It was all pomp and pageantry on 26th October 2021 when the Ebony Herald International Magazine marked her 12th anniversary at the Stonehedge Hotel and Suites in Abuja.
The publisher and convener of the event – Alhaji Lai Gidado, said the topic of the event, “Peace as Panacea for Dividend of Democracy and National Development,” was chosen because of the importance peace plays in nation-building and development.
He traced the evolution of the magazine from 2009 when it was founded in Dublin, Ireland to the present day and thanked all those who had contributed to her success.
He also posited that the book he wrote which was presented the same day, was to encourage people to know their history.
The chairman of the occasion, distinguished Senator Solomon Ita Enang who was represented by Mr. Metuaghan Ogude Emmanuel, described the theme of the anniversary as the best at this period of our nation’s history.
He called on every meaningful Nigerian to see peace as what we need most now for our nation to move forward positively.
Ita Enang congratulated Alhaji Lai Gidado and the entire Ebony Herald International Magazine team and prayed that the next 12 years would bring more developments for the magazine.
In his speech, the chairman of the editorial board of the magazine, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Ilyasu, praised the effort of Alhaji Gidado who he described as a “very serious, conscientious newsman” he had known from 2019 when they both worked to ensure the victory of the present President.
He went on to advise all to ensure information is thoroughly researched before posting on the internet to prevent the spread of fake news. He also urged all to note that freedom goes with virtue and virtue goes with faith and explained that an understanding of our history will help us avoid the mistakes of the past.
Ilyasu also stated that democracy in itself, cannot save any nation but nations need to save democracy.
In his speech, the representative of the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa – Chidi Henry Ndukwu – said a total of 8,634 suspects have been arrested, 2,776,000kg of assorted drugs with 100 billion naira cash have been seized and 1,630 convictions have been secured with 3,232 cases pending in court among other achievements since Marwa took over 8 months ago. He promised to continue to partner with the magazine in ensuring insecurity is dealt with as well as the abuse of hard drugs.
Other dignitaries spoke in a similar vein.
The guest speaker, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, esq started by defining different types of peace and concluded Nigeria is a nation of immense potentials, opportunities, and resources and added that proper management of these constants can engender peace, democratic dividends, and national development.
The book review of Alhaji Gidado’s book, “Nigeria from yesteryears and heroes of Nigeria,” was done by the editor of the magazine, Mr. Adamu Usman, who among other things, lamented the removal of History as a subject from the school curriculum of Nigeria.
He was however corrected by distinguished Senator Dr. Ibrahim Ida CON who explained that it was not removed but was subsumed under other subjects like Civics because of the few students willing to take the subject.
He went on to call for a Nigeria where everyone will have a sense of belonging and gave a female student who had earlier made a presentation the sum of 50,000 naira.
Other notable speakers at the occasion included Ambassador Albert Omotayo, who stressed the importance of one big strong Nigeria saying that the so-called minority units would be stronger together as one.
General Hallidu-Giwa, Alhaji Najeemdeen Jimoh the chairman of Citizens FM Radio Abuja, Alhaji Idris Mahmud Gidado who represented Prof. Sanni Yahaya, and Engineer Mrs. Onipede spoke along the same lines.
The guests were later treated to a special anniversary buffet.
For details of Dr. Olukayode Ajulo’s Lecture, get a copy of Ebony Herald International Magazine, November edition from your local vendor or supermarkets.
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