Featured

The Pen is Still Mightier Than the Sword by Tunde Bakare

Published

7 years ago

July 15, 2018

Eric

Over the centuries, the phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword” has come to define the power of the written word in statecraft. Those words have since stepped out of the pages of Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s The Conspiracy, a play written in 1839, to become words on marble.

At the heart of this notion of the might of the pen is the idea that the course of a nation or people can be determined at the stroke of a pen. Nations can be built, and nations can be ruined; generations can be made great, and generations can be rendered wasted; civilizations can be birthed, and civilizations can be buried – at the stroke of a pen!

At the stroke of a pen, millions of Africans were “legally” transported across the Atlantic and Mediterranean and became the property of slave owners. At the stroke of a pen, the slave trade was abolished centuries later and emancipation was proclaimed to former slaves, thus formally criminalising an immoral enterprise. At the stroke of a pen, the kingdoms and city states of Africa were partitioned and transformed into the estates of European monarchs. At the stroke of a pen, cultures were dismembered, nations were balkanised, and territories were amalgamated into colonies and protectorates. Decades later, colonies and protectorates became independent states – at the stroke of a pen.

We have seen frameworks become supreme law and proposals become policies that make or break nations; we have seen elections validated or annulled; we have seen presidents sworn in, some by convention, others by the doctrine of necessity – all at the stroke of a pen. Families are consolidated or dissolved, enterprises are incorporated or liquidated, convictions are obtained or upturned, and life and death could hang on a simple but weighty sentence, held in the balance by a pen waiting to be wielded, particularly when the ink that runs through the pen is propelled by the force of the state.

We have also seen world changers who, when the pages of history parted for them to emerge, proceeded on their journeys without the backing of the state and forcefully turned the wheel of civilisation at the stroke of a pen. At the stroke of a pen, the doctrinal chains that held the church and the nations in a stranglehold were dismantled when a German professor of theology, Martin Luther, reminded the world that the just shall live by faith. Here, I am referring to the “Ninety-Five Theses” he nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral in 1517.

At the stroke of a pen, the people of Great Britain began their journey to freedom from the tyranny of monarchy to parliamentary democracy – history calls it the Magna Carta. At the stroke of a pen, the people of the United States declared their independence from the colonising power of the British Crown – they called it the Declaration of Independence. At the stroke of a pen, the people of France broke the spell of an oppressive monarchy and took control of government – history records it as the Declaration of the Rights of the Man and of the Citizen. At the stroke of a pen, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels sparked the flame of revolution among the proletariat of Russia and Eastern Europe – they called it the Communist Manifesto.

The likes of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Kwame Nkrumah, and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, armed with no other weapon, mobilised the Queen’s language in the struggle for independence from the Queen. They fought their battles through such media as West African Pilot, Accra Evening News and The Tribune. Decades after independence, when free, fair and credible elections were annulled, and a tyrannical dictatorship held sway, the Nigerian press took up the baton and contended against the sword of oppression by deploying the armoury of vocabulary. I am so glad that the labours of these pen warriors and all others who fought for the democracy we enjoy today have not been in vain after all.

From now on, any time the name Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola GCFR – Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic – is mentioned with full honours, it is an honour first to the man who paid the supreme price to pave the way for Nigeria’s democracy, and then to the heroes and heroines who stood up behind him, including those in the Fourth Estate of the Realm who marshalled the written and spoken word against tyranny. Indeed, the members of the press who fought for the June 12 mandate were fighting not just for democracy but in defence of one their own, for, amongst his many endeavours, Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola was a media entrepreneur and founder of the African Concord, where Dele Momodu, the man at whose behest we are gathered here today, cut his teeth as a journalist.

I totally agree with Ralph Waldo Emerson that “talent alone cannot make a writer: there must be a man behind the book.” Bashorun Dele Momodu and his ilk have proved themselves over the years to be real men. In addition, by deploying their skill against tyranny, the members of the press have aligned themselves with a biblical truth that recognises authorship as an instrument of battle, because the same God who is militarily presented in Psalm 18:2 as “the horn of salvation” is revealed in Hebrews 5:9 as the “author of salvation.”

My reference to the Bible at this juncture reminds me of Dele Momodu’s desire to be a pastor, which I first heard him express in the course of my 60th birthday celebrations. Pastor Dele, I believe that, even without the benefit of a conventional pulpit, you have already shepherded the nation with the flow of wisdom from your pen. Over the years, I have read your writings and I have seen you not only advising presidents on appropriate courses of action at crucial junctures in our national trajectory, but also warning them on the consequences of inappropriate responses to our national dilemmas. This is the manner of prophets such as the biblical Amos, a “herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs” , whose distinguishing feature, it must be said, was not that he possessed an AK-47. Instead, he was a man to whom the word of God for his nation was revealed when that nation was being misled by a corrupt governmental order.

Dele Momodu, a publisher by profession, who understands that a picture is worth a thousand words, has become a pen prophet by vocation, and a consistent conduit of wise counsel to the leadership of our nation. I am glad to see his writings compiled for the present and posterity in two of the books being launched today. And like Winston Churchill who said “half my life time I have earned my living by selling words, and I hope thoughts”, may Bashorun Momodu prosper by his words and thoughts.

In 2011, when the leaders of our nation failed to heed his counsel and warnings, Dele Momodu could not fold his arms and watch the nation go down the drain. He momentarily dropped his pen and jumped into the fray. As a man irrevocably committed to the people, Dele Momodu pitched his tent with a political party that had been instituted by a defender of the people; a man upon whom the people had already conferred an award no government award could ever match. Dele Momodu aligned himself with the political apparatus instituted by my late boss and mentor, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Senior Advocate of the Masses, later Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and now Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON). While Dele Momodu lost the 2011 presidential election, he didn’t lose the lessons and I am pleased that his experience has been chronicled in the third book being launched today, Fighting Lions: The Untold Story of Dele Momodu’s Presidential Campaign, written by his Campaign Director, Ohimai Godwin Amaize.

I understand that Fighting Lions captures Dele Momodu’s disappointment at the lack of support from his own constituency, the media and entertainment industries, in the 2011 elections. I am pleased to let you know that I am not a brother who is not touched by the feelings of your infirmity, for I also faced the same temptation you did, and so did my friend, Fola Adeola, but the grace of God saw us through.

It is no news that I participated in the same election as running mate to our current president, Muhammadu Buhari. With the negative image associated with the then General Buhari, especially the allegations of religious fundamentalism, being his running mate as a pastor was not an easy task at all. Need I tell you that my strongest critics were from my constituency? To most leaders in the church, aligning with a man they considered an opponent of Christianity against another they considered a Christian was sacrilegious, to say the least. To them, I was a traitor, undeserving of support. Therefore, I understand Dele Momodu’s disappointment. Our experience mirrors that of Joseph who was sold by his brothers because of the dream he had.

However, I do not think that the effort was in vain. Instead, I thank God that I took up the challenge and became a barrier breaker. Four years later, when the mantra became “Anything but Jonathan”, the same church leaders who had said it was inconceivable for a pastor to participate in politics, especially in alignment with a perceived Islamic fundamentalist, ate their words and threw their weight behind the same Muhammadu Buhari, with my brother, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, as running mate.

I am also aware that, in 2015, the press, represented by the likes of Dele Momodu, played a role in redefining the narrative and presenting to the Nigerian public a Buhari they could relate to. That year, in addition to other things I did in the background to ensure that the will of the people counted irrespective of the outcome, I recall telling the nation of “The Buhari I Know” just to ensure he was given a fair chance untainted by a negative brand image.

Now, three years later, it appears, once again, that the people are experiencing buyer’s remorse. Interestingly, the likes of Dele Momodu and I are being blamed for allegedly packaging the current dispensation. It is, however, necessary to remind the nation that there were warnings. We had warned then that plunging headlong into another election cycle without addressing what I called the fundamentals was tantamount to putting the cart before the horse; but when the nation was adamant and wanted its way, like the prophet Samuel did when Israel demanded a king against divine counsel, we played our part to ensure that the interest of Nigeria was kept paramount.

I am glad that neither the disappointments of the 2011 elections, nor the stiff-necked response of those in power to his propositions and warnings, have been strong enough to deter Dele Momodu in his steadfast service to the nation from his power slot as a media icon. Instead, he has intensified his contributions just so Nigeria can rise to her potential as a great nation regardless of who is in government. It is that dogged belief in the Nigerian dream that has brought us here today, at a time when the countdown clock to elections reads 219 days but the Nigerian dream is yet asleep and her structural defects glaringly acute.

At this critical moment in our national life, the words of the French emperor and warrior, Napoleon Bonaparte, are worthy of mention. He said, and I quote: “A journalist is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of sovereigns, a tutor of nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” I sincerely pray that all the stakeholders, especially the press and the intelligentsia, will play a pivotal role in setting the agenda for the polity in 2019.

The writings of Dele Momodu have, over the years, addressed some of the fundamental issues facing our nation. I am confident that he, as well as other opinion moulders, will intensify efforts to ensure that the welfare and security of our people, as well as the overall development of our nation, become the main discourse at this pivotal moment. This is the purpose of any government worthy of the name.

Finally, to a nation in the throes of violent agitations, to the people of our nation who want their fair share, and to young people running out of patience, the lesson from Dele Momodu is very clear and simple: spill the ink, not the blood; paint an indelible picture of the nation you desire, and work tirelessly to ensure its realisation, knowing that the greatness of our nation depends on it. If we follow that counsel passionately, we shall, by God’s grace, see a nation that works in our lifetime.

Thank you for listening, God bless you, and God bless our nation, Nigeria.

• Being keynote address by Pastor Tunde Bakare at the public presentation and launch of Pendulum 1, Pendulum 2 and Fighting Lions by Dele Momodu. Bakare is Serving Overseer, The Latter Rain Assembly (LRA) and Convener, Save Nigeria Group (SNG).

Featured

From Dubai to the World: The Prolific, Beautiful Story of Profound Realtors

Published

13 hours ago

November 14, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

There are realtors and there are realtors. There are real estate firms and there are real estate firms. However, of a truth some stand out in the midst of others, towering in class, beauty, aesthetics, affordability and delivery. One of such real estate companies that has shown class and originality is the Profound Realtors, a statement made in Dubai, and transmitted to the entire world, with Africa gaining a substantial bite.

Profound Realtors boast of peace of mind, comfort and unquantified reach in the sense that properties are spotted, negotiated and delivered across the globe with just a touch of the button.

Consequently, anyone looking for an opportunity of property investment in Dubai should look no further because Profound Realtors, with a team of highly trained professionals and properties of different beautiful shapes and sizes, is the sure bet.

Profound Realtors has a pedigree rooted in honesty, integrity and trust. It is not one of the best in the continent; it is the best, offering affordability as a standard rule, clear cut and prompt delivery as well as a promise of money-back.

Run by the Ashfaq Hassain as the Chief Executive Officer, the company is trailed by stories of good tidings and testimonies of forthrightness.

Below are detailed reasons Profound Realtors must be the preferred choice

Profound Realtors is a premier real estate company specializing in buying, selling, and leasing properties in Dubai. With years of industry expertise and an in-depth understanding of Dubai’s dynamic property market, we take pride in being a trusted partner for clients looking to make wise real estate decisions.

Why Choose Profound Realtors?

1. Extensive Property Portfolio

We offer an extensive selection of properties, ranging from luxurious ready-made apartments to ambitious off plan developments in Dubai’s most sought-after locations. Whether you’re looking to buy properties in Business Bay or other prime areas, we have you covered. For international investors looking to invest in Dubai from USA, our expert team ensures a seamless and secure buying experience.We also provide a variety of options if you’re seeking a property for rent in Business Bay, perfect for professionals and families alike.

2. Expert Guidance

Navigating the Dubai real estate market can be overwhelming, but with Profound Realtors, you’re in capable hands. Our team of dedicated real estate agents in Dubai will provide you with personalized advice, in-depth market insights, and the latest trends to help you make informed decisions, whether you’re exploring various communities or planning to buy properties in Blue Water Island for a premium waterfront lifestyle.

3. Trustworthy Relationships

At Profound Realtors, we believe that strong relationships are the foundation of success. Our commitment to transparency, integrity, and exceptional customer service has earned us the trust of numerous clients who have become part of our real estate family.

4. Off Plan Investment Opportunities

As Dubai continues to be a hub of innovation and architectural wonders, off plan properties present unparalleled investment prospects. We offer a diverse range of off plan projects, allowing you to invest in tomorrow’s iconic landmarks today.

5. Ready-Made Homes for Every Lifestyle

If you prefer a home that is move-in ready, we have an array of stunning ready-made properties. From chic urban apartments to elegant villas nestled in serene communities, we have options to cater to diverse tastes and budgets.

WHAT PROFOUND REALTORS DOES FOR CLIENTS

1. Buying and Selling

Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced investor, we assist you throughout the entire buying and selling process. From property search and price negotiation to paperwork and settlement, we ensure a smooth and stress-free experience.

2. Leasing and Property Management

If you’re looking to lease your property or need help managing your investment, our team offers comprehensive property management services to maximize your rental income and ensure your property is well-maintained.

3. Investment Consultation:

For investors seeking to capitalize on the Dubai real estate market, our experts provide tailored investment advice, helping you identify high-yield opportunities that align with your financial objectives.

Why Invest in Dubai?

Dubai’s real estate market remains an attractive destination for both local and international investors. With a thriving economy, world-class infrastructure, tax-free benefits, and a high standard of living, Dubai offers a compelling environment for property investment.

Start Your Journey with Profound Realtors

Discover the limitless possibilities that Dubai’s real estate market offers with Profound Realtors. Whether you are searching for a dream home, an investment property, or expert advice, our team is dedicated to making your real estate journey an exceptional one.
Contact us today to explore the best of Dubai’s ready-made and off plan properties. Let Profound Realtors be your guide to unlocking the true potential of Dubai’s real estate landscape.

Speaking to The Boss on the proficiency of Profound, Mr Hassain noted that “Fortunately, at Profound Realtors, we have experienced realtors who are there for your rescue. Whether you have set your eyes on luxury villas in Dubai, or want to buy properties in Dubai Marina, or even invest in Dubai. Our team of RERA-certified experts is here to assist you with every step of your journey to buying your next family home or a profitable rental.”

MORE OF THE IMPACTS OF PROFOUND REALTORS

Profound is proud to provide answers to questions as regards the purchase of properties, its value and the accruals when one patronize Profound to get a Dubai-based property.

Consider the following as derived the company’s website:

Real Estate in Dubai

If you want to invest in villas for sale in Dubai or want to buy properties in JBR, you are in for a treat, as Dubai’s diversified market offers options to suit every taste and budget. If you are an investor, this real estate market can be the best stepping stone on your path to success, as this market offers one of the best infrastructures that you can encounter, with strong potential for long-term returns.

Realtors in the UAE

The profession of realtors in UAE has grown speedily alongside the growth of Real estate in Dubai. Going through every possible option of properties, be it in the buzzing city of Dubai or the cultural city of Sharjah, can be an overwhelming task. To simplify this tedious job, you can take advantage of realtors who can act as a bridge connecting you with suitable properties. At Profound Realtors, we focus on guiding you through every option with clarity and care, helping you ease your way into understanding local neighborhoods, property laws, and the lifestyle that comes with each investment.

Dubai’s real estate market is an exciting opportunity, but it can also be a lot to take in. Fortunately, our expert realtors in Dubai are here to guide you so that you can turn this complex project into an easy mission. We at profound realtors have worked with enough people to understand each client’s unique needs. This is also the reason why we offer personalized assistance. This provides you with advice on what is best suited for your specific goals. We offer assistance every step of the way, from in-depth market analysis to skillful negotiation and managing transactions, ensuring a fruitful experience.

We are aware that navigating through Dubai’s real estate market can be especially difficult for investors who want to invest in Dubai from UK, the USA, or anywhere abroad. The best real estate companies in Dubai don’t believe in cookie-cutter services and know these investments are not just another transaction but a deeply personal story. It’s a process filled with hurdles and questions, that’s exactly where profound realtors come in.

WHY YOU MUST BUY A PROFOUND REALTORS FACILITATED DUBAI PROPERTY

1. A tax-free environment is a great opportunity for every professional living in Dubai. The realtors in Dubai can keep a larger sum of their earnings compared to any other country. This policy is what attracts many individuals to this profession.

2. Dubai’s real estate can be an excellent opportunity for investors who are after high-demand areas like Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina, which can bring them high returns on their investments. However, it’s important to take help from a local real estate expert to get a know-how about fluctuating market trends and make an informed decision.

3. One can invest in Dubai from Africa, USA, or anywhere outside Dubai. The government has also set aside designated freehold areas where foreigners can easily buy villas for sale in Dubai and own 100 percent of the property. Both residential and commercial properties are included in these freehold areas.

4. If you are looking for better rental yields and an enhanced lifestyle, you can choose to buy properties in Dubai Marina, as it’s more accessible. Whereas if you are after better long-term investment and exclusivity, Palm Jumeirah can be a better option.

5. JBR appeals more to tourists and families who require beachside living options. It can be a good investment as JBR has a bigger unit size. This makes it eligible to be listed on Airbnb during peak tourist periods.

6. Anyone can invest in Dubai from the UK, because of Dubai’s freehold areas and no tax policy, it has become a central hub for international investors, business owners, and residents alike.

7. Anyone can invest in Dubai from the USA. It’s way easier and beneficial to invest in Dubai from the USA because of the designated freehold areas and the no-tax policy. Another reason is the Dubai Land Department, which oversees transactions of real estate in Dubai, ensuring secure and transparent payments.

The opportunity is endless, and African investors, looking for honesty transactions, with peace of mind, just have to settle for PROFOUND REALTORS.

Featured

Trump Didn’t Lie, There’s Christian Genocide in Nigeria, PFN Insists

Published

15 hours ago

November 14, 2025

Eric

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has insisted that there is Christian genocide ongoing in Nigeria, hence demanding end to the alleged Christian killings.

Speaking on Thursday after an emergency executive meeting of the Fellowship held at its national headquarters in Lagos, PFN President, Bishop Francis Wale Oke, said the body would no longer remain silent while Christians are “targeted, killed, raped, and displaced” across the country.

He said: “There is Christian genocide going on in Nigeria. If we call it by any other name, it will bring Nigeria down. We are crying out to our international friends, beginning with America and Donald Trump. Whatever you can do to help our government put an end to it, come quickly and get it done. When on Christmas Day, Christmas Day was turned a bloody day in Benue State, and hundreds were massacred. And we are to be conducting mass funerals when we are not in open conflict. What do you call that? And this is different from individual cases.

“Let us call a spade a spade. There is Christian genocide ongoing in Nigeria,”Bishop Oke declared.

“Even while we speak, killings are still taking place in Borno, Plateau, and Benue states. When 501 Christians were massacred in Dogon Noma in Plateau, what do we call that? When Christmas Day turned into a bloody day in Benue, with hundreds massacred, what name should we give it?

While noting that the United States President Donald Trump spoke the truth, the PRN President cited the case of Leah Sharibu who was abducted alongside other Chibok girls and has since remained in captivity.

“Like the case of Leah Sharibu. Where is Leah Sharibu? Like the case of Deborah that was lynched and burned alive in Sokoto? What about that? And several of our girls were kidnapped and forced, given out as wives by force without the consent of their parents and their Christian parents. And the Christian parents would not see them for years.And this has been going on. We have been talking and we are not taking it seriously. And it has been going on again and again, until Donald Trump now spoke. And Donald Trump spoke the truth. There is Christian genocide going on in Nigeria.

“Like you will have picked in the news, even since this narrative began, killing was still going on in Borno, in Plateau, in Benue, up until yesterday. What are we saying? When 501 Christians were massacred in Dogonaya in Plateau State, what do we call that? And for no offense other than they are Christians.”

Oke recalled that the Christian community had repeatedly called the attention of the government to the alleged genocide with no decisive action from the authority.

The cleric expressed his backing for President Trump’s intervention, adding that Trump only echoed what Nigerian Christians had been saying for year

“I was part of the team that went to see the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari. We spoke very strongly about this and the President listened to us, but he completely ignored the main issue we came for, If we came and spoke with such vehemence, with such passion, and then you pick the peripheral matter and left this matter alone, I knew that day that his government was complicit in what was going on,” he added.

Oke alleged that the killings across parts of Nigeria were systematic and targeted on Christians, lamenting that the killings had continued unchecked despite repeated appeals from the Church.

“The evidence is all over the place. There is nothing anybody can say that can whitewash it. It is evil, it is blood shedding, it is mass murder and it is genocide. The time to stop it is now. That is what the church in Nigeria is saying with one voice.

“Christians in this nation must be free to practice their faith in any part of Nigeria as bona fide citizens of Nigeria.

“These armed bandits, Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram, ISWAP, all of them using Islam as a cover. We have been living in peace with our Muslim brothers for a long, until this violent Islamic sect came up with an intent to make sure they impose Sharia on all Nigerians,” Oke said.

Bishop Oke called on President Bola Tinubu to decisively overhaul the nation’s security architecture, and ensure justice for victims of religious violence. He questioned why those responsible for notorious attacks—such as the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto and the abduction of Leah Sharibu and the Chibok schoolgirls—remain unpunished.

“The government should prove by action, not words, that it is not complicit,” he said. “When hundreds are buried in mass graves and the whole world sees it, who can deny it? Why should we play politics with the blood of Nigerians?”

The PFN urged President Tinubu’s administration to rebuild trust by ensuring that the security architecture of the country is not infiltrated by those sympathetic to extremist ideologies.

Oke further condemned the government’s rehabilitation of so-called “repentant terrorists,” describing the move as a grave security.

He assured Christians that the PFN would continue to speak out until the killings stop. “We are not going to keep quiet. We will keep raising our voices until justice is done and every Nigerian, regardless of faith, can live in peace. The truth may be suppressed for a time, but it cannot be buried forever,” he said.

The meeting, which drew PFN leaders from across the country, reaffirmed the body’s commitment to national unity, peace, and the protection of fundamental human rights, while urging the media to “side with the oppressed” and report the truth without fear or bias.

Featured

Yes! Magazine Publisher, Azuh Arinze, Conferred with Fellowship of NGE

Published

20 hours ago

November 14, 2025

Eric

The 21st All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC), held from November 11–14, 2025 at the magnificent Aso Villa and NAF Centre in Abuja, will be remembered for many reasons – its robust conversations, its galaxy of eminent speakers, and its firm focus on national cohesion.

But for Azuh Arinze, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, it was the final day that proved most unforgettable, as he was formally conferred with the prestigious Fellowship of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) – an honour both well deserved and warmly applauded.

Themed “Democratic Governance and National Cohesion: The Role of Editors,” the conference assembled the highest echelon of Nigeria’s political, media, security and thought leaders. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who graced the occasion as Special Guest of Honour, delivered remarks underscoring the indispensable role of a free and responsible press in safeguarding national stability.

The keynote address by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State resonated deeply, as he spoke passionately about the responsibility of editors in shaping democratic narratives, holding public office accountable and bridging Nigeria’s complex socio-political divides.

Other distinguished contributors were Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation; Mr. Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate; Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers State and ex-Minister of Transportation; and General Lucky Irabor (rtd.), former Chief of Defence Staff. Their perspectives enriched the conference with remarkable clarity and candour.

The event was jointly chaired by two towering figures – His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto, and Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of ThisDay and Arise News Media Group. Both leaders commended the Guild for elevating excellence and reinforcing professional standards.

When the Fellowship announcement was made, the hall erupted in applause. With characteristic humility – yet visibly moved – Azuh Arinze stepped forward to receive the honour.

“This Fellowship means a lot to me,” he said, smiling broadly as he returned to his seat. “It is a beautiful reminder that dedication, consistency and integrity still count in our profession. I am grateful to the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and I dedicate this honour to every journalist who wakes up daily to tell the stories that matter.”

Azuh Arinze’s journalism journey has been one of passion, persistence and purpose.

He began his career in the bustling Lagos media landscape 30 years ago, cutting his teeth as an IT student at FAME Weekly, armed with curiosity and a hunger to learn. Over the years, he rose steadily and impressively, distinguishing himself through his flair for human-interest stories, compelling interviews and thorough investigative reporting.

He became widely celebrated during his inspiring years at National Encomium (later Encomium Weekly), where he served as Editor for eight uninterrupted years. His editorial brilliance also flourished at Reel Stars, where he also served as Editor, helping to redefine entertainment journalism with depth, credibility and flair.

Today, he is best known as the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine, a platform that continues to set standards in personality, lifestyle and development journalism. Through the magazine, his interviews with leading figures across politics, business, media and entertainment have become reference points for students, creators and seasoned professionals.

Beyond print, Azuh is an accomplished author of nine widely regarded books that explore success, leadership and the power of storytelling. As a media entrepreneur and mentor, he has played a pivotal role in nurturing young journalists and promoting ethical, impactful journalism.

His contributions to the media profession have earned him multiple honours over the decades, and his elevation as a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors stands as a crowning recognition.

He holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration, a BSc in Public Administration and a HND in Mass Communication – and is currently back in school, pursuing further studies.