The 9th Annual Yes International Magazine Lecture slated for Friday, June 19, 2020 has been postponed. This, according to Azuh Arinze, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, is because of the ravaging and rampaging coronavirus pandemic which has brought the world on its knees.

He described the postponement of the event billed for the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, with Mr. Steve Babaeko of X3M Ideas and Chief Olusegun Osoba as guest speaker and chairman respectively, as “a very painful decision to take.”

Below is the text of the press statement announcing the postponement of the event which had in the past attracted respected Nigerians like Prof. Pat Utomi, Mr. Biodun Shobanjo, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Akande, Mr. Udeme Ufot, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Mr. Lolu Akinwunmi, Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, among others:

“The Annual Yes International Magazine Lecture has been dear to our hearts here at Yes International! We love the goodwill and gaiety that our esteemed guests radiate when they turn up in large numbers to celebrate with us.

“We particularly looked forward to this year’s lecture because of the double celebration of the public presentation of my new books – Success is not Served a la Carte and Encounters: Lessons from my Journalism Career.

“So it is with deep sadness that we announce the indefinite postponement of the 2-in-1 event earlier scheduled for Friday, June 19, 2020.

“The decision to cancel the event was indeed a tough and painful one. However, in order not to endanger the lives of our dearly beloved guests, that option became inevitable, especially as COVID-19 continues to ravage the world.

“Our primary responsibility is to safeguard the health of our guests, the wonderful men and women, who in the past nine years, have always identified and taken out time to celebrate with us.

“We promise to be in touch with everyone as we work towards a new date, which hopefully is going to be after the containment of the pandemic.

“In the meantime, we would like to thank all our guests for their patience, understanding, and prayers.

“Please stay safe and keep well, as we continue to pray for our world.”

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