which the publisher, Mr Aigbogun, the Editor, Lolade Akinmurele, and the entire staff welcomed me warmly. Since I started writing for BusinessDay and Vanguard several years ago, I had never met anyone in the newspapers physically; so, the in-person experiences were pleasant and will be etched in my memory.
Now, let’s return to the book launch itself. As I said, The Nation newspaper was right that the event “attracted high calibre personalities.” What with three former ministers, namely, Dr Olusegun Aganga, former Minister of Finance, Chief Mrs Nike Akande, former Minister of Industry, and Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, former Minister of Health. Then, there was Professor Anya O Anya, the highly respected founding chairman of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), who chaired the event, and a prominent royalty, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, the Erelu Kuti of Lagos and Yeye Oodua.
Space won’t allow me to mention all the other eminent Nigerians in attendance, but I must acknowledge Mr Yemi Akeju, past President of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria, and chairman of Ideas Communications, organiser of the annual Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA). Mr Akeju worked quietly in the background, offering valuable advice, support and contacts. I am grateful to him and the other dignitaries.
In its report, ThisDay newspaper brilliantly captured the event thus: “The book launch was a momentous occasion, bringing together prominent Nigerians and stakeholders to discuss the country’s challenges and potential solutions.” Pivotal to that discussion were Dr Aganga, who gave an outstanding keynote speech, Mr Aigbogun, who did a universally acclaimed review of the book, and Dr Reuben Abati, the veteran journalist and Arise News host, who, as the MC, superbly steered the event and the discussion, helped by his encyclopaedic knowledge of the dignitaries.
The media reports after the book launch suggest that the ideas canvassed by eminent Nigerians and stakeholders at the book launch captured the attention of the nation. The book and its launch helped birth a discourse around acting in the national interest, which, if nurtured, could trigger a critical mass, a tipping point, for a truly transformative change.
To be clear, the “successful book launch” trumpeted in this piece is not in a commercial sense, not in terms of generous launchers. The success is intrinsic, not pecuniary. That said, I am grateful to Mr Akeju who bought 40 copies of the book on behalf of the NMMA and to Otunba Lere Olabode, chairman of Summit Group Ltd, for his generosity. Thanks to everyone who bought a copy, and to relatives, friends and church members who supported me.
As I said, this is an unusual “thank-you” piece; normal interventions will resume next week. But I owe this piece to all those mentioned above who helped ensure the success of my book launch, as well as several unnamed well-wishers who attended the event and the media which covered it extensively: I thank you all!
• The book, “In The National Interest”, is available at Roving-Heights Bookstores: 08078972157 or 07054072113.
