Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, will deliver the anniversary lecture at the event.

Prominent Africans, especially Nigerians have accepted to grace the Realnews 9th anniversary lecture slated for Thursday, November 18, at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, at 10am.

Those who would play prominent roles at the event, who have also confirmed their attendance in writing, include Founder/CEO of the Proton Energy Ltd, Oti Ikomi, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Eyono-Fatayi Willaims, Consul General, Ghanaian Consulate, Samata Gifty Bukari, and chief executive officer of the NewForce Africa, Adama Gaye, among others.

Ikomi, chairman, and Fatayi-Williams confirmed their attendance via emails dated November 5, 2021, and September 15, respectively, while Bukari did her’s in a letter dated September 3, 2021, with reference number LA/AD/64.

Also, Group Managing Director, FirstBank Holdings, Elder Urum Eke, confirmed attendance in a letter he personally signed and dated October 22, 2021, while Gaye and others phoned in to confirm their attendance on November 13.    

The lecture with the theme: “Nigeria in the Unfolding Integration of the African Market: The Oil and Gas Perspective” will be delivered by the Executive Secretary/CEO, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, Simbi Kesiye Wabote, who also confirmed his attendance in a letter dated August 12, 2021, where he congratulated and wished Realnews success as it plans towards the 9th anniversary lecture.

Publisher of Realnews, Maureen Chigbo, said in a statement made available to our correspondent that a highpoint of the event will be an investiture of all the speakers into The Realnews Hall of Fame immediately after the Lecture. She also explained that the The Realnews Hall of Fame was established to honour only those who played key roles during the anniversary lectures.

Available records show that past anniversary lecturers of the publication include current Secretary to the Government of the Federation/ Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, (2020); President John Dramani Mahama, former President of Ghana (2019); Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, (2018).

Others include former Minister of Education and Vice President, World Bank, Dr. Mrs.  Oby Ezekwesili, (2017), Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head, United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel , Dr. Mohamed Ibn  Chambas, (2016); Governor-elect of Anambra State and former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, (2015), and former Chairman of INEC, Professor Maurice Iwu, (2014).