My coffee table book is delineating power and would be the very first of its kind.
It will come with 50 powerful essays, 100 caricatures, and 100 profiles written in the best of satirical humour and will be designed by Ugo Oswald, one of Nigeria’s most gifted art designers.
One of the most remarkable things about this book is the putting together of the richest minds in the country to contribute essays to the book
The coterie of writers has drawn gasps of awe from watchers cos of its very rich and diverse nature
People have asked how I was able to bring together this set who jointly form a conclave of brilliance on the project.
The idea came about in a discussion with my friend Jerry in his Ikoyi office
Duke, why dont you put the most powerful people in the country in a room.
Hw went furtger to explain – by powerful, I don’t mean the front page PR creatures who dont let us rest from their perpetual onslaught on our sensibilities but those who are queitly shaking tables and reordering the narratives.
I jumped on it and started assembling the collage of essayists
Prof Koyinsola Ajayi SAN was my first attack. Met him thru Soji Fagade and got him to accept to speak at my London Economic Sunmit
Pastor Itua Ighodalo is my man Asue Ighodalo ‘s younger brother who I had met thru Chike Ogeah long before I became friends with Asue
Seyi Akinwunmi got introduced to me by Kwesi Tandoh who was himself introduced to me by Itua.
Itua opened up *Tunde FasholaSAN* who agreed to meet me in his house where i saw that my reputation had preceeded me
Bukola Olapade is my brother who i had met thru Bosede Ogan and who is today the DG of the Nigerian Sports Commission
Bosede, whom I met in Ekiti during Gov. Fayemi’s tenure, and I have remained friends since then. She is very passionate about gender issues
Dr Tope Fasoranti, I met during my foray in Zenith Bank looking for sponsorship. He is a main pillar now and quickly agreed to contribute
Mohammed Garuba is a respected investment banker who once interviewed me for a job and didnt employ me.
Today he is a Director at Influential Cardinal Stone and is on the Board of the NGX
Then I called Wale Adedeji who is a globally resoected AI expert. I met him thru Kayode who works with him and is a brother
Otunba Bimbo Ashiru is the chairman of Odua Investments. A friend to my inlaws and a big supporter. Got to know him very closely during Awo where he played a major role in its success
Prof Ahmed Yerima came into my life thru Bikiya Graham Douglas who on her own strength also contributed to the book
I met her thru Flora at BGL almost a decade ago when she was trying to find her feet in theatre. Today she is a giant piller who just appeared in a big budget Hollywood movie directed by Guy Ritchie
Prof Julie Okoh is one of the six female directors that i will be working with next year and I met her thru brilliant Dr Adenuga
Dr Loretta Ogboro-Okor one of Nigerias most brilliant Gynaecologists came into my life thru Soni Irabor who is also writing and is also a legendary Media personality
Uncle Soni was my co producer on Emotan some years ago and we remain very close buddies as we share a lot of mutual friends
Magnus Onyibe is a brilliant essayists whose works and books continue to shape national discourse
His wife Helen was a colleague at Habib Bank but my relationship with Magnus came about as a result of our work which complement each other in public discourse
Robert Mbonu is one of those extremely brilliant bankers who have carved a name for himself as an internationally regarded risk expert.
He regrets not employing me at the now defunct Heritage Bank and was a powerful client at BGL
Tonye Cole the brilliant Oil and Gas man and fmr Gubernatorial candidate in Rivers state is a brother.
We have sat down severally to discuss Nigeria and its politics and I dare say that we share almost the same views on these issues
AiG Abang rtd is a fan. He loves my writings and reached out while in service. We became friends and still exchange banter regularly
Dr Nwabuoku is Havard trained, a medical consultant who has consulted for the very best in Nigeria including Lagoon Hospitals and Ever care. Currently pursuing advanced specialist qualifications in the UK, Dr Nwabuoku has been a friend for over 10 years
Bala Liman is a contributor in the Alvinreport and a former Economic Adviser to President Buhari.
I used to see Prof Killa on Arisetv and fell in love with his angles. We share mutual friends like Chike Ogeah and Prince Juluis Adelusi Adeluyi
Fifelomo Dawodu is one of my most fiercest critics who doesn’t suffer fools. She used to attend my plays and suddenly stopped. We were both on an Arisetv programme recently and seem to be agreeing on a lot of issues recently
I met Dr Lanre Olusola at BGL when he came to speak and got closer to him thru my sometimes partner Segun Akande
Lanre is a significant part of a growing rennaisance and its not for nothing that he is called the catalyst
I met Rear Admiral Akpan physically in Ikot Abasi where I went to visit the Musuem. He is a strategic player in our maritime security and has delivered papers in many guilded halls internationally
Atedo Peterside I met for the first time during my play on Enir Sanusi. He had supported the play and had cone to see it.
Pai Gamde is sisters to my friend Kai and she is such a brilliant shooter that today she is a major force in d markets
Femi Oladehin is one of Nigerias most brilliant investment bankers. Met him at BGl butbhe has gone ahead to build yhe massive Argentyl a major player in d space.
Dele Momodu is a man that I have been reading since secondary school. I eventually met him much later and have had cos to discuss Nigeria severally with him.
we share a lot of mutual friends and he has truly been an egbon
Dr Rueben Abati , i met thru Chike Ogeah. He respects my work and I simply deify him
Steve Babaeko I once invited to speak at a session I organised in ikoyi long ago
He came and delivered a powerful paper and since then ive been keeping tabs on his career trojectory which continues to blaze in torrents
Doyin Odebowale and I were in UI together. He read classics and has grown to become a vested authority in the space
Godwin Dudu-Orumen came into my life thru Ope who would always invite me to his joint to discuss football.
I nevr got around to doing that and then my inlaw Ohimai worked with him at Edo State Sports Council which made his acceptance to work on this project quite simple
Flora Fabyan is a brilliant lawyer and MD at BOI-ITC. We met at BGL and are working today in some very strategic transactions
Akin OlugbadeOON* , I met thru my colunm. His pedigree is very rich and comes across as a strong pillar in the economic intellectual space
Dr Ebose is a friend i met thru my brother Bayo Mustafa. Dr Ebose is one of the most brightest individuals in the Insurance space and he is also lecturing in about two universities pro bono. He recently launcehd his book which attracted such heavy weights like Chief Obasanjo and Prince Adelusi Adeluyi who is also contributing
I met Prince tgru Nonny Ugboma who then was the ES at MTN Foundation and who is also Contributing.
I met Nonny thru my work in theatre and since then we found a truly mutually beneficial friendship
Nonny who is just completing her doctorate is someine i would never have done this book without
Onari Duke is my big sister. Cant remembr how we met but I know the relationship is over 10years which has seen me eat afang in her house and listen to her thoughts on life and philanthropy
Nneoma was an accidental meeting. We both belong to the same estate association and I droped one of my controversial write ups and her rebuttal made for brilliant reading.
A well-regarded legal practitioner, she retains huge respect in the space
Prof Akinterinwa came through Prof Killa while Prof Osaghae was my pol science lecturer in UI but Chief Ibori reunited us
Lami Tumaka the PR guru, I met thru Azuka Ogujiuba while at NIMASA. We lost touch and then reconnected recently
Dakuku Peterside carries a lot of intellectual capital and is well regarded. Met him finally through Lami Tumaka after she had suggested he would be perfect for the book
Udo Okonjo is my sister and a versatile speaker with deep thoughts. I once staged one of my plays on the grounds of our expansive office in Ikoyi
Olu of Warri came on board through Julius Rone who was also introduced to me by Chief Ibori during my play – Ogiame Erejuwa II
So you see, when people say your Network is your Networth, they are referring to me
Kai
Duke of Shomolu