Tunde Bakare, Femi Adesina, Abati, others to make FAJ at 60 celebration

Senior pastor of The Citadel Global Community Church Tunde Bakare, presidential aide, Femi Adesina; veteran journalist, Reuben Abati; and Ovation International publisher, Dele Momodu have been scheduled to attend the October 30th diamond birthday celebration of veteran journalist Femi Akintunde-Johnson aka FAJ.

The event will be chaired by the immediate past managing director/CEO of Wema Bank, who led its successful restructuring between 2009 and 2018 Segun Oloketuyi, a statement by the event’s organisers signed by Folarin Ademosu (Jr) said.

Chief presenters of the four books written by Mr Akintunde-Johnson are Oba Adedokun Abolarin; businessman, Bimbo Oladapo; special adviser to Lagos State governor on education, Tokunbo Wahab; Chijioke Okoli (SAN), COSON chairman, Tony Okoroji; president of the Nigerian-British Chambers of Commerce, Prince Adedapo Adelegan; MD of Zmirage Multimedia Ltd, Teju Kareem; and Mr Momodu.

To review the books are Abati and Mr Anote Ajeluorou, while Bakare will perform the role of the father of the day. Among the special guests of honour are Mr Adesina, federal lawmaker, Shina Abiola; GMD of Punch Newspapers, Ademola Osinubi; general overseer of Bible Believers Church Ministries, Pastor JS Ajulo; former deputy VC of UNILAG, Prof. Duro Oni; veteran newscaster, Bimbo Oloyede; Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Debo Adesina; and film director, Tade Ogidan.

The nation’s top musicians to light up the event are Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi, King Sunny Ade, Emma Ogosi, Shina Peters, Admiral Dele Abiodun, KWAM 1, Adewale Ayuba and Lagbaja among others.

The two-part event starts with a colloquy titled “Did Anything Good Come Out Of The ’60s? – Lessons and Memories of Nigeria’s Formative Decade.” The storyline of the colloquy shall be woven by the following: former Guardian editor and dramatist Ben Tomoloju; Laolu Akintobi of the 70s hit group, BLO; veteran journalist Lanre Idowu and pioneer MD of Raypower FM, Sesan Ekisola.

Others are Gloria Rhodes-Nash of the Steve Rhodes Voices, veteran broadcasters Danladi Bako and Comfort Okoronkwo; actor and director, Norbert Young; and international visual artist, Lemi Ghariokwu.

The second event is the launching of four books comprising a collection of poetry, a compilation of short stories, detention memoir, and an account of Akintunde-Johnson’s roles in the defunct popular FAME magazine.