Twelve years after I last came to Nigeria in 2013, I returned home last month. The purpose? To launch my new book, “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 memorable and splendid. 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, waving me, with a broad grin, to the check-in counters. So, 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 a Vanguard family affair! Indeed, Vanguard proudly sponsored it! 

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. From the beautiful decoration of the hall, ably handled by Patrick Oduone, Vanguard’s technical consultant, to the ushering in of guests and the handing out of souvenirs and even refreshments, Vanguard staffers were on hand. Uncle Sam also guaranteed my easy mobility with a car and a helpful driver, Kehinde Adewale, to whom I am enormously grateful. 

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. I arrived in Nigeria just a week before the event, with virtually all the groundwork done in my absence. Most of the credit goes to Clifford Ndujihe, who ably project-managed the event and did the legwork. But credit also to Mrs Funmi Ajumobi, Vanguard’s Corporate Affairs Manager, who followed up the invited guests to ensure good attendance 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 critical roles in ensuring the success of my book launch, and who made my brief stay in Nigeria enjoyable. In that regard, I 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 an intellectually robust encounter with the editors. 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. Having never before physically met anyone in Vanguard and BusinessDay since I started writing for them several years ago, the 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, except 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 providing me with advice, support and useful contacts. I am grateful to him and all other dignitaries who graced the occasion.

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 sure, the “successful book launch” trumpeted in this piece is not a commercial one, in the sense 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. I am also grateful 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 RovingHeights Bookstore: 08078972157