By Peter Upele
Abuja — History was made on Wednesday as former Nigerian Ambassador to Ukraine, Shina Fatai Alege, turned years of diplomatic reflections into literary legacy with the unveiling of five thought-provoking books at a well-attended ceremony held at the Nigeria Merit Award House.
The event attracted diplomats, academics, jurists, policymakers, scholars, and members of the public, creating an atmosphere that blended intellectual discourse with reflections on leadership, governance, national values, and international relations.
The occasion was widely described as a convergence of diplomacy and scholarship, as participants engaged with the former envoy’s experiences drawn from years of public service and international engagement.
Speaking before the distinguished gathering, Ambassador Alege said modern society was gradually losing its sense of compassion and communal responsibility, warning that humanity must not be sacrificed on the altar of power, ambition, and indifference.
“The essence of life is to build a community,” he stated. “What we have today is no longer community — it is a crowd. People watch suffering, record tragedies on their phones, and move on. That loss of humanity is dangerous.”
His remarks drew applause from participants, with many describing his intervention as one of the defining philosophical moments of the ceremony, particularly in relation to contemporary leadership and social responsibility.
The former envoy also reflected on the temporary nature of political authority while speaking on one of his books, The Expiry Date of Power: How Abu-Superior Learned Too Late, stressing that leadership must be exercised with humility, accountability, and conscience.
“The only person that powers permanently is God Almighty,” he said. “Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Leadership must be exercised with restraint, accountability and conscience.”
The five books unveiled include The Sirens and the Flag: A Nigerian Ambassador’s Journal from the War in Ukraine, Insecurity and Regional Leadership in Africa: Nigeria’s Aspiratory Hegemony under Multiplex Threats, The Expiry Date of Power: How Abu-Superior Learned Too Late, The Last Ride: Five Stops Before Goodbye, and When the House Was Not on Fire.
Former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola, who chaired the occasion, described the books as a rare fusion of diplomacy, personal experience and social conscience, warning that the issues raised by the author could no longer be ignored.
“This is far beyond a literary celebration,” Ariwoola said. “It is a serious intellectual intervention into the crises confronting leadership, humanity and governance today.”
The retired jurist said Ambassador Alege’s writings carried unusual weight because they emerged from live experience across turbulent moments in Nigeria’s diplomatic history.
“These are not theoretical arguments crafted from a distance. They are reflections forged in service, crisis and responsibility,” he stated
Also speaking, former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, represented by Barrister Ahmed Raji, SAN, praised the former envoy for documenting his experiences, describing the works as a lasting educational and historical resource.
The event ended with goodwill messages, book presentations, and commendations from guests who described Ambassador Alege’s literary contributions as a significant addition to Nigeria’s intellectual and diplomatic landscape.