Shonekan, Akirinade, Odogwu, Others Celebrate Quintessential Colossus, Duduyemi

Uzo Chikere

A book launch cum presentation took place in Lagos recently, bringing together under one roof the high and mighty. Not that the book is to be prescribed as text for schools. But the book launch so attracted personages like former Head of the Interim National Government, Chief Earnest Shonekan, one time Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade, former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Aliyu Gusau, Ex Edo State governor, Lucky Igbenedion, former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Tunde Lemo Oba Otudeko, Ide Ahaba, Chief Sonny Odogwu and many more just to celebrate one of them, Chief Olayinka Aremu Alex Duduyemi around whom the book entitled Quintessential Colosus is centred.

Apart from the fact that all the dignitaries present at the occasion in their various speeches eulogised  Chief Dudyemi, describing him as an epitome of philanthropy and impetus to industry and enterprise, the book reviewer, erstwhile Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo Obe, noted Quintessential Colossus is about giving and service to the people.

Highlighting how the book, a biography of Chief Duduyemi will motivate the young ones, Prof. Obe stated that “the simple book, once started, a reader will not stop”.

Book presenter, Oba Otudeko, while calling on people present at the event to show massive love to Chief Duduyemi, the subject of the book, disclosed that every kobo realized from the launch, would be directed towards helping the less privileged just as he bought a copy for =N=5 million.  

 Author of Quintessential Colossus, Managing Consultant, My Heritage Books, Mrs Oluneye Oluwole informed that it took her around 30 months to pen the book due to the fact that she had to travel several places before completing the book.

She said: “I had to work with everybody’s schedule because the book comprises facts and fictions. It is not a typical biography style that I explored, I did a lot of research as I looked at circumstances around Chief at the time he was going into business, creating these stories are not really easy, they come when the idea strikes”.

Oluwole further disclosed that for an average Nigerian, the lesson from the book is that of resilience, determination and goal getting, adding that the biography of the celebrant portrays one who never gave up at pursuing his goal.