Book Launch “Skin To Skin” & 58th Birthday Celebration Of The Author, Lolu Akinwunmi

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REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT, THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE BOOK LAUNCH “SKIN TO SKIN” AND 58TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF THE AUTHOR, LOLU AKINWUNMI ON THURSDAY, 27TH SEPTEMBER, 2018.

PROTOCOLS

It is a special pleasure for me to be here. Lolu and l have been childhood friends. We lived in the same neighbourhood and our family homes remain there. Lolu again has done a very great work.

His struggles through the years is a great achievement and of course, what we do know is that it is a lot of personal struggles which is what is contained in this book. I’m pleased to say that through his leadership of advertising in the PR industry, and the establishment of one of Nigeria’s advertising and PR agency, Prima Garnet, it has demonstrated in so many ways, the values of integrity, honesty and forthrightness. I am very pleased to say that it is the success, integrity and forthrightness and the commitment to serve the ideals.

It was Barbara  Bush, the now departed wife of George Bush Senior, who was credited with the  following words, she said, and of course  you know  she was speaking from the context of politics, her husband and family, – ”when the dust settles and the noise disappears, all you are left with is faith, family and friends.” And l add that it is in that order, faith first, family and then friends. It is how a man or woman deals with these things that are left, especially during the times before that determines how complete they are.

I think that anyone in whatever field of life, in whatever discipline, whatever aspect of human experience, is easy to recognise that faith, family and friends are first.

In the sense that such a person will never live a life of regret and l think that Lolu’s story was a story of a person who was committed at all times, especially committed in all times, to faith, family and friends.

Faith here, in particular, is all that l will just say, in just about one word or two. Faith is the greatest challenge when l say faith, l refer to the Christian faith to which we belong, those of us especially who are born again Christians, would say that we want to live by those ideals.

It is a challenge on how we are able to live those ideals in the marketplace, that context takes those ideals every single day. When l refer to the marketplace, it is not just the business and profession, but also politics.

So the test for us is – are we able to live those ideals? I am glad to see and to hear of Lolu’s story and in many ways, l shared these experiences and at the end of the day, it is more about commitment to those ideals. It is more about saying that every day we wake up, we decide that we are going to do the best we can, we can’t even succeed by ourselves, it’s impossible.

I believe that it is one way, and this is the way that Lolu has already told us, it is by complete dependence on our Lord Jesus Christ for our daily strength and daily direction. To see that this dear friend l know has succeeded, l am thankful to God, I thank God that you have been able to do so well, and our Lord Jesus Christ has been your fortress and your strength. l pray he remains your fortress and your strength, and on this day that you celebrate also your birth, it is my prayer that as your days, so shall your strength, so shall your wisdom and your favour with God in Jesus mighty name, Amen.

It is now my very special pleasure and privilege to formally unveil this book – ‘‘Skin To Skin.”

Thank you.