Pledging to Act

Below are pictures of several newspaper  clippings on the forum.

The Executive Vice-President, Public Sector North of the bank Mr. Dauda Lawal, made the announcement at the Leadership Forum organized by the First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) with the Nigerian Leadership Initiative (NLI).

He said the decision to renew the MOU came as recognition of “our corporate social responsibilities is to sponsor such an initiative towards achieving a better Nigeria.”

Mr Dauda said, “When you look at Nigeria as a country today, everything is about leadership. Anywhere you go, they will ask you about what is happening in the leadership.

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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.

Speaker: Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah

Senior Fellow, Bayo Ogunlesi is the Chairman & Managing Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners. He was former Executive Vice Chairman & Chief Client Officer of Credit Suisse, New York, USA. He ranked 7th in Fortune magazine’s list of most powerful Black Executives in the Americas.

Senior Fellow, Jide Zeitlin is a Private Investor and Founder, The Keffi Group. He was previously a senior investment banker and Partner, Goldman Sachs & Co until December 2005. He is also chairman of the Board of Trustees of Amherst College, USA.

NLI Associate, Lola Adesioye, is a socio-political commentator/writer for UK and US publications.

Senior Fellow Gbenga Oyebode was honoured by the Nigerian Bar Association for a Distinguished Contribution to the Advancement of Legal Practice in Nigeria. With significant experience in project finance, corporate law, energy and natural resources, telecommunications and aviation law, Mr. Oyebode is the Managing Partner of Aluko & Oyebode Law Firm.

• Tunde Ajia to Association of Project Management: “I am elated, inspired, and honoured” to be NLI Associate

Associate Tunde Ajia granted an interview, to the UK Association of Project Management [APM] Magazine, in which he stated being very elated, inspired and honoured to be selected as an NLI Associate. He further added that “collaborative working alongside other likeminded future leaders, to actively promote the process and practice of leadership is an awesome experience, also a viable and sustainable way to give back to the society and I’m hoping that our actions will inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more.”

• Maryam Uwais, Mobola Johnson, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and Toyosi Akerele: Recognized as Women of Distinction at This Day’s Award

Senior Fellow Mariam Uwais was recognized and honored for her service to vulnerable class of the Nigerian society. A Managing Partner of the Law Firm of Wali‐Uwais& Co, Mrs. Uwais is a staunch advocate for the rights of women and children.

Senior Fellow Omobola Johnson received the award for Life of Service to Good Governance. , Serving as the current Minister of Technology and Communications, Mrs. Johnson is a Member of the Advisory Board of Women in Management and Business (WIMBIZ) an organization that seeks to improve the success rate of female entrepreneurs and increase the proportion of women in senior positions in corporate organizations.

Senior Fellow Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was appreciated and honoured as Nigeria’s Global Champion. Particular mention was made to Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s introduction of measures to put the Nigerian economy on the path to sustainable growth in her capacity as the current coordinating Minister of the Economy/Minister of Finance.

Associate Toyosi Akerele received the honour for Standing up for the Youth. Ms. Akerele is the CEO of RISE, a private and public sector funded Social enterprise, focusing on vital youth and education development issues.

• Four NLI Associates recognized as New Leaders of Tomorrow by Crans Montana Forum: Segun Olukoya, Eyitope St Matthew-Daniel, Toyosi Akerele and Richard Ogunmodede

The Crans Montana Forum is a unique community of young leaders from Africa, the Arab World, Far Eastern Europe, Central Asia, South-America and Far East. The Forum selects, every year, of New Leadersfor Tomorrow – those who have demonstrated exceptional professional achievement and leadership experience in Businesses and Governments. In a special ceremony in Brussels in March, Associates Segun Olukoya, Eyitope St Matthew-Daniel, Toyosi Akerele and Richard Ogunmodede were appointed as New Leaders of Tomorrow.

• Akudo Ikemba and Biola Alabi: Honoured as Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum

Associate Akudo Ikemba and Biola Alabi were recognized and honoured as a Young Global Leaders by the World Economic Forum.

Akudo, a medical doctor, is the CEO and Founder of Friends of Global Funds Africa. Over the past several years, through her Foundation, she has been one of the leading African voices in the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

Biola, a graduate from the University of Cincinnati, is the MD of MNET Africa. Biola joined M-Net over three years ago and has been at the forefront in the expansion of the Africa Magic channels. Prior to this, she served as a Regional Director in the International Strategies Group at Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind the Emmy-award winning television series, Sesame Street.

• Adeola Austin Oyinlade: UN Young Ambassador to digitize African Youth Charter

Associate Adeola Oyinlade was selected by the African Union to digitize and make popular the African Youth Charter. Adeola, a United Nations’ Young Ambassador for Peace, is the President of Know Your Constitution Initiative in Nigeria. He has successfully used law, social media, radio and mobile applications as tools for social engineering and problem-solving.

The goal of the project is to raise awareness of the targeted youth with positive values and skills necessary to propel Nigeria forward. The Initiative is currently being piloted in select schools in Lagos State; however, the Class of October 2011 hopes that the effort could be adopted for a scalable expansion across Nigeria with partnership between the government and private sector agencies.

Currently, the targeted schools, for the pilot project, are: Birch Freeman Junior and Senior High Schools; Igbo Owu Junior and Senior Secondary Schools; Eko Boys Junior and Senior Secondary Schools; Ransome Kuti Memorial Junior Grammar School; St Joseph Senior Secondary School; and Mushin Community High school.

During the inaugural session, notable among the invited guests who inspired the students were Senior Fellows Jinmi Morgan and Asue Ighodalo.

At the Birch Freeman Secondary School, the Associates educated the students on the history of Nigeria while motivating them to be the best for the nation. To make one of the sessions exciting and lively, the students shared the excitement with Associate Bankole Wellington (Banky-W) and Wizkid – both widely recognized pop stars.

“I learned that our founding Fathers had a vision they tried to achieve before they died and when we become leaders we should continuetheir good works”- Cyril Success, JSS 2 student from Ransome Kuti Memorial School.

At another of the sessions, the participating students were requested to write an essay on their pledge to Nigeria. The ten best essays were rewarded with cash awards and the students were urged to remember their pledge to Nigeria.
The project is anticipated to be completed with a grand finale ceremony during which students and their teachers are to receive awards and gifts.

The C.L.E.V.E.R Club project, offshoot of the October 2009 Class project of NLI Associates, reinforces civics and character education amongst Nigerian Secondary School Students. In addition to training sessions for teachers and Principal, the project works with school prefects who are encouraged to initiate CLEVER Clubs to inculcate values for nation building.

The success of the CLEVER Club at King’s College Lagos resulted in a partnership with King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA) in October 2011. KCOBA implemented leadership and values training utilizing NLI’s C.L.E.V.E.R CLUB curriculum.

KCOBA mobilized about forty (40) members to conduct interactive and activity-based classes over a six (6) week period. Seventy Six (76) students passed through the pilot programme with support from GlaxoSmithKline Nigeria Plc, OK Foods Nigeria Ltd, and FAB Magazine.

At the end of the pilot programme, KCOBA deemed its success significant and resolved to expand it to target all King’s College students during 2012. All students will undergo CLEVER curriculum during a six-week period over the next two years.

Students, parents, and school authorities described the CLEVER Project as novel with great potential of reorientation of the students on values. No other programme, in the educational curriculum, provided this same opportunity.

The KCOBA has also entered into a strategic partnership with the African Leadership Academy (ALA), South Africa, to develop and run a structured leadership development programme annually for King’s College students who display strong leadership potential. ALA, a world class pan-African secondary institution, is a training ground for the next generation of African Leaders.

According to NLI Associate Segun Olukoya, “leaders can be made if we catch them young.”