A number of stakeholders who attended the special expository, critic and review of the latest book written by a veteran journalist and political activist turned politician,, Senator Babafemi Ojudu- “the Adventures of a Guerilla Journalist” organized by Ekiti Book Club in conjunction with
OpenWay Reading Awareness Initiatives in observance of the World Book Day 2025 were unanimous in their submissions that the relevance and the importance of the book in this current age can never be overemphasized.
Leading the discussion at the event, a retired Nigerian Army Officer and a Veteran of Armed Crises in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone with a first hand
experience of the plights of none combatant victims of war, Col. Adedotun Adeyeye Rtd, said the experiences of the author on the line of his duty as a journalist with courage and determination to effect a positive change in the society, especially in terms of public governance as expressed in various chapters of the book, are noteworthy and relevant in teaching the current generation, especially about genuine patriotism.
In the same vein, the Moderator of the event, a scholar, veteran journalist, legal practitioner and public administrator, Akogun Tai Oguntayo while sharing his personal experience as a journalist said “the author fought against all odds to lay a good example for those behind him. He is a role model and inspiration to everyone of us coming up behind him. This book represents facts of his activities as a fearless investigative journalist”.
Also in their separate remarks, the event’s panelists, which consisted of the trio of Wole Balogun, a scholar and lecturer with the Department of Theatre and Media Arts, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Adeolu Ajobiewe, an educationist, poet and writer who is currently the treasurer of the Èkìtì Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Authors, as well as Rotimi Ojomoyela, the Assistant Editor/ Correspondent of Vanguard Newspapers, Ekiti State were unanimous in recommending the book for all and sundry.
“The book offers in-depth information and serves as formidable source of knowledge on some critical issues in the Nigeria political space. It provides insights and reflections while it showcases the author’s skills, courage and boldness in sourcing for information and headline-making news items. It is very relevant in this contemporary world where the profession of journalism is suffering a good number of setbacks.” Ajobiewe said.
Meanwhile, earlier in his opening remarks, the President/Founder of Ekiti Book Club and the Promoter of OpenWay Reading Awareness Initiatives, Adesina Adetola who described the author as a mentor, said the event which was to mark the World Book Day 2025 was primarily to promote reading culture and also to highlight the importance of books and publishing industries, while promoting authors, illustrators and books.
In this regard, Ekiti “Book Club and OpenWay Reading Awareness Initiatives choose to celebrate Babafemi Ojudu and join all other efforts to promote his latest book.”
In one of his responses to an array of questions and remarks at the event, the author of the book, Babafemi Ojudu while thanking the organizers and the attendees of the event, expressed his desire to see a more ambitious journalists springing up once again.
And also while giving out over 20 copies of the book freely to the attendees,he said he was waiting for a better author to emerge from the participants.
One of the main highlights of the event was the unveiling of a multi-award winning speakingpreneur, broadcast journalist and reading enthusiast, Ayodele Ayo-Akande, known by all and
sundry as AY Nigeria as the face of Ekiti Book Club for 2025/26.
In his acceptance speech, AY Nigeria who was also the anchor of the event said the new appointment is a call to duty.