For decades, the name “Aba Saheed” was enough to make Nigeria’s military and civilian rulers shift uncomfortably in their seats. Now, the man behind the legendary pseudonym, Akogun Tola Adeniyi, is set to tell his own story.
The veteran journalist and former Managing Director of the Daily Times conglomerate will officially launch his autobiography, Chapters of Destiny, in Ikeja on Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The event is expected to be a sweeping “who’s who” of the Nigerian establishment, reflecting a career that has spanned media, academia, bureaucracy, and international business.
Tola Adeniyi, an octogenarian and holder of more than 25 traditional titles, is perhaps best known for his acerbic, satirical columns that sensitided the Nigerian public from the early 1970s through the turn of the millennium. His sharp-witted critiques of the nation’s leadership earned him a reputation as one of West Africa’s most courageous syndicated columnists.
Beyond the newsroom, Adeniyi’s “destiny” has been remarkably diverse. He has served as a Permanent Secretary at the Presidency, a consultant to military top brass, and a businessman with significant footprints in the United Kingdom and Canada.
The launch, billed as a “star-studded outing of Nigerian elites,” will be presided over by Retired General Ike Nwachukwu, Nigeria’s former Minister of External Affairs.
The intellectual weight of the morning will be anchored by a review from Professor Anthony Kila of Cambridge, followed by a keynote address from legal luminary Chief Adeniyi Akintola, SAN.
Reflecting Adeniyi’s influence across the private sector and traditional institutions, the book will be unveiled by: Mr. Fola Adeola, co-founder and pioneer MD of GT Bank and Chief Sulaimon Adebola
Adegunwa, Chairman of Rite Foods.
The event will also see a rare gathering of Nigeria’s most influential traditional rulers, including the Ooni of Ife, the Alake of Egbaland, the Akarigbo of Remo, and the Olowo of Eko, Oba Rilwan Akiolu.
