Former Leadership GMD, Azu, ‘returns with The Interview’

Azubuike ishiekwene, former executive director (publications) of Punch and former group managing director of Leadership, is launching The Interview, a magazine focused on leading professionals and politicians. The magazine will be in circulation by Monday, August 10.

Ishiekwene, managing director/editor-in-chief of the publication, who is popularly known as Azu from his days as a columnist, said magazine will be published monthly, with the major stories rendered in question and answer format.

In the maiden edition, Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River state, shed new light on two former Nigerian presidents – Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan – and sounded a note of warning to the governing APC.

The edition also features a no-holds-barred interview with John Momoh, chief executive officer of Channels Television, who spoke on the brave new world of virtual and augmented reality.

“The Interview will provide answers and solutions to the questions that affect the lives, well-being and aspirations of its readers and consumers in a style and language that fit their busy lifestyles,” Ishiekwene said in a statement.

“It will be a magazine that consumers, especially young professionals, can connect with and to which they can look to for answers to burning questions. Our aim is to be retailers of premium content and a strong catalyst for sharing.”

In a pre-roll out comment, journalism professor at Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois and Nigeria’s famous satirist, Olatunji Dare, said the magazine, “deserves to be well-received”.

Journalist, former publisher of Citizen magazine and leading columnist, Mohammed Haruna, described the debut as “simply great”. He commended the quality of the interviews and the columns.

Simon Kolawole, founder/CEO of Cable Newspaper Ltd, said: “The Interview has arrived on the scene in time to douse the growing belief that there is no more room in the ‘Inn’.

“With its creative layout, fluid writing, quality interviews and exciting subject mix, The Interview, in my opinion, offers the best chance to revive the sagging interest in our magazine industry. It’s a combination of beauty and brains.”