By Sandra Chukwunyere
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is set to feature renowned journalist, writer, public policy analyst and strategic communicator, Paul C. Nwabuikwu, at the fifth edition of its Corporate Communications Book Reading Programme on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The session will centre on Nwabuikwu’s recently published book, The Pain and the Promise: Insights and Fragments on Nigeria and People, Public and Personal, a collection of reflections drawn from more than three decades of his engagement with Nigeria, its people and its institutions.
Rather than presenting Nigeria solely through the familiar language of politics and public affairs, the book offers a blend of personal observations, professional experiences and reflections on the events and personalities that have shaped the country.
It examines issues ranging from politics, economics, leadership and public policy to the changing character of Nigerian society, while drawing attention to the human experiences behind major national developments.
For Nwabuikwu, the journey to the book has been shaped by a career that has taken him through some of the most influential spaces in Nigeria’s media and public affairs.
He began his journalism career in 1988 and subsequently worked with leading media organisations, including Newswatch, THISDAY and The Guardian.
His professional journey later extended into government and strategic communications. He served as Special Assistant on Communications to Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during her two terms as Minister of Finance and Head of the Economic Management Team.
That experience placed him at the intersection of journalism, public policy and government communication, providing a close view of how decisions are made, communicated and ultimately experienced by citizens.
A Conversation Beyond the Book
The September 15 engagement is expected to go beyond a conventional book presentation.
Participants will have an opportunity to interact with Nwabuikwu on some of the themes explored in The Pain and the Promise, including Nigeria’s political and economic journey, leadership, governance, public policy and the experiences of ordinary citizens.
The conversation is also expected to touch on the changing role of communication in shaping public understanding of government policies and national issues.
The book has already attracted commendations from prominent Nigerians.
At its public presentation in Abuja, former Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Aviation Osita Chidoka and Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, spoke positively about the publication and its contribution to Nigeria’s intellectual and public policy discourse.
NCDMB’s Culture of Ideas
The Corporate Communications Book Reading Programme is part of NCDMB’s effort to encourage reading, critical thinking, intellectual engagement and knowledge exchange.
Through the initiative, the Board has created a platform where authors, professionals, students and other members of the public can engage directly with ideas contained in important Nigerian publications.
The programme also reflects the Board’s broader emphasis on human capital development and knowledge-building beyond its core mandate in the oil and gas sector.
Previous editions have featured notable Nigerian authors and public figures, including HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo, author of Pirates of the Gulf, and former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, who discussed his book Leading in a Storm.
With Nwabuikwu’s The Pain and the Promise as the focus of the fifth edition, the programme is expected to open another important conversation about Nigeria, its people and the forces shaping its development.
For readers and participants, the session offers an opportunity to look beyond the headlines and examine the stories, experiences and ideas that continue to define the Nigerian journey.
Ultimately, The Pain and the Promise is a reflection on a country caught between the realities of its past and the possibilities of its future — a conversation the NCDMB book reading programme seeks to bring to life on September 15.
