Sultan commends Nigeria’s Golden Book Project

Posted by admin Headlines, Sultan of Sokoto Sunday, September 11th, 2011

His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubukar III, the Sultan of Sokoto, has commended the management of The Sun Publishing Limited for initiating the production of a book to commemorate Nigeria’s 50th independence.

Receiving a copy of the book from Mr. Eric Osagie, Executive Director, Special Services, the Sultan said “the Golden Book Project, from what I have seen, is a laudable one, which promotes the unity and understanding of our country, the peoples and culture. I commend the management and staff of The Sun newspapers for their effort.
“I urge similar institutions to emulate The Sun in embarking on projects that will further promote love and brotherhood of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, region or religion. We are one nation, one people. I have no hesitation in accepting the invitation even though my schedules are quite tight.”

The Sultan and Igwe Nnayelugo Alfred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, are royal fathers at the event. They will be joined by many other distinguished Nigerians at the public presentation of the book on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
Titled ‘Nigeria’s Golden Book’, the 512-page work narrates the nation’s history with some freshness. From the 1914 amalgamation through independence and the post-independence crisis, to various leadership challenges to current democratic dispensation, the book truly tells Nigeria’s story with an eye on the future. President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Dr. Yakubu Gowon differently wrote foreword to the book.

Describing it as “a truly rich trove on Nigeria’s developmental history,” President Jonathan noted that the book “charts a course for the future; a future of hope, peace and progress.”
In his foreword, Shagari observed that “in content and character, Nigeria’s Golden Book, a worthy and highly commendable initiative by The Sun Publishing Limited, bears an unflinching testimony to the nation’s ground-breaking achievements of the past 50 years.”
On his part, Gowon describes the book as “a priceless companion to those who seek deeper knowledge about Nigeria, chroniclers of history – journalists, writers, researchers and historians as well as those who might desire it for general use”.

Reflecting on the content, Obasanjo writes that “as you go through the pages of this work, it will be a good time to reflect on the transformative capacity within the human mind and the transformational leadership required for progress in Nigeria. We can tap into this reservoir and build the leadership for progress. The time to start is now.”
Former of Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has accepted to chair the occasion while the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, will deliver the keynote speech. Governors Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Peter Obi (Anambra), and Sule Lamido (Jigawa) are guests of honour.
Mr. Ifeanyi Patrick Ubah, Managing Director/CEO of Capital Oil and Gas Industries, Chief Chika Okafor, Chairman of Chicason Group of Companies, and Dr. Obinna Uzoh, chairman of Gocuz Group, are official presenters of the book.

Explaining the reasons for the book, Mr. Tony Onyima, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Sun Publishing Limited, said at 50 “we feel that the true Nigerian narrative deserves to be packaged, not only for the imperatives of the present, but more importantly, for the demands of posterity.”
He further said “this modest endeavour will help to achieve, at least, two purposes: reposition the country so it can take its deserved place in the comity of nations. And secondly, so that Nigerians will have the chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”

As the nation steps unto its journey to the next 50 years, Onyima called on the leaders at all levels to “explore and exploit the riches of this great nation” for her progress.

-Sunwp_posts