By Sam Eyoboka
LAGOS—THE scheduled visit of General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, to the corporate headquarters of Vanguard Media Limited, publishers of Vanguard Newspapers, is generating a lot of excitement in the nation’s media industry.

Adeboye is billed to minister at the Vanguard Media Christian Fellowship’s annual end of year thanksgiving service scheduled for November 30 at the company’s premises.
News of the visit was broken in Vanguard, yesterday, and journalists said they were wondering how Vanguard was able to secure Adeboye’s nod for the ministration.

Vanguard Editor, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon, and other leaders of the Fellowship, said they had been receiving phone calls from media colleagues who were seeking to know how they could benefit from the visit and if possible, partner with the organisers.

There was similar excitement at the weekly Vanguard Editors’ meeting, Monday, when Mr. Bayagbon announced that plans had reached advanced stage to play host to one of the 50 Most Influential Individuals in the World come Tuesday, November 30.

Immediately after the announcement by the Editor, participants began moves to sensitise the neighbourhood in preparation for the august visit, with many of them saying it was a rare privilege that the company must maximise to its benefit, spiritually and otherwise.

Rare privilege

At the weekly gathering of the Vanguard Media Christian Fellowship, the Coordinator, Elder Emmanuel Obuh, received encomiums when he announced the visit to the members on Wednesday.

A female minister in the RCCG who spoke with Vanguard, thanked all those who made it possible for the minister of the gospel to agree to visit Vanguard Media Limited, noting: “He is coming for me and no doubt, all will be well for me this year.”

Pastor Adeboye is expected to pray for the management and staff of the company as well as for peaceful conduct of next year’s elections.

Meanwhile, Vanguard management has indicated its willingness to bankroll the visit, saying it will be a great honour for the company to have a man such as Adeboye visit and release blessings on the business premises.

General Manager, Publications and Editor in Chief of the company, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, who spoke on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Mr. Sam Amuka, said the company would  take care of all the expenses on that day.

He said: “It is to the glory of the company for such a great man of God to have actually chosen Vanguard Media Limited as the first newspaper company for this kind of visit and I can assure you that we will not disappoint.”