Media entrepreneur, Chude Jideonwo has officially wrapped up the international tour for his new book, ‘Are We The Turning Point Generation?’, published by Farafina. He wrapped it up with a visit to the BBC Studios in London, the United Kingdom yesterday, 15 July 2014.
Jideonwo’s global book tour kicked off on 1 June after the spectacular launch of the book at a media and VIP event in Lagos. The event held at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, chaired by Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili and with guests including Governor Babatunde Fashola, Prof Pat Utomi, Abike Dabiri, chief executive of Forte Oil Akin Akinfemiwa, Mo Abudu, Femi Falana, amongst others. He had previously held a book reading at the University of Witwatersand, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“It’s been an incredible six weeks joining passionate Nigerian and African leaders and compatriots from across the world,” Jideonwo says. “Sometimes the energy in the room was so high, so upbeat – you had no choice but to renew faith that the country is truly on the verge of a turnaround. I was also very delighted by the excitement for this book of long essays. I am truly thankful to be allowed to share this message for a generation that can – and should - be the turning point.”
The author was hosted by GenVoices United Kingdom at an event on 6 June, where Jideonwo read from the book and fielded questions from the audience. He moved from there to Paris, where he was hosted on 8 June as part of Nollywood Week.
The tour moved to New York, where the author was hosted to two events. Applause Africa had Jideonwo interact with young Africans living across the United States on 18 June. He also shared with a small selected group of influential young African leaders that weekend.
In New York, as part of his media appearances, he was hosted at the Associated Press office in a conversation about the book, and the state of the Nigerian nation. He also visited the group headquarters for SaharaReporters Group
The author wrapped up the tour with three book events in London. The first a reading and a panel discussion that included TV icon, Funmi Iyanda, producer Ikenna Azuike and BBC Foreign Correspondent, Humphrey Hawksley. The conversation was hosted by Eloho Omame, Vice President at General Atlantic’s London Office and co-president of the Africa Club at the London Business School.
He was also hosted by Africa Writes, Britain’s largest festival for African literature as part of a two-man panel including Chuma Nwokolo, author of ‘100 Years of the Mugu’ – both authors driving linkages between their books. Both events held on 12 July.
The final event for the tour was a small intimate dinner hosted by critically acclaimed young designer and style editor, Adebayo Oke-Lawal of Orange Culture, who hosted Jideonwo at a small dinner for younger Nigerians at London’s The Shard on Sunday, 13 July.
“This has been a thoroughly enriching experience,” Jideonwo says. “The goodwill, the feedback, the fact that the book sold out many times across the trips, the absolute passion to understand how exactly people can effectively be part of solutions and of the efforts to rebuild the continent, it gave me such hope. It has been a very important gift to see so much goodwill from across the world.”
Jideonwo continues the tour in Nigeria, with scheduled events in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Asaba and other states, as well as readings at venues including Terra Kulture, the Co-Creation Hub, selected schools and churches.
For more information, email info@arewetheturningpointgeneration.com or visit www.arewetheturningpointgeneration.com. The book is now available at bookstores across Nigeria and online on Konga.com and Amazon.
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