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Pendulum: Great Lessons Life Has Taught Me At 59 (Part 3)

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By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, if you’ve followed my trajectory over time, you would probably agree that God has been extremely kind to me. My journey is full of many lessons of life. For me, one of the best possessions a man can have is to be surrounded by good and great people. At different stages, I have been richly blessed by many amazing friends and mentors. Oftentimes, I wonder if there is a magnet on my body that attracts the best of the best to me. I deliberately left out some of my biggest encounters with life changers last week, because I wanted to deal with them together, rather than create some kind of suspense. Let me now demonstrate how blessed I have been.

I had arrived Lagos to search for a full-time job in April 1988, immediately after my Master’s programme at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. I was desperate because I was the only jobless one out of all my close friends. For my dear Mum, it was as if there was a jinx to be broken. One of the first friends I made was a young publisher, Nduka Obaigbena, who was publishing Thisweek magazine at the time. I had gone to see his Editor, Lanre Idowu, who offered to introduce me to him. I was already known in media circles by then and Nduka asked me to write a piece for Thisweek on the spot. He paid me one hundred naira, the highest fee for a single article at the time. I must say, it was big money for that time. But that was not the main issue, which was that an immediate bond was created, and we’ve been friends ever since.

Nduka played many other roles thereafter. My first trip outside Nigeria was in 1985, when I travelled to England to visit my older brother, Dr Oladele Bolarinwa Ajayi, who was teaching Engineering Physics at the University of Surrey in Guildford. Nigerians didn’t require visa at the time. Buhari was in power and I was able to procure my basic travel allowance (BTA) of one hundred naira (commission on it was ten naira only) on the day of travel from the International Merchant Bank, on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, and the Managing Director of the bank, Mr Odunayo Olagundoye, a very good friend of my brother, was very helpful. I flew out the same evening on British Caledonian Airways. I enjoyed this first trip to England tremendously. It was an unforgettable experience for me. I was able to observe first-hand those things and places I had only imagined and envisioned from reading about them in books. I immediately learnt that education was not complete without exposure to different cultures and behaviour and that there is great sense in the adage that until you see another person’s farm you will believe that your father’s farm is the biggest. It is such myopic views that continues to imprison and enslave our present crop of leaders and denies our country the chance to rise to the greatness that all of us believe it deserves.

My next journey abroad was travelling in 1991 at the instance of Nduka Obaigbena, who contracted me and my friend and colleague, Uzor Maxim Uzoatu, to fly to London to do a project on President Ibrahim Babangida. Nduka got us our first visas, bought our tickets, put us in a rented apartment, Arabella Court, in upscale St. John’s Wood. After that trip, my life was never the same again. It was on that trip, I had to go and meet Chief Moshood Abiola, by pure chance and luck as I did not know he was in England during that period. The entire process of arranging and meeting with him was an experience of a lifetime. I have previously told the story of being at Stratford station when he asked to see me after phoning his house to speak to his son Ayodeji. My inclination was to take a cab to his Chester Terrace, Regents Park, home, but he insisted I take the Tube, the London Underground, if I was to meet with him, as this was a faster means of transport and he was only in a London for a very short time. I realised that when there is something important to do, style and fancifulness have no role. You simply get down to brass tacks and do what has to be done with the tools that are immediately available to you. Strike whilst the iron is hot, or you will have yourself to blame. Despite his great wealth, MKO was a simple and common man.  He travelled on any form of transport, including public transport, as it suited him and his busy itinerary.

My next trip to the United Kingdom gave birth to yet another everlasting relationship. It so happened that the First Lady, Mrs Maryam Babangida, was receiving the Hunger Project Award alongside the Kenyan environmentalist, Professor Wangari Mathai, and many distinguished Nigerians were present. Nduka Obaigbena had called up the Nigerian High Commissioner, Mr Dove Edwin, to secure me a seat at the event. Unknown to me, one of Africa’s greatest entrepreneurs, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. was sitting quietly and unobtrusively. Someone had tapped me gently, but I couldn’t see the face perfectly. The man turned out to be The Guru, also known as The Bull, or The Spirit of Africa (the moniker I coined for him). He requested for my number in London. One of his aides called the following day requesting to pick up a parcel from Chairman at an apartment in Pimlico, and I was dazed by the gift he left for me. My dear friend, Senator Gbenga Obadara, had offered to drive me that night. Since then, the Spirit of Africa has been an unmatchable benefactor in too many ways, and I’ve learnt so much at his desk, about simplicity, loyalty and benevolence. The Guru is an enigma. He is many things to many people, but his life, lifestyle and principles are worthy of detailed study and analysis, because there are many lessons to be learnt. I can write a magnum opus on our almost surreal encounters, and I will leave that for the big book which I will soon write.

Let’s rewind a bit. I had met and struck friendship with the actor, Richard Mofe-Damijo, about the same day I first met Nduka Obaigbena in April 1988. Richard was also a reporter at the National Concord newspaper when I was also a Staff Writer at the African Concord magazine, owned by Chief Moshood Abiola. I later met the late May Ellen Ezekiel who subsequently became Richard’s wife. Before their talk-of the-town wedding, I had joined Classique magazine, which was substantially owned by May Ellen (may her soul continue to rest in peace). That is another story for another day. I started that job for May in May 1990,  on the eve of my 30th birthday on May 16 (which was hosted by the iconic realtor, Senator Ayodeji Otegbola), and I was well advertised as the highest paid Editor in Nigeria. May had told me she gave me that job because of my writing skills and prowess, my solid contacts in society and celebrity reporting as well as my effortless abilities to write both hard and soft sell news with equal dexterity and ease.

I resigned from that lucrative job in 1991 for a variety of reasons, and became a bread-seller, distributing Chief Moshood Abiola’s Wonderloaf. I had been asked to drop my official car and driver by Classique and I complied pronto. Nothing is more precious to me than integrity and I could not see myself holding onto something that had not been given to me even though I believed I deserved it as part of my severance package. My life, interestingly, is full of twists and turns. Miraculously, I got another car in no time. The Wonder Bakery Manager at the time, Chichi Ajuluchukwu, had informed her MD, Kola Abiola, about my ordeal and predicament and that I had shown interest in a particular Jetta car on sale in their premises. I was shocked when Kola asked me to pick it up, totally gratis. I will never forget this kind gesture. Kola was not yet 30 at the time. It is such unforeseen, fortuitous and totally surprising gestures that taught me that there it is a privilege and honour to give because the joy and happiness of the person you bless is usually nothing compared to yours. You can only receive more blessings by such acts of philanthropy.

 

By then, my life had become a rollercoaster. I decided to leave mainstream journalism and delved into public relations. Again, Kola Abiola gave me my first brief from Summit Oil International, which was the second indigenous oil company to dig and find oil in commercial quantity, after that of Dr Adenuga’s Consolidated Oil. We ran a blistering media campaign and the Abiolas were very pleased with my job. Interestingly, despite the sacrifices of MKO Abiola, the Summit Oil prospecting Licence has just been revoked by this present administration almost a year to the day when MKO was extravagantly honoured by the same government. How times change! I also handled media jobs for Dr Adenuga, a reclusive billionaire who had always preferred that his great work and magnanimity speak for him and his wealth rather than gallivanting around and being boastful about himself. As stupendously wealthy as he has been for as long as I have known him, he’s always kept his head under the parapet. He has spent more of his fortunes on others than himself. I am honoured to have his accounts, off and on, till this day.

 

My next account came from one of the most cerebral businessmen in Africa, Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie (ex-Oxford, ex-Cambr idge, ex-Harvard) who ran into many challenges after acquiring Africa’s global bank, UBA. I was introduced to him by his cousin, Ademola Adekogbe, now of blessed memory, and I was able to smoothen things between him and some of the toughest journalists who were after him like a hail of bullets. It was shortly after this feat that I was forced into exile by the Abacha junta. But “Keem” never forgot my diligence and efforts on his behalf. He was able to bring me on board while negotiating to bring Moneygram to Nigeria. He made sure I was on the Media payroll of Moneygram after introducing me to their CEO in Belgravia. We’ve maintained a good relationship since then.

 

My exile years were extremely tough and rough, but God sent me some angels. From Abdul Oroh, who first alerted me to the imminent dangers awaiting me in Nigeria, to Tokunbo Afikuyomi and Damola Aderemi, who showed me the process of getting out of Nigeria, to the three men who escorted me through the forests of a thousand daemons Captain Rotimi Seriki (God bless his soul), Bola Orolugbagbe and Olakunle Sikiru Bakare), to escape into Cotonou, to Dele Gbajumo and Fritz Baffour who made me feel so welcome in Accra, Ghana, to Gbenga Olunloyo who accommodated us, and his fantastic friends who gave me a royal welcome, to Chief Bola Tinubu and Lt. General Alani Akinrinade, who took care of refugees like me endlessly, to our comrades-at-arms in NADECO, to Chief Ezekiel Olasunmoye Fatoye, who led the miracle that became Ovation International, to the entire team that took the kamikaze plunge when everything looked impossible, to Baba Alex Duduyemi who saved my life when hope was fading, to Chief Bode Olajumoke who re-energised a dying horse, to Dr Mike Adenuga Jr. the Spirit you don’t see but feel his ethereal presence all the time, and to a family that suffered so much for an ungrateful nation that prefers its own oppressors, God stood by us all the way, through many wonderful souls that he served upon us as angels of mercy, succour and hope.

To all of the numerous people who have touched our lives, particularly those who have done so in simple ways, I say a big thank you. I want them to know that each and every one is appreciated and cherished and even though I may not mention their names because the list is endless, my gratitude knows no bounds.

My uncountable mentors and benefactors are the ones who have cemented the foundations of the lessons I have learnt as I continue my sojourn on earth. They have taught me that humility, compassion, integrity and loyalty are worth their weight in gold and are priceless indeed.

That seems to me to be the ultimate lesson!

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Finally, Tinubu Honours Humphrey Nwosu As Hero of June 12

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By Eric Elezuo

In a dramatic turn of process, President Bola Tinubu has bestowed the national honour of Commander of the Order of Niger (CON) on the Dr. Humphrey Nwosu for his efforts in birthing the new democratic Nigeria.

Tinubu made the announcement while addressing the nation at the National Assembly complex on Thursday to mark 2025 Democracy Day.

It would be recalled that honoring Nwosu has been an issue of controversy. The announcement had some South East legislators cheering.

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FG Applauds Hospitality Sector over Compliance to Top Management Registration

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The Federal Government, through the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), has commended hospitality establishments, particularly in Lagos, for their prompt compliance with regulatory provisions requiring the registration of top management staff in the sector.

The compliance drive is anchored on the NIHOTOUR Act 2022, which mandates all operators within the hospitality and tourism value chain to register and obtain appropriate certifications. The goal is to ensure service quality, standardisation, and the creation of a robust industry database, which will help protect and promote jobs for trained and qualified Nigerians.

Speaking in Lagos during a recent compliance exercise, NIHOTOUR noted the positive response from major hotel chains, including Marriott, Radisson Blu, Black Diamond, Four Points by Sheraton, and The Sojourner The agency, supported by security operatives deployed by the Inspector General of Police, carried out a comprehensive audit and headcount of management personnel at these establishments.

According to the agency, these top-end hotels have not only shown readiness to comply but have also embraced the initiative as a step toward professionalism and improved industry standards.

In Abuja, the compliance process has also seen progress, though a few operators are still working to update their profiles and resolve outstanding issues before fully joining the initiative.

Reacting to the development, the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) expressed satisfaction with the ongoing exercise in Lagos. FTAN President Nkereweum Onung described the response as encouraging, noting that it reflects a growing industry-wide awareness of the need for regulatory adherence.

“We are pleased to see that a significant number of operators are supporting government’s regulatory efforts. However, we urge for more patience and open communication with those who are still seeking clarification or yet to comply,” Onung said.

He emphasized the need for wider publicity to drive the compliance agenda and called for effective collaboration between government and trade associations to ensure the project’s success.

“We remain committed to supporting the government and promoting the growth of the hospitality and tourism industry. We also expect the government to stay faithful to its promises and contribute meaningfully to the sector’s development,” he added.

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Dele Momodu: Legacy in Motion

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By Konye Chelsea Nwabogor

There are people who chase relevance, and then there are those who become it. Dele Momodu, at 65, stands as one of the few Nigerians who has not only witnessed the evolution of media, politics, and public life, but has also shaped it.

To say he has lived many lives would be an understatement. Journalist. Publisher. Political aspirant. Cultural archivist. Outspoken commentator. And yet, even with a life so full, he’s still writing new chapters—on his own terms.

For decades, he has moved between boardrooms and ballrooms, newsrooms and palaces, always with a reporter’s curiosity and a statesman’s gravitas. Through Ovation International, the glossy magazine he founded in 1996, Momodu did something audacious: he made African success not just visible, but glamorous. He documented history in real-time, spotlighting not just presidents and billionaires, but the spirit of a continent eager to be seen on its own terms.

However, what makes his story truly compelling isn’t just the magazine covers or the celebrity handshakes—it’s the mind behind it all. Dele Momodu has consistently shown a rare ability to stay ahead of the curve. While others were still adjusting to hashtags and livestreams, he was already building his digital voice, engaging global audiences, and mentoring a new generation of storytellers—without losing the elegance and depth that defined his early career in print.

Unapologetically vocal and refreshingly blunt, he has mastered the delicate art of being both insider and outsider. He critiques power without flinching, yet understands the machinery from the inside. His 2011 presidential bid may not have led to a seat at Aso Rock, but it cemented his place in Nigeria’s democratic conversation—a media man unafraid to step into the arena.

At 65, he is reflective, but far from retiring. His curiosity remains sharp, his presence magnetic, his words weighty. Whether he’s sharing memories of MKO Abiola, challenging government policies on Instagram live, or spotlighting a rising designer he bumped into at the airport, Dele Momodu remains an institution unto himself—seasoned, yes, but never static.

In this exclusive interview with Konye Chelsea Nwabogor , he opens up about the Ovation journey, his views on Nigeria today and his fears and hopes for the media.

Happy Birthday, sir. 65 is indeed a markable milestone. What thoughts have been occupying your mind in this season of reflection? When you think back to the young man walking the grounds of Ife, did you ever imagine this life- this kind of journey?

To be quite honest, my life seems to have been on a rollercoaster. It is surreal. I don’t really know how my father, Jacob Momodu, migrated from a village called Ihievbe, in today’s Edo State, to the ancient town of Ile-Ife, and met my mother, Gladys, from Gbongan, and they fell in love with each other. I was born in 1960 and was the only child of their union. My father worked with the Public Works Department (PWD) where he rose to become a Road Road Overseer. My mother was a petty trader who sold food to prisoners and warders at Ife Prisons. We were of extremely modest income but survived on goodwill and contentment.

In 1973, my father suddenly passed on, and life immediately became harrowing for the family he left behind. I was barely 13 at that time and I had to meander my ways through a labyrinth of unforeseen circumstances and unimaginable challenges. We were kicked out of our rented “face-me-I-face-you” home in Moore, Ile-Ife. We had to move in with our sympathetic family, The Oyemades, in Modakeke.

It was impossible to see or envisage a bright future ahead of us. My mother really laboured hard. My dreams then were limited. Perhaps, at the very best, I had hoped to graduate, become a teacher, marry a teacher, and live happily thereafter.

Ovation has become more than a magazine. It’s part of the cultural fabric. Did you always know you were building something that would outlive trends? What was the founding vision, and has it stayed intact over the years—or has it evolved with you?

The story of Ovation is that of a mysterious babe that came out of an unplanned and unexpected pregnancy. I had originally planned to have this baby in 1991, after I lost my job as Editor of Classique magazine, but had to abort the plans when funding it became a major problem.

Fast forward to 1995, I suddenly became exiled in London and a new and scary situation stared at me. How do I survive in a city where every bill must be paid as at when due? My cousin, Segun Fatoye, then came up with the suggestion that I should establish a media company in London.

Once again, funding became a major hurdle to cross.

We managed to raise the less than 20 percent of what was required but we were determined to overcome all obstacles. Our passion for excellence and quality was extraordinary, and we were determined to produce a world-class publication, and God answered our prayers.

You’ve covered some of the most powerful and iconic people in the world. Of all the rooms you’ve entered, and all the stories you’ve captured, which ones left a permanent mark on you?

Without any doubt, it would be the awe-inspiring room of Ambassador Chief Antonio Deinde Fernandez on an island in New York. Nothing compares to it. The closest would probably be the home of Alhaji Mai Deribe in Maiduguri. Both properties were photographed exclusively for Ovation International magazine by the famous Scottish photographer, Colin Ramsay, now of blessed memories. We had so much fun shooting those iconic homes.

You’ve remained consistently relevant in a media landscape that’s constantly evolving. How were you able to expand so seamlessly into the digital space? What do you credit for that adaptability?

My determination to succeed is extraordinary. I have always had this nagging fear of returning to those days of anguish and agony.

Fortunately for me, I decided to contest Nigeria’s Presidential election in 2011. Naturally, I was compelled to embrace social media. After losing the election, I converted them from politics to business. It was the smartest move I ever made.

You have also managed to build a distinct voice online, especially on social media. What do you think is the role of a journalist in the age of immediacy, visibility, and algorithms?

Our role is not just to post salacious falsehoods in the name of beating deadlines or creating trends. We must demonstrate restraint and responsibility. All is not lost, though. Nigeria still parades some of the brightest and boldest journalists in Africa. The biggest impediment to quality journalism is the dwindling income. Most media houses are barely surviving.

No doubt, journalism has become an endangered specie in our country Nigeria. Anyone with a smartphone can set up an instant blog, no matter how poorly educated. This is dangerous and highly inimical to the growth of a once-revered profession.

Do you think Nigerian journalism still holds power, or has it become too entwined with politics, commerce, and survival?

Every media organisation is usually a reflection of the biases and prejudices of its proprietors. This is not limited to Nigeria. This is even more pronounced in Europe and America where media is often divided on ideological grounds.

You’ve always had the courage to say what others won’t. What gives you the confidence to speak so boldly, particularly on political matters?

I graduated from the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and also bagged a Master’s degree from the same institution, which was well renowned for its radicalism and “A luta” culture. I grew up reading Marxist/Leninist and Soyinkean literatures. I participated in many struggles. I was in exile during the Abacha regime, and I joined Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other NADECO fighters in pulling some stunts. Therefore, I cannot be afraid of speaking truth to Tinubu today because he’s President. I expect him to remember and appreciate our journeys together and respect my right to free speech. I will never disrespect or disparage him, but I will never be squeamish in front of any Nigerian leader. At 65, I’m now an elder statesman and ready to make sacrifices for my nation.

Your commentary on Nigeria, especially its leadership, economy, and direction, often stirs intense reactions. Do you worry about backlash, or is that part of the responsibility that comes with being a public voice?

I have since passed the stage of worrying over any backlash from rulers and their acolytes. I’m sure they know I’m a sincere critic and not a career agitator. It would have been a lot easier for me to join the government and gain access to stupendous opportunities, but I chose the road less travelled. I’m very proud of my choice and I intend to exercise my FREEDOM of expression and Association till eternity.

What frustrates you most about Nigeria’s current political landscape? Is there anything that still gives you hope?

I’m definitely frustrated about the lack of principle and ideology in our politics. The shamelessness of politicians also worries me. The level of greed and self-aggrandisement is too shocking and unacceptable in more reasonable terrains. Hope is fast evaporating in me. I’m only awaiting a miracle.

You’ve built a media empire, travelled across continents, shaped public narratives, and influenced policy conversations—but what would you say has been your proudest moment?

I will humbly and modestly say I have succeeded in building not just a global brand but also a double brand, similar to that of Richard Branson of the Virgin Group and Bill Gates of Microsoft.

I received the honorary Fellowship of the African Public Relations Association (APRA) alongside President John Dramani Mahama in Kigali, Rwanda, in 2019, in recognition of my public relations skills. Mine has been an uncommon trajectory. And I give God all the glory.

What would you like Ovation to represent in another 70 years, long after your name has become history?

A media outfit that continues to promote the positive stories of Africa.

What brings you the most joy in private moments—away from the public persona, the interviews, the speaking engagements?

Watching my children grow into men doing great things of their own without relying on their father’s name or contacts.

You’ve mentored many young voices, both in media and politics. What is the one quality you believe is non-negotiable for anyone who wants to last in this space?

Integrity.

What’s something you believe now, at 65, that you didn’t believe at 35?

That Nigeria could ever degenerate to this terrible level.

What still drives you? What keeps you curious?

The passion for greatness.

When all is said and done, what do you hope the Ovation of your life sounds like?

Culled from ThisDay Style

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