Personality in Focus
Dignitaries Shower Encomiums on Tinubu at Launch of The Iconic by Samson Oki, Other in Lagos
The highly publicized book on Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu titled ‘THE ICONIC Bola Ahmed Tinubu: An Inspiration to African Youths’ was on Wednesday 12th April 2023 officially launched in an atmosphere of ceremonial grandeur and glamour at the lavish Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Lagos. The 380-page book authored by two young media gladiators and the multi-award winning publisher of Trek Africa Newspaper, Oki Olatunji Samson and Abayomi Oyelami is a mentorship book written as a legacy of knowledge and wellspring of impetus for young Africans to learn on their road to greatness. Taking cues from the life of Nigeria’s President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the book draws from his life of dedication, hard work, perseverance, and resilience, and his results are proofs.
The book hailed the sagacity, strength of capacity, willpower, and dexterity of the Aare Ago of Yorubaland and Jagaban of Borgu while using these qualities to challenge African youths to ‘take a retrospect at your life. When you were growing up, you had a lot of dreams and aspirations, where are they now? What are you doing about your own dream? Are you hungry for success? How far are you pushing for the realization of your vision? How much work are you putting into your life’s goals? ASIWAJU, the whole world knows, what about you? Hardwork will beat talent if talent does not work hard’.
It also features chapters and segments on the wife of President-elect, Senator Oluremi Shade Tinubu OON; the Vice President-elect, H. E. Senator Kashim Shettima; the President of the Republic of Liberia, H. E. George Manneh Weah; Uganda’s young presidential candidate and popular musician, Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (aka Bobi Wine), media/PR giant and youth ambassador, Amb. Seyi Tinubu among other bigwigs.
Great personalities, royal fathers, young and old, from various parts of the world further sends in an array of tributes. The book has gained widespread commendation and prominence within Nigeria and outside the shores of the country.
The book launch which had the Chairman of the occasion, the Board Member of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) and CEO of Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan got the royal blessings of the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oodua of the Source, HIM Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as represented by HRM Olalekan Anthony Fasesin, the Alade Okin of Oriade, Osun state; the youngest royal father in Yorubaland, HRM Oba Oloyede Adeyeoba Adekoya, Arujale Ojima of Okeluse, Ondo state; and Sarki overall of Alimosho LGA Hausa community, HRH Sarki Ahmed Kuraja.
The event cochaired by the Executive Secretary/CEO of Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun was massively attended by the staunch advocates and disciples of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria and the high and mighty from different parts of Africa who expressed high optimisms about the Renewed Hope Agenda which will deliver prosperity to the most populous Black nation.
The event also got the distinguished presence of the daughter of President-elect and Iyaloja-General of the federation, Chief Mrs. Folashade Tinubu Ojo who was represented by Mrs. Folashade Ogungboye; the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON as represented by Mr. Dipo Odebowale, Head of NIDCOM Lagos; former Commissioner of Police, Lagos, AIG Hakeem Odumosu (retd); the Special Adviser (Special Duties & Intergovernmental Affairs) to Lagos State Governor, Hon. Mobolaji Ogunlende RAK; Commissioner, Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, Hon. Hakeem Ajasa Bamgbola; the SSA (Housing) to the Lagos State Governor, Hon. Abdul-Akeem Ayodeji Amodu; the Managing Director of Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Mr. Oluwadamilola Emmanuel.
Also in attendance were the Executive Chairman of Coker-Aguda LCDA, Hon. Rasaq Ibrahim Olamilekan; Convener, Asiwaju Distinguished Ambassadors Movement and Vice Chairman, Ikorodu LGA, Aarebinrin Folashade Olabanji-Oba; former FRSC Lagos Sector Commander, ACM Olusegun Ogungbemide as represented by ACC Esther E. Uzoma, FRSC Unit Commander Lagos Island; Bishop Dr. Osaze Williams from Republic of Liberia; Hon. Hammed Oladipupo, Council Leader, Itire-Ikate LCDA; CEO of Badinson Security, Mr. Matthew Ibadin; President, Evolving Women in Politics, Hajia Dr. Fatima Bello; National Treasurer, Evolving Women in Politics, Olori Aderonke Erinle; veteran Nollywood actor, Bose Joseph; foremost June 12 activist, Comrade Awa Bamiji; and CEO of Lillie’s Trend, Margaret Adewunmi among others.
Hailing the man that he always call ‘Daddy’, the Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan said ‘some of us don’t call him by name, we call him Daddy because he has touched our lives. He is a Consultant-General for winning elections. Nigerians will experience a new moment with a man like him.’
‘I believe that this man will help us fix the broken walls in our country. He is a leader of leaders, a manager of men and resources, a distinguished Nigerian, and very passionate. I look at my life at the time when I met him and now for more than 20 years, I have to give kudos to this man.’
On his part, the Executive Secretary/CEO of LSSTF, Dr. Abdurrazaq Balogun remarked: ‘Most of the youths may have views about the personality of the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. But for me Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is someone I have worked with closely. I have been under his tutelage for the past 21 years, I worked with him as a principal officer of the State Assembly when he was Governor.’
‘He will encourage us to build a very smooth relationship in the House despite our divergent views which sometimes the arguments can be heated. He is someone who protects the truth, has a large heart, despite our issues then, we passed a lot of iconic legislations which have been replicated across the country’, he added.
Speaking at the event, the Ooni of Ife, Arole Oodua of the Source, HIM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi who was represented by HRM Oba Olalekan Anthony Fasesin assured that ‘the traditional institution would continue to support every laudable project that brings unification to the country and encourage youths to aspire.’
The former Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, AIG Hakeem Odumosu (retd) said any book written or anything said about Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not more than what he has done, ‘Since my first encounter with him as a young commissioned police officer about 30 years ago, his spirit of forgiveness, a virtue, I have learnt from him as a quintessential leader, is golden. I have vowed to work with him and remain loyal till the last day.’
Sharing his personal encounter about the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Agency, Hon Mobolaji Ogunlende RAK commended the authors for their excellent job, adding that they were already replicating what THE ICONIC did by ‘grabbing the bull by the horns’.
‘The generation behind us will see these excellent work you have done. For Nigeria to be better, everyone has a role to play. Therefore, change and take responsibility of your community. Tinubu has set a template, a foundation for the youths’, Ogunlende remarked.
Also, the Senior Special Assistant (Housing) to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Surveyor Ayodeji Amodu called on Nigerian youths to believe in the coming government headed by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu understood what the youths needed; the tenacity at which the youths needed to be inclusive in government. He is a man that believes in the youths and ensure that a lot of them were employed into the Civil Service in 2004. You can see the LASTMA, Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch. These were people met to be street urchins, but employed them enmasse and can see what they been able to bring to the table.’
In a separate interview, the author Samson Olatunji Oki said the inspiration to write a book on the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was birthed in 2015 during the presidential campaign trail of President Muhammadu Buhari at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos. ‘As a reporter craving for news, I stood close to him. I also realized that throughout the campaign, he didn’t really sit down. He looked very engaged. At a point, two chilled can coke were brought to him. He held it momentarily, opened one of it and gulped it. He took the second and did the same. From there, he moved straight to the podium to address the crowd. I thought about his personality and got inspired. He is rich, well connected and had lots of influences, yet, was so much committed. With his antecedents in government and how he has carried the youths along, I saw him as not only a role model, but a mentor and an inspiration to the African Youths.’
‘This is a book for the youths. Tinubu is an enigma; a person the youths can look up to for drive and inspiration. He is a man every youth should emulate. He carries everybody along – people of different culture and ethnic backgrounds – provided the person is talented. He is astatue and not biased’, said the awardwinning publicist cum media guru.
In the same vein, the co-author Abayomi Oyelami added that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to humanity and preservation of democratic tenets were the driving force. ‘We actually started writing in 2018 and we are glad that in 2023, we have officially unveiled the book. It is a mentorship book that looks critically at the man Tinubu; the life style, personality and the dexterity he has displayed in life.’
The fellow of Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) and nonprofit leader added: ‘Everytime I was writing this book, I remembered the story of the June 12 Presidential election annulment. This was a time the media was gagged but the name: Bola Ahmed Tinubu kept recurring. That was my first impression about him’.
‘He, with others, started Radio Kudirat – in honour of late Kudirat Abiola. I saw him as a man to be studied and people can learn from because in a true democracy, free press is a key component and that is why I like to say that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a person both the youths and the media can learn from. Tinubu is, indeed, a leader. Let us learn from him’, Oyelami reiterated.
By NOMA
The Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has celebrated Mr. Olakunle Aderinokun on his 55th birthday, describing him as a distinguished strategic communications expert and media professional whose nearly three-decade career continues to shape Nigeria’s communications and business landscape.
In a statement by Theresa Moses, Chairperson, NOMA highlighted Aderinokun’s current role as Head, Media and Public Relations at Access Holdings Plc, where he leads group-wide media strategy, executive communications, crisis management, and corporate reputation positioning across local and international markets.
The Alliance noted that his ability to align corporate narratives with business strategy, stakeholder expectations, and regulatory realities has strengthened institutional credibility and public trust.
Aderinokun’s career reflects a unique blend of journalism, financial services, and corporate leadership. He spent 24 years at THISDAY Newspapers, rising to the position of Group Business Editor and Associate Editor, where he played a significant role in shaping Nigeria’s business journalism ecosystem. He later served as Editor, Business at ARISE News Channel, further consolidating his reputation for editorial excellence and impactful storytelling.
Throughout his journalism career, he covered critical sectors including banking, capital markets, energy, aviation, and macroeconomics, engaging directly with top policymakers, regulators, and corporate leaders. His extensive international exposure includes participation in global platforms such as the IMF-World Bank Meetings, African Development Bank Meetings, TICAD in Japan, the Nigeria-China Business Forum, Africa Oil Week in Cape Town, and Vaasa Energy Week in Finland.
Beyond journalism, Aderinokun brings strong financial and investment expertise, having worked with United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Wall Street Trust Company (now WSTC Financial Services), where he handled equity analysis, market research, and investment advisory. This foundation, NOMA noted, has enabled him to effectively bridge financial performance with strategic communication outcomes.
An entrepreneur, he founded Pure Synergy Ltd in 2013, a firm focused on reputation management and strategic communications, and later served as CEO of Excite Enterprise Ltd, an online business solutions platform.
In the public sector space, Aderinokun served as Media Adviser to Senator Tokunbo Abiru in 2020, where he led media strategy and publicity for the Lagos East Senatorial campaign, contributing to its successful outcome.
Academically, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics (Pure and Applied) from the University of Ilorin and an MBA from the University of Lagos, complemented by executive education at Lagos Business School and professional training with the World Bank Institute, NIPR, and Standard Bank Group, South Africa. He also holds multiple professional certifications across public relations, banking, marketing, and digital communications.
NOMA described him as a quintessential, multifaceted professional whose career embodies excellence, innovation, and leadership.
“Olakunle Aderinokun represents the very best of strategic communication and media practice in Nigeria. His journey is not only inspiring but also instructive for the next generation of professionals navigating the evolving media and corporate landscape,” the statement read.
As he marks his 55th birthday, NOMA commended his enduring contributions and wished him continued success, good health, and greater accomplishments in the years ahead.
The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has congratulated the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, on the occasion of his birthday, commending his visionary leadership and reform-driven approach to policing in Nigeria.
In his birthday remarks, Dr. Ogunsan described the IGP as a “distinguished officer whose career has consistently reflected professionalism, courage, and a deep commitment to public safety.”
He noted that since assuming office as the 23rd Inspector-General of Police early this Year 2026, Disu has demonstrated a clear resolve to reposition the Nigeria Police Force towards greater efficiency and public trust.
Dr. Ogunsan particularly praised the IGP’s emphasis on intelligence-led policing, a strategy aimed at enhancing proactive crime detection and prevention, as well as his push for the integration of digital tools and forensic capabilities into police operations. These reforms, he said, signal a shift towards modern, accountable, and citizen-focused policing.
He further highlighted Disu’s decisive steps to strengthen the state policing agenda and officers’ welfare. He praised him for the effective policing model through the restructuring and reduction of tactical units, a move designed to address concerns over excesses while redeploying personnel to police divisions for improved community-level security.
The LSSTF boss also acknowledged the IGP’s consistent advocacy for discipline, integrity, and professionalism within the Force, noting that such values are critical to restoring public confidence and enhancing institutional credibility.
Reflecting on his track record, Dr. Ogunsan recalled Disu’s impactful leadership roles across key commands, including the Rivers State and the Federal Capital Territory Commands, where he contributed significantly to crime control and intelligence-driven operations.
His tenure as the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad in Lagos is a testament to his operational excellence and urban crime management.
Ogunsan wished the IGP good health, wisdom, and continued success in his efforts to build a more secure Nigeria. “On this special occasion, we celebrate not only a remarkable leader but a reformer whose vision continues to inspire confidence in the security architecture of our nation,” Ogunsan said.
Terrorists in northeast Nigeria killed a brigadier general in an assault on a military base, a local government chairman told AFP on Thursday, the second killing of a high-ranking officer in five months.
Africa’s most populous country has been fighting a terrorist insurgency for 17 years, since Boko Haram’s 2009 uprising, which has seen the emergence of powerful splinter groups, including Islamic State West Africa Province.
In an overnight attack, unidentified terrorists killed at least 18 soldiers and torched vehicles at a base in Benisheikh, about 75 kilometres from Borno state capital Maiduguri, an intelligence source told AFP.
“Unfortunately, the brigade commander, Brigadier General O.O. Braimah, lost his life,” Kaga Local Government Chairman Zannah Lawan Ajimi told AFP in a phone interview.
Two intelligence sources confirmed Braimah’s death to AFP.
His death follows the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba by ISWAP in November. He was the highest-ranking military official to die in the long-running conflict since 2021.
“They overran the brigade,” one of the intelligence sources said, giving the death toll as “at least” 18.
The second intelligence source said that “the terrorists killed several troops” and “burnt vehicles and buildings before they withdrew,” without giving a toll.
The army and Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
– Rising terrorist violence –
Researchers have warned of an uptick of violence since 2025.
Borno capital Maiduguri has seen two suicide bombings since December — the type of bloody, urban attacks reminiscent of the insurgency’s peak a decade ago.
On Wednesday, the US State Department said in a notice it was authorising “non-emergency US government employees” to leave Abuja “due to the deteriorating security situation”.
While the insurgency is concentrated in the northeastern countryside, terrorists from Nigeria and the neighbouring Sahel have made inroads western Nigeria, where organised crime gangs known as “bandits” have been raiding villages and extorting farmers and artisanal miners for years.
Gunmen killed at least 90 people across several remote villages in northwest Nigeria this week, according to an AFP tally of tolls given by local and humanitarian sources.
Among the attacks was an assault in Kebbi state that police blamed a local terrorist group known as Mahmuda, which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
Kebbi sits on Nigeria’s border with Benin and Niger and since 2025 has been targeted by a rising number of terrorist attacks.
Conflict monitor ACLED says there has been a surge in violence in the area carried out by militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
In nearby Kwara state, in October, fighters from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM claimed an attack after years of researchers warning that the terrorist conflict ravaging the Sahel risked spreading south towards coastal West African states.
In December, the United States, with Nigerian assistance, bombed northwest Sokoto state, targeting Islamic State Sahel Province fighters usually found in neighbouring Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso.
AFP
