Celebrities Celebrate with YES

Nseobong Okon-Ekong

Defying the early morning showers as well as the gridlock that gripped Third Mainland Bridge and Ikorodu Road for hours on that day, some of Nigeria’s best and brightest still converged to celebrate with YES International! Magazine at 5.

The high profile event which held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), on Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, in fact, was packed-full – and with quality guests.

Dubbed the 5th Annual YES International! Magazine Lecture/Cocktail Party, heavyweights like Dr. (Mrs.) Nike Akande, CON, former Minister of Industry and President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, MD/CEO, Rainoil Ltd; Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Secretary to the Ogun State Government; Mr. Emeka Oparah, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Airtel Nigeria; Prince Bisi Olatilo, Chairman, Biscon Communications; Bishop Isaac Idahosa, General Overseer, Illumination Assembly; Hon. Tunde Braimoh, Chairman, House Committee on Media, Lagos State House of Assembly; Mr. Habib Aruna, Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Mr. Tokunbo Modupe, Chairman, TPT International; Chief Tony Okoroji, Chairman, Coson and Dr. Larry Izamoje, Chairman, Brila FM, were all there.

Representing the showbiz sector were ace comedian, Basorge Tariah, Jnr. (who was the compere) and Harrysong, who also entertained. Then, the Ejiro brothers, Chico and Zeb, Tunde and Wunmi Obe, Ken Calebs Olumese, Ali Baba, Fred Amata, Teco Benson, Obi Osotule, Jennifer Eliogu, Grace Ama, Raw Nwanne, Prince Ifeanyi Dike, Uche Iwuji, Matthias Obahiagbon, Yemi Blaq, Akeem Rahman, Femi Lasode, D’Lectura, De Don, Mike Nliam, Koffi Nuel, Zik Zulu Okafor, Tunji Bamishigbin, Arinze Okonkwo, Linchung and Tony Akposheri.

Others were Mrs. Chizor Malize of Brandzone, Dr. (Mrs.) Quincy Ayodele of Quincy Herbals, Deaconess (Mrs.) Bolanle Oginni of Blessed Water, Alhaja Tai Elemesho-Okesanjo of Montai, Mr. Charles Aigbe of UBA, Mr. Toni Kan of nTEL, Mr. Abdul Imoyo of Access Bank, Mr. Michael Effiong of Ovation Magazine, Prince Dayo Asaju of First Weekly, Mr. Loye Amzat of News of the People, Mr. Chris Kehinde Nwandu of CKN News, Hon. Uzama Okpalaeke, Ikenga Azia, Mr. Ingram Osigwe, MD, Full Page Communications, Mr. Azuh Amatus of Daylight.ng, among many others.

Kicking off at exactly 12.05pm (due to the rain), the opening prayer was said by Bishop Idahosa, followed by the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of YES International! Magazine, Sir Azuh Arinze’s welcome address; then, the chairperson, Mrs. Nike Akande’s opening remarks.
The unveiling of YES Classics!, heralded by a scintillating performance by rapper Dozie Mbata, was next, and then the reason for the gathering – Dr. Ogbechie’s lecture on ‘Running a Successful Business in Nigeria – My Experience’.

Brilliantly and eloquently delivered by the billionaire mogul behind Rainoil Ltd, veteran journalist and godfather of entertainment journalism, Mr. Femi Akintunde-Johnson (FAJ), described it as a ‘Master’s Class’ while multi-talented entertainer, Mrs. Wunmi Tunde-Obe, who has witnessed all the five editions of the annual lecture summed it up as the ‘most interesting one yet!’

Richly endowed with the gift of the garb, Ogbechie, an Engineering graduate of the University of Benin, recounted a riveting story of how he transformed a company set up only years ago with just N300,000 into a multi-billion empire.

As the standing ovation that trailed his superb presentation was dying down, Ogun SSG, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Airtel VP, Mr. Emeka Oparah and President, Directors Guild of Nigeria cum renowned actor, Mr. Fred Amata, quickly mounted the rostrum to give their short remarks.

Rave crooner, Harrysong, took over from there, doling out hit track after hit track, but beginning with the monstrously popular Reggae Blues. And instantly, the hall rose to dance with him and also sing along.
Actress and singer, Jennifer Eliogu, wrapped up the event which also witnessed the cutting of the anniversary cake, massive networking, cocktail and so on.

Commenting on the 5th Annual Lecture/Cocktail Party of YES International! Magazine, the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the celebrity journal which prides itself as being more than just a soft-sell, Sir Azuh Arinze, stated that all the glory must go to God.

“This is because, without Him, we can do nothing. For 5 years now, He has stood solidly behind us and notwithstanding today’s early morning rain, the hall was still full and we even had an overflow. All our key guests equally turned up.

“The greatest thing, however, is that the whole thing went well. We thank all those that attended and even those that could not make it due to one reason or the other. Our prayer is that next year will be better and bigger”, he added.