A Day of Honour and Legacy: Sir AK Peters Unveils Two New Leadership Books in Abuja
By Jerry Adesewo
December 3, 2025, will remain etched in the personal and professional journey of Sir (Dr.) AK Peters, the Editorial Board Chairman of OurNigeria News, as the author formally presented his latest works — Quintessential Leader and Canon of Leadership — to an audience of distinguished Nigerians at Merit House, Abuja.
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The day began with a quiet build-up that masked the full weight of expectation. Long before the clock struck 11:00 a.m., the Chairman of the Occasion, Retired Major Moses Obi, the Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency Ambassador T.Y. Buratai, and Cardinal John Onaiyekan were already seated. Their early presence, at 10:20 a.m., signalled both the regard in which Dr. Peters is held and the solemnity attached to the occasion.
Sir Peters moved gracefully between hall and foyer, greeting guests, monitoring final arrangements, and quietly praying, perhaps, for the last-minute rush to form. It eventually did. Within minutes, hallways thinned and the auditorium filled.
Presentation and Lavish Praise
Ambassador Buratai led the charge in unveiling the works, alongside Cardinal Onaiyekan. In a succinct but profound tribute, Buratai noted:
“Leadership is not about leading others; it is first the discipline to lead yourself. Sir AK Peters embodies that standard.”
The books were reviewed by the duo of Dr. Bona Ugwuja and Hon. Prof. Camilus Oguakwa, with compelling insight, each reviewer underlining Peters’ clarity of thought, the moral compass underlying his leadership philosophy, and his unusual ability to merge practice with theory.
From that moment onward, the event transformed into a stream of accolades.
Waves of Testimonies
Whether donating in millions, hundred or even as little as a few thousands, speaker after speaker offered tributes to the man, AK Peters, with stories of mentorship, evidence of professional discipline, testimonies of personal kindness, and acknowledgment of his uprightness in public affairs and so on.
Notably, Dr. MS Abubkar, Publisher of OurNigeria News, remarked: “In leadership circles, he has remained a steady light — not louder than others, just brighter.”
The Books at a Glance
Quintessential Leader, is a philosophical exploration of leadership integrity, internal discipline, emotional stamina, and civic responsibility.
Canon of Leadership is a reflective manual on the cost, weight, testing, and refining that leadership places on character and endurance.
Both books merge lived experience with intellectual rigour — a rare balance in Nigeria’s contemporary leadership writing.
An End-of-Year Crown
The timing was symbolically fitting. As one speaker put it: “He closes this year not with noise, but with testimony.”
And indeed, for Sir AK Peters, whose interventions have shaped discourse for over two decades, this launch felt not merely ceremonial, but deserved: a quiet crowning of a year of faithful work.
And when it was time for the author to take the stage, he could all but express appreciation to his guests, in whom he was well pleased.
“Today is not about speeches; it is about appreciation. I appreciate you all for honouring me with your presence and resources. Thank you! Thank you very much! Thank you very much indeed,” he said adding that “If these works help one leader stand upright where others fall, then my duty is fulfilled.”