The news of your death jolted me and I am yet to recover from the shock. Naturally, your protracted illness should have prepared me for the eventuality, but the desire to continue to enjoy more of your physical presence overrode my rational thinking. Despite your frailty when I saw you last, your determination and struggle to live strengthened my hope …

Ahead of the proclamation of the eighth Senate of the National Assembly, and the election of its leadership in 2015, the name of George Akume was a recurring decimal. He ticked the boxes, meeting all the criteria laid out for a President of the Senate, for that season. He was highly favoured to clinch the top job. Among other considerations, …

The overarching consensus amongst his compatriots is that Emeka Ozumba is unassuming but quietly effective. Cool, calm, calculated and compassionate, the personable go-getter clocks 60 years of age on 11th December 2023. A fresh prince of the diamond jubilee, Ozumba stands tall with well over two decades of illustrious experience in public affairs, reputation management, crisis communication, media and stakeholder …

An iroko tree fell in my family yesterday (30th November 2023). The Fadairo royal family of Amororo Ruling House, Owu-Abeokuta got the news that its olori-ebi (family head) has departed to reunite with our progenitors. Pa Olaniyi Akinola Shogaolu (8th February 1940 to 30th November 2023) was a family man to be admired. Even in his later years when his …

The uncanny combination of his names which featured Christian and Muslim epithets was sufficiently intriguing to tickle my curiosity and inquisitiveness. He had become a notable public figure back in 1986 when Nigeria’s military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida appointed him military Governor of the old Plateau State. Seven years thereafter he was catapulted to the position of Chief of Army …

Today, as we celebrate the 85th birthday of former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Obong Victor Attah, it is a momentous occasion to reflect on the incredible legacy of a visionary leader whose indelible mark has shaped the trajectory of the state towards prosperity and growth. Attah’s tenure as the governor (1999 – 2007) stands as a testament to his unwavering …

Over 20 years and counting, what an auspicious time to tell this story! It was in the early days of mobile telephone services in Nigeria when Ericsson, Nokia 3310, and Samsung were trendy phones. The Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card cost over N50,000!!! I had the privilege of owning a contract package courtesy of a leading mobile services provider. My abode …

At a meeting in the palace of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, on Friday, 6th March 2020, Dame Olusola Agbeja-Obada, said; “Baba Kabiyesi, you will recollect that about four years ago, when you proposed Mr. Yinka Fasuyi, as he was then, as the Asiwaju of Ijesaland, I was …

I had looked forward to Chief Chris Ogunbanjo’s centenary birthday with relish. And history had much to do with that. I had been so privileged, in 1983 to represent the then Vice-President Dr. Alex Ekwueme at the 60th birthday celebration of the legal luminary, boardroom icon, and business leader, when the VP had to travel in place of President Shehu …

Early on the fourth Saturday of last month, we made some great minds to converge on air via the signals of Top Radio 90.9 FM, on our weekly radio programme, The Vintage TalkShow…with the FAJ. It was a special episode dedicated to honour the sudden and painful absence of a colossus of technical art and a design maestro… an intensely …