In my over 40 years of existence, I’ve on several occasions watched and witnessed as a ‘no’ eventually yielded its position to a ‘yes.’ As a matter of fact, that’s actually one of the most profound lessons that life has taught me.

See, the world has made me to understand that heaven has a way of conspiring to grant our heart desires. Or like my boss, Mr. Kunle Bakare, used to say, ‘The world steps aside for the man who knows where he’s headed.’

A memorable example, if you permit me, will suffice here. It was my encounter with the hugely venerated former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and one-time Chairman of Cadbury, Dr. Christopher Kolade, who just went to be with the Lord.

As the editor of Encomium Weekly, one of the persons I really, really wanted to interview was Kolade. And the reason is simple: all the top people I had interviewed then, from Prof. Pat Utomi to Mr. Tunde Lemo and so on, kept mentioning him as their role model. In fact, it was while taking my leave after one of those interviews that it occurred to me that an interview with ‘this mentor to many’ won’t be a bad idea, after all.

So, I set the machinery in motion. I was still juggling how to crack and accomplish that mission when days later I opened one of the dailies and saw an advert announcing that Kolade would be going to the Goldengate Restaurant, in Ikoyi, Lagos, to give a lecture and I immediately filed it in both my memory and diary.

READ ALSO: Christopher Kolade: BON mourns death of founding father

On the day of the lecture, and without any invitation, I arrived at the venue very early; about an hour to the announced time, and of course well dressed. By the way, serious people rarely arrive events late. They are also mindful of their looks. But I digress.

About 30 minutes to kick off time, and from where I was sitting inside my car, I saw Kolade sauntering in, clutching what looked like a file, and unaccompanied. Instantly, I jumped down from my car, leveled up with him but despite repeated attempts to assist him with the file, as we made our way to the lift en route to the hall, he politely refused.

Now inside the hall, and as he was looking for the engineer in charge to cue his paper and confirm that everything was okay, I unmasked my identity. Looking calm and collected, and in his always perfect diction, he said to me: ‘Young man, I’m here for a lecture and not to have an interview…’

As I tried to explain, he turned and faced the engineer who was engrossed and battling to get his lecture ready. Of course, I refused to leave. In fact, I just stood ‘kampe’ behind him. And when they were through, after nearly 15 minutes, he asked where he could wash his hands and I volunteered immediately to direct him the place.

Done with that, he came out again and met me still standing, arms akimbo, at the entrance. Wearing what looked like a smile, for the first time since I started ‘troubling’ him and shaking his head, he said to me, again in a soothing voice: ‘This young man that will not take no for an answer, yes, what exactly do you say you want from me?’

I stammered: ‘An interview…very short… ten or fifteen minutes would be okay.’ And then he said: ‘No…only five minutes…I’m here for something else, but your persistence is making me change my mind…’

Dear friends, the long and short of this story, like we say in Nigeria, is that the much sought-after interview finally held. Dr. Kolade’s ‘no’ eventually became ‘yes.’ But more than that, instead of the five minutes the great man had allocated to me, we ended up talking for about 30 minutes! Yes, most of the other guests arrived late and I couldn’t help maximizing that opportunity as well.

My persistence and perseverance paid off in the end. Indeed, everything is possible for those that believe. And, of course, with God!

May his soul rest in peace.

*Azuh Arinze is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine and author of important books like The CEO’s Bible 1 and 2, Success Is Not Served A La Carte, Anything and Everything Journalism, Conversations With Showbiz Stars, Encounters: Lessons From My Journalism Career, My Story of Many Colours, etc.

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Osagie received the Award for Exemplary Leadership and Service to Humanity from a Lagos-based NGO, Heritage for Life Foundation, at a ceremony held in Lagos.

A Director of the Foundation, and former Deputy Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Tunde Lemo, handed out the award which he said was instituted to promote “moral qualities and attitudes pivotal to the growth of a stable and functional society” by recognising individuals who exhibit the virtues.

An elated Okunbor said: “I’m pleased at this recognition which calls for greater commitment to the highest standards of leadership and service to humanity. With the support of my colleagues and other stakeholders, I hope to continue to contribute to the development of our country.”

The award from the foundation was the second bestowed on the longest serving Country Chair of Shell companies in Nigeria in the past month.

READ ALSO: NAF kills scores of terrorists in airstrikes in Kaduna

At the 60th anniversary of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Okunbor was conferred with the Diamond Ambassador of Brand Nigeria as part of NIPR’s Diamond Jubilee National Awards.

Presenting the award, the NIPR President and Chairman of Council, Dr. Ike Neliaku, noted that Okunbor earned the award having demonstrated exceptional leadership as chairman of the largest energy company in Nigeria that had made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Nigeria in more than seven decades.

Okunbor’s contributions to the energy sector are the highlights of a career in Shell which has seen him serve in Nigeria, the UK, Brunei and the Netherlands before his appointment as Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair in 2015.

In May, the executive council of the Nigerian Gas Association recognised Okunbor for “outstanding contributions towards the advancement of Nigeria’s gas sector.”

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This time around, the issue of discourse will centre around issues surrounding macro-economic matters in the financial services sector, monetary policies, management of the economy by the Central Bank of Nigeria, attaining price stability and how to halt the current free fall of the Naira.

Titled: Persistent Unstable Macro-economic Environment:  Any Way Out?, the discourse will avail Dr Lemo, who is also a Reverend gentleman, to offer insightful perspectives on the different policy thrusts and assessments of the successive administrations at the apex bank within the past two decades and point the way forward out of the rot that has bedevilled the bank lately.

Boiling Point Arena’s 12th in the series of the online interview discourse, will hold via Google Meet on Sunday and is expected to be transmitted live by an Abeokuta-based radio station, Sweet 107.1FM,  for the two hour duration (8pm to 10pm).

The once-in-a-month  current affairs programme, with an incredibly large online followership, is the brainchild of the the convener, Dr Ayo Arowojolu, a media professional with 33 years multi-varied work career spanning the media, banking and education sectors.

READ ALSO: Non-interest banking: TAJBank leads in Tier-1 capital, PBT

Pencilled as keynote speaker at the interview session is one of Nigeria’s foremost monarchs, the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof Saka Matemilola, in his capacity as the Chairman, Boiling Point Council of Royals and Elders.

According to a statement by the Chairman, Organizing Committee for the programme,  Mr Eddy Ademosu, one of Nigeria’s notable Public Relations icon, the interview discourse will in particular revisit the several causative factors that have led to the continuous downward slide of the nation’s currency overtime from its hitherto glorious era when the naira and dollar were equal.

Mr Ademosu commended the Board and Management of Sweet FM, chaired by the Promoter, Senator Olugbenga Obadara, for identifying with worthy causes through partnering with the Boiling Point platform to widen the audience reach through its terrestrial and online channels.

Boiling Point Arena, a news and general interest platform comprises an array of eminent personalities including over 300 professors, technocrats, industry leaders, High Court Justices, traditional rulers, security top shots, media professionals and several others.

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The event, which will hold at the Cinema Hall, June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, according to a statement e-signed by NIPR chairman, Oluwaseun Boye, and Secretary, Kunle Olayeni, will have the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, as the Special Guest of Honour.

The statement listed the personalities to be conferred with awards as former Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dr Tunde Lemo; former Special Adviser to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, two-time commissioner in Ondo State and Senior Consultant to Governor Abiodun, Hon. Kayode Akinmade; former Board Chairman, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC, Mrs Ronke Sokefun; and property magnate, Otunba Wole Ogunbayo.

With the theme, “Pluralism and Public Opinion Management: Challenges and Prospects for a Sustainable Democracy in Nigeria,” the colloquium is expected to be a rallying point for professionals to dissect some of the problems confronting the Nigerian nation.

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Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, a Professor of Political Science and current Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Lagos, will be the Guest Speaker at the event which will also feature veteran journalist, Eddie Aina, as moderator,  and Professor Biyi Abosede, Ustaz Jubril Awwal and Professor (Mrs) Bolanle Akeredolu-Ale as  discussants.

The NIPR national president, Mallam Mukhtar Sirajo, will chair the important occasion which will be graced by prominent traditional rulers who are public relations veterans, including the Olota of Ota, Oba Professor Adeyemi Obalanlege, and the Towulade of Akinale, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye.

According to the organisers, Governor Abiodun is expected to share perspectives on how to achieve social harmony needed to attain a sustainable democracy in the country.

The annual colloquium is also expected to be attended by erudite scholars, astute professionals, government functionaries, political actors, traditional rulers, leaders of ethnic groups, civil society organisations, religious bodies and media communities as well as Mass Communication students from various tertiary institutions.

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It also extended duty-free trade on goods exported from Nigeria and other African countries.

Mr. Nigel Huddleston, Minister for International Trade, made the announcement during a visit to Bole Lemo, Ethiopia’s largest industrial business park.

This was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by Ndidiamaka Eze, Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British Deputy High Commission.

Huddleston said that the scheme simplified trading rules by cutting tariffs on products from developing countries which would help in saving business and consumers’ money.

He added that it would help in diversifying and increasing exports as well as cut import cost of goods.

“The DCTS scheme is a brilliant example of the UK taking advantage of its status as an independent trading union and I’m excited to see it implemented.

“It will create opportunities for businesses around the world by supporting livelihoods, creating jobs and diversifying local and international supply chains.

“It will also benefit UK businesses and consumers by lowering import cost on a whole range of products,” he said.

Also, Mr. Ben Llewellyn-Jones, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, noted that the scheme would boost Nigeria’s non- oil exports in line with the federal government’s wider trade policy objectives.

He added that import costs would be reduced by over 750 million pounds per year, thereby reducing prices and increase choice of UK consumers and businesses.

“Nigeria is one of the UK’s most important partners in Africa and the UK Government is committed to working with the Nigerian businesses and exporters to boost trade between our great nation.

“The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme harnesses the power of trade to help Nigeria and other emerging economies grow and prosper.

“One major benefit of this new UK trading scheme is that it abolishes tariffs on over 3,000 everyday products that Nigeria currently exports including cocoa, cotton, plantain, flowers, fertilizers, tomatoes, frozen shrimps and sesame.

“The overarching aim of the new scheme is to grow trade with developing countries, boosting the economy and supporting jobs in those countries as well as in ours,” he said.

The DTCS covers 37 countries in Africa.

Source: NAN

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