NLI | Archive | Press Release

Kukah Speak at NLI Forum

Posted May 2nd, 2012 in News, Press Release

Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) organized yet another Future Leaders’ programme which held on April 26 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja by 6pm. Front line social crusader and clergy, Bishop Matthew Kukah, featured as Guest Speaker at the forum which was sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria Plc.

Below are pictures of several newspaper clippings on the forum.

: Culled from ThisDay newspaper

: Nigerian leaders are accidental leaders – Kukah

: Front page of Compass Newspaper

: Culled from Leadership Weekend

: Kukah: North is a liability on Nigeria

: Kukah tasks Northern leaders on development

Bishop Kukah to Address Youths at FirstBank, NLI Forum

Posted April 20th, 2012 in Press Release

Frontline social crusader and clergy, Bishop Matthew Kukah will feature as guest speaker at a forum organized by Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI) and sponsored by the nation’s Number One Bank Brand, First Bank of Nigeria Plc (FirstBank).

The ‘Guest Speaker Forum’, an activity of the NLI Future Leaders’ Programme, seeks to mobilize accomplished and highly successful young Nigerians to be patriotic and share values capable of transforming Nigeria positively. The event comes up on Thursday, April 26, 2012 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

Bishop Kukah will focus on several issues including: the challenges of leadership, examining the menace of corruption and its impact on the process required to drive change in African leaders, and pointing out opportunities that exist for youths to rescue the continent.

According to the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, the Bank considers its interventions in the area of youth empowerment as an integral part of its social responsibility projects. “FirstBank’s sponsorship of the NLI Guest Speaker Forum is a demonstration of our strong commitment to youth empowerment and entrepreneurial development as the nation looks forward to raising a vibrant generation of future leaders,” she said.

Mr. Yinka Oyinlola, the CEO of NLI stated that “NLI organizes the Guest Speaker Forum to provide practical and experiential learning for Nigeria’s future leaders. A critical leadership challenge is the focus of this forum; a lot of questions arise about having no authority to power positive change. Bishop Kukah will not only analyze such situations but also proffer recommendations on managing such.”

About NLI

NLI is an international non-profit and non-partisan organization. NLI provides a platform for highly accomplished Nigerian leaders to enhance or develop their values-based leadership skills and to drive positive change in the development of Nigeria. A member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), NLI is a global organization comprising of Senior Fellows and Associates in Nigeria, Europe, US, and other parts of the world. Through leadership seminars, symposia, social responsibility projects, NLI mobilizes the energy, talent and resources of its network to collectively tackle challenges that confront Nigeria.

About First Bank

First Bank of Nigeria Plc (FirstBank) is Nigeria’s leading financial services institution by total assets and gross earnings. With more than 5 million customers, FirstBank has over 620 branches and eleven (11) subsidiary companies in Nigeria, providing a comprehensive range of financial services. The Bank has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, and Banque International de Credit (B.I.C) in the Republic of Congo, as well as its Representative Offices in Johannesburg, Beijing and Abu Dhabi. FirstBank is recipient of several recent awards including the “Best Banking Group in Nigeria” by World Finance Banking Awards, “Best Financial Reporting Company” by Africa Investor, “Most Innovative Bank in Africa” by African Banker Awards, and was recently named Nigeria’s number one banking brand by Brand Finance Top 500 Banking Brands 2012.

SURE-P: Dr. Christopher Kolade Speaks at NLI Forum

Posted February 23rd, 2012 in Press Release

In recognition that changes do not happen overnight, the Nigeria Leadership Initiative [NLI] works towards creating a new generation of Nigerians who discuss both problems and their solutions. With sponsorship from First Bank of Nigeria, Plc., NLI mobilizes accomplished and highly successful young Nigerians, through a Future Leaders Program, to be patriotic and share values capable of transforming Nigeria positively. As part of its activities, NLI organizes Guest Speaker Forum where Speakers are engaged on potentially untested, unconventional, and new leadership ideas.

President Goodluck Jonathan launched, on February 13, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme [SURE-P] Committee. In his remarks, titled Delivering Service with Integrity, the Chairman of the SURE-P Committee, Dr. Christopher Kolade, CON, affirmed that the Committee will “serve with integrity, always reminding ourselves that both Government and people are trusting us to manage this Programme in such a way that the results fulfil the stated purpose and bring the best benefits to the people of Nigeria.”

On Thursday, February 23, Dr. Kolade will be NLI’s Guest Speaker. Amongst other issues, he will address how SURE-P Committee will offer Nigerians probity, transparency, and accountability. Additionally, Dr. Kolade will speak about the critical issues of national interest and how the SURE-P Committee will serve with integrity in meeting the legitimate expectations of Nigerians.

The Guest Speaker Forum is sponsored by First Bank of Nigeria (FBN), the clear leader in the financial services sector of Nigeria. FBN’s operations are in capital market operations, insurance services, asset management and investment banking, private equity/venture capital, etc. FBN’s demonstrates remarkable leadership to the growth and development of Nigeria through its corporate social responsibility activities.

NLI is an international non-profit and non-partisan organization. NLI provides a platform for highly accomplished Nigerian leaders to enhance or develop their values-based leadership skills and to assume a transformative role in the future development of Nigeria. A member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), NLI’s Mission is to create a growing, global network of credible, accomplished community-spirited Nigerian leaders, committed to taking responsibility for driving positive change in Nigeria and Nigerian communities.

NLI Signs MoU with First Bank for the Future Leaders Seminar

Posted May 26th, 2011 in News, Press Release

Press Release

First Bank of Nigeria Plc on Wednesday May 18, 2011 reaffirmed its dedication to the empowerment of emerging Nigerian leaders when it renewed its sponsorship of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) Future Leader’s Seminar for another three years. Participants who go through the programme will become Associates of NLI.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) renewing the sponsorship of the Seminar was signed in a ceremony which took place at the head office of First Bank. It was anchored by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of First Bank, Mr. Bisi Onasanya and NLI’s founding patron, Dr. Christopher Kolade CON.

The partnership between the two organizations began in 2008 and has enabled the discovery of over 200 young Nigerian achievers at home and in the Diaspora. NLI created the Future Leaders Seminar (FLS) with the mission of institutionalizing its core values for leadership development through knowledge, engagement and social projects. This year’s May seminar features Associates from Nigeria, Ghana, UK, US and South Africa.

Mr. Bisi Onasanya, while commenting on the choice of NLI, said First Bank is proud to be associated with an organization that seeks to identify and nurture leadership potential in young Nigerians.

“We have been at the forefront of championing good corporate governance and developing a workforce comprising people of impeccable integrity. There’s an alignment of vision between our organizations and we see our partnership as another way of contributing to the development of the next generation of Nigerian leaders”, he said adding that Dr. Christopher Kolade, NLI’s patron should be commended for his commitment to replicating the ideals of professionalism and selfless leadership that he is distinguished for, under the NLI platform.

Dr. Christopher Kolade, on his part commended First Bank for its unwavering support, noting that the Bank has remained a formidable institution committed to implementing robust corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Established in 2006 by the Nigerian Trade & Investment Minister, Olusegun Aganga, NLI is a platform for highly accomplished, uniquely qualified Nigerians to develop and express their values-based leadership skills and to assume a transformative role in Nigeria’s development.

NLI’s StandUP Naija Advocates for the Needs of Average Nigerians

Posted April 6th, 2011 in News, Press Release

The Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) has formally launched its StandUPNaija Project – an electorate awareness platform aimed at enhancing citizen participation during and after the 2011 general elections.

StandUPNaija gives a voice to the issues faced by average Nigerians, and their expectations from elected leaders. Across the country, the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) is helping Nigerians speak up about the policy issues that matter to them such as Electricity, Health, Security, Education, Transportation and Employment.

“Through a series of impactful videos shot across Nigeria’s 6 geo-political zones, we havehighlighted the issues that affect average Nigerians and hope to put pressure on elected officials to address them during and after the 2011 elections,” said Simi Idowu, the organisation’s Operations Director. “The overall goal is to frame the policy issues for the 2011 elections (from the viewpoint of average Nigerians) and the expected actions of government officials in the next administration.During the next administration, these issues will be tracked”.

The videos have thus far been shown on national networks including the Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Channels Television – and have been broadcast in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The videos are also available for viewing and download at www.nli-global.org or www.standupnaija.org. At launch, over 10,000 people viewed the videos online.

StandUPNaija, working with a coalition of election-focused organizations, named What About Us recentlyco-produced Nigeria’s first youth-centred presidential debate, hosted by international award-winning writer Chimamanda Adichie. The coalition included EnoughisEnough Nigeria, Vote or Quench and Sleeves Up.

StandUPNaija’s parent organisation, Nigeria Leadership Initiative, is an international non-profit, non-partisan organisation that mobilises the energy, talent and resources of credible and accomplished Nigerians in-country and the diaspora to tackle the challenges that confront the nation.Established in 2006, NLI has activated several projects including a free comprehensive civics curriculum called CLEVER and an animated video on the values of Nigeria’s founding fathers on the Naira notes called Notes2Note.

NLI is a registered Charity in Nigeria and the United Kingdom and its fellows are members of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

NLI holds dinner in honour of Mr. Segun Aganga

Posted August 30th, 2010 in News, Press Release

Nigeria Leadership Initiative in collaboration with Business in Africa Events is organizing a dinner to honour and celebrate Mr. Olusegun Aganga, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Nigeria for his unique role as the founder of NLI.