Former Nigerian Military President, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, popularly known as IBB, has announced the upcoming release of his memoir, titled ‘A Journey in Service’.
The launch is scheduled for February 20 at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The announcement came through a press statement released on Thursday, January 23, 2024, from Minna, the capital of Niger State. In the statement, Babangida expressed curiosity about public interest in his narrative, particularly concerning his tenure from 1985 to 1993, which included the contentious June 12 crisis.
The event will not only serve as a book launch but also as a fundraising occasion for the IBB Presidential Library Foundation. Invitations have been extended for this dual-purpose event, where the foundation’s board of trustees aims to gather support for the creation of a presidential library.
The event promises a gathering of notable personalities from Nigeria and beyond. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo will chair the event, with current President Bola Tinubu attending as the special guest of honor. The keynote speaker will be former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, and the memoir will be reviewed by ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Other distinguished attendees include former Nigerian Presidents Muhammadu Buhari, Yakubu Gowon, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Goodluck Jonathan. The chief launchers for the fundraising part of the event will be former Defence Minister Theophilus Danjuma and BUA Group Chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu.
This memoir launch is anticipated to stir conversations about Babangida’s controversial yet pivotal role in Nigeria’s political history.