Lady Maiden Ibru Publisher The Guardian
No fewer than seven state governors are expected to attend the launch of the epochal book on the first ten years of The Guardian newspaper and the celebration of the founding publisher of the newspaper, Alex Uruemu Ibru.
The book titled: The Making of The Flagship: A Story of The Guardian, is due for launch on April 8, 2021, at the Balmoral Events and Conference Centre at the Federal Palace Hotel, in Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event which was originally slated for April 7 has been shifted by a day, following a request from the Office of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who wishes to attend the event personally. April 7, 2021 is Federal Executive Meeting, and the VP would not be available on that day, according to a message from the VP’s office.
The 600-page book, in both hardback and paper back, includes first-hand recollections of experiences by scores of journalists and writers among the newspaper’s near 400 former staff who will also be getting together to honour the newspaper’s founding publisher.
Among governors already on schedule to attend the event are Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He would attend as the Chief Host. Governor, of Delta State, the state of origin of publisher Alex Ibru, will be attending as Co-Host.
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, himself, a former staff of The Guardian, will also attend the event alongside the governors of Kwara, Alhaji AbdulRahman, and Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
Enugu State, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Rivers State Chief Nyesom Wike are also expected.
The governors will join the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who had since confirmed he would attend as Special Guest of Honour and deliver a keynote address.
More than 100 top journalists, publishers and news media managers, are also expected at the event.
The Book authors, Aaron Ukodie and Seun Ogunseitan, said aides of the said governors have confirmed that their principals are looking forward to the event.
According to the authors, “that event promises to be one that would witness the convergence of the greatest number of newsmen, politicians and businessmen in recent times”
The media entrepreneurs, opinion moulders, and managers, are among more than 250 guests already billed to attend the unveiling of the epochal book that vividly and in graphic narration, records how The Guardian was made and became the Flagship of the Nigerian media, especially in its first 10 years, from 1983 to 1993.
Among top media men attending the event are Dr. Patrick Dele Cole, Member of Editorial Board and founding member of The Guardian, Professor Femi Osofisan, pioneer editorial board member of The Guardian, Kingsley Osadolor, anchor of Good Morning Nigeria, broadcast by the Nigerian Television Authority.
Others are Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times, Segun Adeniyi, Chairman, Editorial Board, Thisday, Kayode Komolafe, Deputy Managing Director, Thisday Newspaper, Onuoha Ukeh, Managing Director, Sun Newspapers. Chief Segun Osoba who wrote the Foreword of the book, will be the father of the day at the event.
