DR. CHIDI AMUTA’S NEW BOOK, "WRITING THE WRONG", FOR UNVEILING

A new book by media icon and leading Nigerian newspaper columnist and writer, Dr. Chidi Amuta, will go public on Tuesday, 18th November at a book signature event holding at the Oduduwa Hall, Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi.  The book- WRITING THE WRONG- is an over 1000-page compendium of the author’s newspaper columns written and published over the last 3 decades in various newspapers and magazines in Nigeria and around the world. The author describes the book as ‘a word map of the roads which I have travelled in the company of friends and associates… along the trajectory of our national history’. The occasion will feature a public lecture on the topic: ‘THE BIPARTISAN IMPERATIVE: LEADING FROM THE FUTURE’ to be delivered by Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Ambassador OjoMaduekwe. The book itself will be reviewed at the event by the Chairman, ThisDay Editorial Board, renowned columnist and former Special Adviser to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi.

The event which is tagged ‘a book signature event’ is a departure from the popular national tradition of book launchings or public presentations. In a personal letter to invitees to the event, Dr. Amuta stated that he is departing from the tradition of ‘bazaars, pledges and long speeches’ which has become the standard fare of book outings in the country.  Instead, this event is merely an occasion for the author to autograph copies of the limited edition book for those who buy them at the cover price. Cross sections of the nation’s media, political and intellectual elite as well as members of the diplomatic community are expected at the event. Born in Nigeria 63 years ago, this solid intellectual who is also a man of sartorial elegance, has spent more than 20 years in public communication and journalism.  During this period, he has held senior editorial positions as foundation Member, Editorial Board, The Guardian; Chairman, Editorial Board and Editorial Adviser, The Daily Times Group and, until 1999, Chief Executive, The Post Express.

At The Post Express, he pioneered internet publishing in Nigerian journalism by establishing The Post Express as the first Nigerian newspaper to be reached by e-mail and the first Nigerian business to own a website on the internet. In addition, he used his wide international media contacts to establish strategic relationships between The Post Express and major world publications like The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and the International Herald Tribune.

In his journalism career, he has conducted interviews with key world leaders like former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher of Britain, late President Francois Mitterand of France, President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Dauda Jawara of the Gambia, Laurent Kabila of Democratic Republic of the Congo, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, Ibrahim Babangida, Sani Abacha and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, in addition to a host of other top diplomats and government ministers around the world. A prolific and accomplished writer and stylist, AMUTA has written articles and columns for major newspapers in Nigeria and abroad in addition to authoring three major academic and historical books including The Theory of African Literature. He presently writes an occasional column for ThisDay Newspapers in Lagos, Nigeria. Prior to coming into journalism, AMUTA had taught Literature and Communications Strategies for over a decade at the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) and the University of Port Harcourt. As a lecturer in literature, he established a leading name in the radical/Marxist tradition of criticism as evidenced in his numerous publications in that field.

He was briefly the founding Director of the Rural Development Programme in the old Imo State. AMUTA who is a 1st class brain, holds a 1st Class honours degree and a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), specialising at different times in Education, African Literature, Sociology of Culture and Communication. He has subsequently undergone a host of courses and training in public policy strategies and intelligence in universities and think tanks around the world including the influential Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Currently, AMUTA is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Wilson & Weizmann Associates Ltd, a Media and Information warehousing company as well as OUTCOMES, an international Public Affairs and Policy Consulting company with head office in Lagos and affiliate offices in London, Atlanta and the United Arab Emirates. In the area of public policy and perception strategy, he has consulted for governments and multilateral agencies in Africa and the Middle East. Widely travelled and variously honoured, AMUTA is blessed with illustrious children and a wonderful family.

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About Unknown

Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.