Featured

International Holocaust Memorial Day: Tales from the Land of a Thousand Hills

Published

6 years ago

January 30, 2020

Eric

By Dolapo Aina

If you save a life; you save the whole world – a Jewish saying

Kigali, Rwanda.

The International Holocaust Memorial Day is a unique day and in the year 2020; the day fell on a Monday. Events had already kicked off a week earlier with a commemoration event with over fifty world leaders, Presidents, Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses gathered in Israel. And a conference organised by Moshe Kantor (an international public figure, President of European Jewish Congress and the founder of World Holocaust Forum).

Some days later, Monday, 27^th of January 2020 to be precise, events were held globally to commemorate The International Holocaust Memorial Day. A day set aside to remember and reflect and share the stories of the trails, tribulations Jews went through during World War Two and the liberation of Auschwitz by Russian soldiers. To be precise, the date is remembered as the day Russian troops liberated the few survivors who remained at Auschwitz in Poland in 1945. The Holocaust was a Nazi attempt to rid the world of Jews. As BBC’s Tim Franks puts it; it was a methodical and industrial Genocide.

The event commemorated in Rwanda for the first time (a country which experienced one of the world’s worst genocide: The Genocide Against The Tutsi) by the Embassy of Israel. The Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda (Dr Ron Adam) who as a diplomat at the UN was behind the adoption by the United Nations of January 27^th as the International Holocaust Memorial Day and the International Commemoration Day. This commemoration held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial (a place that rests circa 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide Against The Tutsi). What awaited this writer was not envisioned and unlike the motto for the Boys Scouts; Be Prepared; I wasn’t prepared for the intense tales at the ceremony and the remembrance-laced speeches of the speakers like Umutoniwase Blandine who recited her Poem: Why Remember? Belgian author, Michel Kichka; UN Rwanda Resident Coordinator Fode Ndiaye; Chaya Singer representing the World Jewish Congress; Rwanda’s Minister of Youth and Culture, Mrs Rosemary Mbabazi; Ambassador of Germany in Rwanda, Dr Thomas Kuvz; Ambassador of Israel in Rwanda, Dr Ron Adam. Whilst Rabbi of Rwanda, Haim Bar Sella led the prayer session. And the short stories by Mr David Frankel (who survived Holocaust).

The Holocaust stories were heart-breaking to listen to but at this juncture for those who don’t have an understanding of what The Holocaust is about. The Auschwitz website reveals that the Auschwitz concentration camp was a complex of over forty concentration and extermination camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II and the Holocaust. It consisted of Auschwitz I, the main camp (Stammlager) in Oswiecim; Auschwitz 2–Birkenau, a concentration and extermination camp built with several gas chambers; Auschwitz 3–Monowitz, a labour camp created to staff a factory for the chemical conglomerate IG Farben; and dozens of subcamps. The camps became a major site of the Nazis’ Final Solution to the Jewish Question.

Still from the Auschwitz’s website; after Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, sparking World War II, the Schutzstaffel (paramilitary organisation) converted Auschwitz I, an army barracks, into a prisoner-of-war camp for Polish political prisoners. The first gassings of Soviet and Polish prisoners took place in block 11 of Auschwitz I around August 1941. Construction of Auschwitz II began the following month, and from 1942 until late 1944 freight trains delivered Jews from all over German-occupied Europe to its gas chambers.

Now, the statistics are mindboggling. One million three hundred thousand people sent to Auschwitz and one million one hundred thousand died. Breaking down the figures; the death toll includes 960,000 Jews (865,000 of whom were gassed on arrival). 74,000 non-Jewish Poles, 21,000 Roma, 15,000 Soviet prisoners of war, and up to 15,000 other Europeans.[5] Those not gassed died of starvation, exhaustion, disease, individual executions, or beatings. Others were killed during medical experiments. At least 802 prisoners tried to escape and 144 successfully.

As the Soviet Red Army approached Auschwitz in January 1945, toward the end of the war, the SS sent most of the camp’s population west on a death march to camps inside Germany and Austria. Soviet troops entered the camp on 27 January 1945, a day commemorated since 2005 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

According to the website; just a few months after the end of the war a group of Polish survivors began to proselytise about the concept of commemorating the victims of Auschwitz. As soon as it was possible, some of them came to the former camp to protect its buildings and ruins. Their efforts resulted in setting up the so-called Permanent Former Auschwitz Camp Security and took care of thousands of people who started arriving in large numbers to search for traces of their relatives and to pay tribute to the victims.

And before the Museum was officially established, former prisoners prepared the first exhibition on the camp site, opened on 14 June 1947. The opening ceremony was attended by approximately 50 thousand people, including survivors, relatives of the murdered, people from all over Poland and delegated Polish state authorities, as well as representatives from the Central Commission for Investigation of German Crimes, the Central Jewish History Commission, and delegates of the British, Czechoslovakian and French embassies.

For several decades the former camp was visited annually by circa 500-600 thousand people; from the beginning of the 21st century that number began to grow. More than a million people from all over the world visit the Museum annually since 2007 and more than 44 million people from all over the world have visited Auschwitz since 1945 and the highest number of visitors was registered in 2019, when 2,32 million people visited Auschwitz.

Back to the stories told by some of the speakers at the event at the Kigali Genocide Memorial; the Belgian author and cartoonist Michel Kichka stated that while growing up, his father was a silent survivor just like the majority of Holocaust survivors and his father was convinced his silence would protect his children. But he only began to speak out after Michel Kichka’s brother committed suicide in 1988 and on the day of the funeral of his brother. He began to talk about his personal tragedy of the Holocaust and he has been talking ever since. Michel Kichka made a profound statement when he said ’truth doesn’t kill’. The stories of Michel Kichka’s families’ travails would leave any listener silent.

During his speech; the Israeli Ambassador to Rwanda, Ambassador Ron Adam stated that the day was a special day for him. He further stated that ‘as a son of Holocaust survivors, this day brings the memory of my mother, Eve Frankel. As a 9-years-old child she went through horrific events which changed her life.’

I’ve read some books on World War Two and The Holocaust and I’ve heard of stories from children and grandchildren (some who are friends in Nigeria and Rwanda) of victims of The Holocaust. But until Monday, the 27^th of January 2020; I had not met or heard directly from a survivor of The Holocaust. That changed. It is a totally different thing to listen to a survivor of The Holocaust. Mr David Frankel who is eighty-four years old is a Holocaust survivor and he spoke for some minutes. His moving tales of what he went through and what family members (two girls who lived in a forest for almost two years and only survived eating leaves and tree branches. No one knew they were alive till several years later) went through were so vivid like it happened a week ago and not 75 years ago. He commenced by taking those in attendance back to Budapest, Hungary. 19th March 1944. And one profound statement he made was ‘if I’ve to see my grandparents, I’ve to go to Auschwitz.’

After the event and after discussing with Mr David Frankel, Mr Michel Kichka; Ms Chaya Singer and others present; one had a better understanding of why states like Israel and Rwanda have to keep on commemorating and remembering their tribulations; in essence, so that history isn’t denied or edited. And most especially, so that such despicable cruelty (industrialised Genocide) doesn’t take place again. For as Ambassador Ron Adam stated and I paraphrase ‘if the history of The Holocaust had been taught; the world won’t have allowed the Genocide against The Tutsi in 1994.’

That evening with the thoughts of what I heard from children, grandchildren and a survivor of The Holocaust racing through my mind as I ruminated; a BBC World Service special report on the commemoration aired. The BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly who was present at the commemoration at Auschwitz stated that The Holocaust and Auschwitz were terrible chapters of human history that happened in living memory.

A Holocaust survivor (Bath-Sheba Dagan; born in 1925) narrated a story of how new inmates always asked ‘where the world leaders were as the atrocities took place in their hour of need?’ And she said to those at the ceremony ‘where was everybody, where was the world who could see that; who could see that and did nothing to save all those thousands?’ According to the BBC European correspondent; Bath-Sheba lost her place in her notes and spoke from memory. The report from Mr Connolly also mentioned other survivors of Auschwitz; like Mrs Elza Baker (who was seven years old when she was in Auschwitz). Because she has sight challenges, she gave an initial speech and her prepared notes where read by a lady. She had gone through a lot of pain but was still concerned about Bath-Sheba’s story. So much so that as she spoke in English (since she has lived in the UK for sixty years), you could hear her upset as she gathered her words. Another Auschwitz survivor Marian Turski gave a lucid speech and took the audience way back to Berlin in the 1930s of how everything began with little incidences of stigmatisation, alienation and exclusions of the Jews which became the norm for the victims, perpetrators, witnesses and bystanders. He had to say this because of a comment (Auschwitz didn’t fall from the skies) by the President of Austria when both of them met some years ago. He then gave a personal experience of a trip to America in the early sixties on a scholarship. During a civil rights match with Martin Luther King and others; when people knew that he was at Auschwitz; they asked him if what happened there can happen again. He said, it can happen anywhere; it can happen when the civil rights are broken; when people do not obey the laws of minorities. And he stated that only you can ensure the rights of minorities aren’t trampled on.

I had to watch the ceremony via Youtube to get a sense and better understanding of how the ceremony on Monday, the 27^th of January 2020 went. And watching the images of the commemoration at Auschwitz and the survivors; it was and still is a lesson from history; as one heard of how old people were put in the gas chambers; of how human beings were recycled. All vivid descriptions, vivid memories and clarity. One of the features of The Holocaust and other Genocides is that of prolonged silence and in some cases; unwillingness to speak by the victims. On the issue of silence, a particular elderly lady (Anita Lasker-Wallfisch; a famous cellist and publisher of three books (educated at Cambridge University); who was born July 17, 1925 and is 94 years. And who is a surviving member of the Women’s Orchestra in Auschwitz) interviewed for BBC The Documentary stated that ‘as a survivor, you feel a sense of responsibility and obligation to be the voice for those who cannot talk anymore.’

There are several moral lessons from the 27^th of January commemoration of The Holocaust which was basically an industrialised Genocide. One Jewish quote encapsulates it all; if you save a life; you save the whole world.

Photo Credit: Embassy of Israel in Rwanda

Featured

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

Published

12 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

14 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

19 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.