Despite the early morning showers, which caused a gridlock in most parts of Lagos on Monday, June 20, some of Nigeria’s best and brightest still converged to celebrate with YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine as it clocked five years.
The high profile event at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos was packed-full with stars from different sectors in Nigeria.
Dubbed the 5th Annual YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine Lecture/Cocktail Party, the ceremony attracted heavyweights like former Minister of Industry and President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. (Mrs.) Nike Akande, CON; MD/CEO, Rainoil Ltd, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie; Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa; Vice President, Corporate Communications, Airtel Nigeria, Mr. Emeka Oparah, and Chairman, Biscon Communications, Prince Bisi Olatilo.
Others included General Overseer, Illumination Assembly, Bishop Isaac Idahosa; Chairman, House Committee on Media, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunde Braimoh; Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Habib Aruna; Chairman, TPT International, Mr. Tokunbo Modupe; Chairman Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), Chief Tony Okoroji, and Chairman, Brila FM, Dr. Larry Izamoje.
Multi-talented veteran actor, Basorge Tariah, was the compere while Harrysong sang to the audience’s delight.
Others from the showbiz fraternity were Chico and Zeb Ejiro, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Ken Calebs Olumese, Ali Baba, Fred Amata, Teco Benson, Obi Osotule, Jennifer Eliogu, Grace Ama, Uche Iwuji, Matthias Obahiagbon, Yemi Blaq, Femi Lasode, D’Lectura, De Don, Mike Nliam, Koffi Nuel, Zik Zulu Okafor and Tunji Bamishigbin.
Mrs. Chizor Malize of Brandzone, Dr. (Mrs.) Quincy Ayodele of Quincy Herbals, Deaconess (Mrs.) Bolanle Oginni of Blessed Water, Alhaja Tai Elemosho-Okesanjo of Montai, Mr. Charles Aigbe of UBA, Mr. Toni Kan of ntel, Mr. Abdul Imoyo of Access Bank, Mr. Michael Effiong of Ovation Magazine, Prince Dayo Asaju of First Weekly, Mr. Loye Amzat of News of the People, Mr. Chris Kehinde Nwandu of CKN News, and Mr. Azuh Amatus of Daylight.ng, also added colour to the event.
Kicking off at exactly 12.05pm due to the rain, the opening prayer was said by Bishop Idahosa, followed by a welcome address by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Azuh Arinze. Then, the chairperson, Mrs. Nike Akande’s opening remarks.
The unveiling of YES CLASSICS! heralded by a scintillating performance by rapper, Dozie Mbata, was next. And then the reason for the gathering – Dr. Ogbechie’s lecture titled “Running a Successful Business in Nigeria – My Experience”.
Brilliantly and eloquently delivered by the billionaire mogul behind Rainoil Ltd, veteran journalist, Mr. Femi Akintunde-Johnson (FAJ), described the lecture as a masterclass while multi-talented entertainer, Mrs. Wunmi Tunde-Obe, who has witnessed all the five editions of the annual lecture, summed it up as the “most interesting one yet.”
The 50-year-old Engineering graduate of the University of Benin, recounted how he transformed a business he started in 1997 from N300,000 into a multi-billion empire.
Adeoluwa, Oparah and Amata, who is the President, Directors Guild of Nigeria gave inspiring short remarks after Ogbechie’s lecture.
Actress and singer, Jennifer Eliogu, wrapped up the event which also witnessed the cutting of the anniversary cake, networking, cocktail and so on.
“All the glory must go to God because without Him we can do nothing. For five years now, He has stood solidly behind us and notwithstanding today’s early morning rain, the hall was still full and we even had an overflow. All our key guests equally turned up.
“The greatest thing, however, is that the whole thing went well. We thank all those that attended and even those that could not make it due to one reason or the other. Our prayer is that next year will be better and bigger,” an elated Azuh Arinze said after the event.
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