An NLI Associate, Ntiedo (Nt) Etuk also the Founder and Chairman of the Board of DimensionU was recently honoured as one of six “Top Entrepreneurs” by Crain’s New York. The identification of the Technology Pioneer companies is the result of a rigorous selection process for which the Forum received hundreds of applications from around the world. The applications were evaluated by a selection committee of more than 50 global technology experts, including leading academics, journalists, technologists and venture capitalists.

Since 2000, the World Economic Forum has recognized the work of young companies who hold the promise of significantly transforming the way business and society operate. More than 400 innovative companies from five continents have been selected as Technology Pioneers.

DimensionU was also recently honored with other noteworthy awards, including designation as one of the “Shining Stars” in EdNET’s Best for 2011 program. This new recognition program, developed by MDR with the support of Educational Systemics, selected DimensionU from a large pool of competitive products and services offered in the education marketplace. “Shining Stars” is one of three categories in the program and recognizes products and services that are selected by the EdNET community and the EdNET’s Best panelists as “game changers” in the education marketplace.

Another honor came from the Computers for Youth’s (CFY) Innovative Learning Awards which named DimensionU games its Family Learning Software of the Year. CFY is a national educational non-profit organization dedicated to helping low-income children does better in school by improving the learning environment at home.

In addition, Etuk has been named to the “ones to watch in Silicon Alley” list by the esteemed Crain’s New York Business publication. The Technology Pioneers 2012 will be recognized for their work at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, September 14-16, 2011.

DimensionU represents a universe of educational video games and rewards where students practice core K-12 subjects including math, literacy, and science. Students in more than 70 school districts across the United States are currently using DimensionU games including New York City Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Miami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools in Florida, and Dallas, Austin and Ft. Worth Independent School Districts in Texas.

For more information, visit http://www.DimensionU.com

NLI Associate, Dr. Muktar Gadanya, was awarded the J. D. Soleye’s prize for the best candidate in the Part II FMCPH with best dissertation and Adetokunbo Lucas prize for the best candidate in the part II FMCPH during the convocation ceremony of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria which took place at the college premises in Ijanikin Lagos, on the September 20, 2012.

Muktar, who is currently a senior registrar at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, was also awarded the National honour of Member of the Order of Federal Republic (MFR) at the age of 29 years.

Muktar is a Member of the West African College of Physicians, Associate of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and holds a Masters degree of University of London, United Kingdom in Reproductive and Sexual Health Research.  He is a co-founder of the Public Health Research and Development Association (PUBHERDA).

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has appointed Senior Fellow, Tony Elumelu, CON, to the Private Capital Group for Africa (PCGA) Partners Forum.

The Partners Forum is comprised of several leaders in industry convened to provide expert advice to the US Government on the best strategies for engagement with Africa’s private sector, and to better align its private investment and development goals.

Following the appointment of several prominent US-based members to the Forum including Edward Mathias, Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Carlyle Group, and Thomas Barry, CEO and Founder, Zephyr Capital Management, USAID has named Mr.Elumelu as the Forum’s founding African member.In his statement accepting the appointment, Mr.Elumelu stated: “It is indeed an honour to work with the United States Government and other members of the Partners Forum. I am proud to be a part of a mission to change the way that Africa is perceived – from a charity case to a demonstrably economically vibrant continent offering the opportunity for private sector investment through partnerships with Africa’s own successful businessmen and women.”

As Chairman of Nigeria-based Heirs Holdings, an African proprietary investment company with a focus on key economic development sectors including financial services, resources real estate, and healthcare, Mr.Elumelu understands the continent’s investment environment and leadership priorities. He is also the founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation.

According to CNN, Idris Ayodeji Bello is a leading example of an ‘Afropreneur’, a word he created to describe the bright, independent and tech savvy entrepreneurs using creative thinking and the power of innovation to take over Africa’s economic destiny.

At just 33 years old, NLI Associate Idris Ayodeji Bello has already been involved in several tech initiatives aimed at encouraging entrepreneurship and empowering communities across Africa.Early last year, he co-founded the Wennovation Hub in Nigeria, a technology space enabling ambitious entrepreneurs to come together and develop their trailblazing ideas into successful businesses.The Lagos-based hub, one of the many innovation centers that have recently mushroomed across Africa, has so far incubated the efforts of more than 100 entrepreneurs, providing them with space, support and consulting.

He also co-founded AfyaZima, a health technology and management startup that leverages the rise of mobile phones and other low-cost technologies across Africa to provide access to vital health information.The startup won the 2012 Dell Technology Award — in collaboration with the Oxford Engineering World Health Group – for Blood Pressure MCuff, a low-cost device that enables blood pressure monitoring and data transmission via mobile phones. The technology hence acts as a communication channel for doctors to remotely send treatment recommendations to their patients.

Bello’s most daring project to date is YoKwazi: an ambitious initiative aiming to change Africa’s education landscape by putting learning resources to the hands of students and teachers across the continent.

Still at testing stage, YoKwazi aims to deploy OTGPlaya, an offline wireless cloud device, in key community areas to house and host online educational tools. The device, which was incubated at the Wennovation Hub, will do a one-time download, store the content and make it available for people nearby to access it through their wi-fi enabled devices.

“It’s about bringing online education to an offline world,” says Bello.

On his legacy, Idris says his mission as an “Afropreneur” is to enable access to information so that people can tap into their own creativity to solve their problems without having to rely on government.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is the Guest Speaker at a forum to be hosted by the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI) and First Bank of Nigeria Plc (FirstBank). The forum takes place on Tuesday, August 28, 2012 in Lagos.

The Guest Speaker Forum is aimed at the utilization of practical experiences for information sharing with invited guests. Moreover, through the series, future Nigerian Leaders (NLI Associates) benefit from experiential learning from seasoned Guest Speakers who have had to tackle critical issues and taken tough decisions in their past leadership roles. Past Guest Speakers included Dr. Christopher Kolade, Bishop Mathew Kukah, and Professor Oba Nsugbe QC, SAN. In addition to Lagos, past Forums were held in Abuja and London.

According to Mr. Yinka Oyinlola, the CEO of NLI, “leading in difficult and complex situations and time implies being able to come up with few lessons that can be applicable for others in other circumstances. Undoubtedly, more than any other past President, Chief Obasanjo has had to lead Nigeria at two inflection points of our history (1979 and 1999) with political transitions into democracy. We are honoured with his acceptance of our invitation to share insightful lessons with us just as we look forward to his perspective on other matters of national importance.”

Speaker: Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR

Date: 28th of August, 2012

Venue: Fourpoints by Sheraton Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

In order to assist the families and dependents of victims of the June 3 Dana Airplane with issues that may arise during the grieving process, as well as disseminate information on their options and rights resulting from the tragedy, a non-governmental organisation, Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI), will this weekend, host them to a tragedy information forum.

- Culled from Nigerian Tribune, Wednesday July 11th 2012, PG 51

Nigerian Tribune, Wednesday July 11th 2012, PG 51

The Nigeria Leadership Initiative is organizing an information forum for the families of the victims’ of the Dana Air crash on Saturday, July 14, 2012 at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos. The forum will provide valuable information to victims’ families on coping mechanisms and post trauma rehabilitation, Psychological considerations during grief, Flight/Aircraft safety issues as well as legal options and rights.

The invited panelists include Professor Oba Nsugbe QC, SAN, Mrs. Bridget Itsueli, NLI Senior Fellow; Dr. Femi Olugbile, Psychiatrist and Bereavement/Social Psychologist; Mr. Jim Morris, a qualified Boeing pilot and Aviation Law specialist and Mr. Jibola Dalley, Lawyer. The time for the forum is 10.00am.

With deep regret and sorrow, NLI sympathizes with the families of Mijindadi, Somolu, and Shobowale for losing family members in the tragic accident of Dana Airlines Flight 0992. At this grieving moment for the families, we are united in prayers for God to provide them the strength to bear the irreparable loss.