The Book Club @ Peace House holds 6th edition in Ado Ekiti, Oyebanji, SSG, EKSU DVC to Lead Intellectual Gathering

By Yemi Olajutemu
Ado Ekiti

The literary and intellectual community in Ekiti State is set for another major gathering as the Book Club @ Peace House holds its sixth edition on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Ado Ekiti, with intellectuals, policymakers, academics, professionals and lovers of literature expected to converge on the venue.

The event, scheduled to take place at The Shores, Peace House, NTA/Satellite Poly Road, Ado Ekiti, is again expected to provide a platform for participants to engage in critical discussions on literature, leadership, personal development and the importance of human relationships in achieving meaningful goals.

The major attraction of the sixth edition will be a review of a book written by Dr. Gbenga Emiloju, titled Cultivating Strategic Relationships: The Uncommon Advantage to Achieving Personal Fulfilment. The book examines the importance of building and sustaining meaningful relationships as a pathway to personal fulfilment and professional success.

The convener of the Book Club @ Peace House, and Commisioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Mrs Olapeju Babafemi, explained that the choice of the book was considered particularly relevant to contemporary society, where personal advancement, professional opportunities and community development are increasingly influenced by the quality of relationships individuals build and maintain.

The review is therefore expected to move beyond literary appreciation to an examination of the practical implications of strategic relationships in everyday life.

Since the inception of the Club, Mrs Babafemi has continued to promote the initiative as a platform for intellectual engagement, critical thinking and the exchange of ideas. Through successive editions, the book club has created opportunities for participants to engage with important literary works and relate their themes to contemporary social realities.

The sixth edition will also receive the presence of notable personalities, including the First Lady of Ekiti State, Her Excellency, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji, and the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Habibat Adubiaro, who are listed as Guests of Honour for the event.

Their expected participation further highlights the growing connection between intellectual activities, literature and public life in the state. The involvement of public officials also provides an opportunity for discussions generated from the book to resonate beyond the literary community and into broader conversations about leadership and social development.

The academic dimension of the event will be strengthened by the presence of Prof. Oluwole Adebayo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Ekiti State University, and Hon. Mrs Richie Adewusi, a former Commissioner for Women Affairs, who are billed to serve as Lead Reviewers.

Their respective backgrounds in academia and public administration are expected to bring scholarly and policy perspectives to the review of Emiloju’s work, particularly on the relevance of strategic relationships to leadership, personal fulfilment, institutional development and social interaction.

Since its establishment, the Peace House Book Club has gradually developed into a gathering point for people with diverse interests and professional backgrounds. Students, academics, professionals, policymakers and other members of the community have participated in previous editions, with discussions often extending beyond the books under review to wider contemporary issues.

The organisers said the initiative was conceived not merely as a forum for reading books but as an avenue for nurturing minds and encouraging people to engage critically with ideas. The philosophy is captured in the quotation attributed to Sir Richard Steele and featured on the event’s publicity material: “Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

The sixth edition is also expected to provide an avenue for participants to establish and strengthen relationships among themselves. In line with the central theme of the book under review, the organisers see meaningful interaction among participants as an important component of the gathering.

Participants will also have the opportunity to contribute to the discussion during the interactive session, offering their perspectives on the book and relating its central message to their personal experiences, professional engagements and relationships within society.

The event will take place in the serene setting of The Shores, Peace House, a venue that has become associated with the club’s intellectual gatherings. Attendance is being coordinated by Grace, who can be contacted on 09038631344 for RSVP and other enquiries.

With the growing interest generated by successive editions, the sixth Book Club @ Peace House is expected to further strengthen the place of literature and intellectual dialogue in Ekiti’s social and cultural life. More importantly, the gathering is expected to demonstrate how books can provide a starting point for conversations capable of influencing individual choices, leadership practices, community relationships and wider social development.