With decades of business experience and successful careers, popular business executives Tony Elumelu, Christopher Kolade, Jim Ovia and other renowned movie stars, business executives, comedians and musicians have been profiled in two new books by Publisher and Editor in Chief, ‘Yes International!’ Magazine, Azuh Arinze.
Jim Ovia is the founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s tier-1 bank and one of the most profitable financial institutions in Nigeria until 2010, when he moved into the chairman role. During two decades of leadership, he helped position the bank as one of the largest and most profitable in Africa. Jim Ovia is also the founder of Visafone Communications Limited and the chairman of several other businesses and initiatives.
Tony Elumelu is an African economist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. He is the chairman of Heirs Holdings, the United Bank for Africa, Transcorp and founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation. Tony Elumelu holds the Nigerian national honours, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) in 2003.
Christopher Kolade, CON, is a Nigerian diplomat and academic. He is a veteran broadcaster and sometime Director–General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. He was Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and formerly the Nigerian High Commissioner to The United Kingdom. He was a colonial era Education Officer in Nigeria and currently teaches Corporate Governance and Human Resources Management at Lagos Business School (LBS), and Leadership & Conflict Management at School of Media & Communication (SMC).
The success stories of these business executives are featured in the new books alongside other high-profile individuals and lessons from Azuh Arinze’s journalism career.
Azuh Arinze announced the launch of his literary pieces titled, Success Is Not Served A La Carte and Encounters – Lessons From My Journalism Career, at an exclusive virtual media event on Monday, June 29, 2020.
The first book, Success Is Not Served A La Carte, is an enlightening collection of one on one interview sessions with 30 high-profiled individuals in the country including; Christopher Kolade of Cadbury/LBS, Tony Ezenna of Orange Drugs, Anselm Madubuko of Revival Assembly, Steve Babaeko of X3M Ideas, popular footballers Kanu Nwankwo, Footballer and Austin Okocha, Film director, Tade Ogidan, veteran actors, Olu Jacobs, Pete Edochie and Dele Odule, to name a few. The book explores the success stories of these individuals, and also provides key insights into their lives.
In the foreword written by the Chairman, ThisDay Editorial Board, Olusegun Adeniyi, he described the book as a fascinating collection that would inspire and fire the imagination of its readers.
The second book, Encounters – Lessons From My Journalism Career, chronicles the experiences of the author throughout his career. Through this book, Azuh Arinze allows readers to examine 20 years worth of journalistic experience in 60 captivating chapters. By flipping through the pages of this book, readers will see how the author earned his trademark and reputation as a quintessential interviewer and journalist with an eye for details. In the words of Rev Fr Chijioke Azuawusiefe, SJ, of the University of Pennsylvania, USA, he described the book as “beautifully written, captivative, enchanting, engrossing and enriching.”
The book also highlights some of his encounters with the likes of Jim Ovia, Dele Momodu, Onyeka Onwenu, Tony Elumelu, Dora Akunyili Bianca Ojukwu, Olusegun Osoba, Rotimi Amaechi, Festus Keyamo, Gbenga Adeyinka and Julius Agwu amongst others.
In addition to the tales of his encounters with these top executives, the book also features a 16-paged all colour pullout with photographs of the author and some of the heavyweights he has interacted with over the years. They include Pastor E.A Adeboye, Aliko Dangote, Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, and many others.
Following the exclusive media unveil, the books will be available for pre-order on the Yes! Magazine website for just N2,500.
Speaking on the captivating nature of the books, the author, Azuh Arinze, said, “the two books are not only intriguing, but they also come with a money-back guarantee. If you buy them and don’t enjoy them, tell me and you will get a refund.”
On the experience writing both books, Azuh Arinze added, “Writing these two books has been a deeply personal experience as the process has allowed me the space to honestly reflect on a life-changing career that not only brought me my wife but taught me invaluable lessons.”
Azuh Arinze, who is the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of ‘Yes International!’ served as the Editor of Encomium Weekly from 2003 to 2011. Prior to that, he had edited Reel Stars Magazine. He is also the proud publisher of three other books which are, Tested and Trusted Success Secrets of the Rich and Famous, and The CEO’s Bible volumes 1 and 2.
