July 2007
The July 5-7, 2007 Inaugural NLI Future Leaders Seminar
The Inaugural Nigeria Leadership Future Leaders Seminar took place from mid-day Thursday, July 5, 2007 to the evening of Saturday, July 7, 2007 at the Protea Oakwood Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria.
Participation in this 3-Day residential Seminar which is the first in a series of two within an 18-24 month period was limited to 27 of the most highly motivated, high achieving successful young Nigerians within the 25-35 years age group who we believe to be uniquely qualified to influence the future development of the Nigerian society through values-based leadership. The participants based in Nigeria and the UK came from diverse backgrounds and sectors including, finance, aviation, law, health, public sector, civil society and consulting.
For a list of the Inaugural NLI Future Leaders Class, please see 2007 Future Leaders Class.
The 3-day Future Leaders Class Seminar gave all participants the opportunity to reflect, sharpen their leadership skills, and develop a values – based leadership style. The seminar was text based and moderated by:
- Dr. Reuben Abati, Editor in Chief, The Guardian Newspapers and NLI 2007 Senior Leader Class Fellow
- Dele Olojede, Chairman, Timbuktu Media, Pulitzer Prize Winner and NLI 2006 Senior Leader Class Fellow.
Other NLI Senior Leader Class Fellows who contributed in some of the Seminar sessions included:
- Folusho Phillips, Founder/CEO, Phillips Consulting, Nigeria and NLI 2007 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Nasir El-Rufai, Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), Abuja and NLI 2006 Senior Leader sClass Fellow.
- Dr. Efunbo Dosekun, Joint Executive Director, Lifeline Children’s Hospital, Lagos and NLI 2007 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Dr. Adhiambo Odaga, Ford Foundation West Africa Representative and NLI 2006 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Bashir Ibrahim, CEO, Dirham Group, Abuja and NLI 2007 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Dr. Olu Obaro, Head of the Department of Radiology, King George Hospital, London and NLI 2006 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Prof. Jacob Olupona, Professor of African & African American Studies and Religion, Harvard University, MA, United States and NLI 2006 Senior leaders Class Fellow.
At the conclusion of the seminar, the participants decided to undertake an Individual leadership project, support on-going NLI Class projects and also actively participate in the following two NLI Class projects decided upon by their Class:
- NLI Public Sector Secondment Initiative aimed at addressing the dearth of skills in Nigerian Public Sector Insitutions whilst encouraging active participation of highly talented and motivated young Nigerians in Public Service.
- NLI National Identity Initiative aimed at promoting values-based leadership awareness amongst Nigerians and promoting a national and international consciousness of the Nigerian identity.
The July 7, 2007 NLI Special Recognition Dinner
The Nigeria Leadership Initiative hosted a Special Recognition Dinner on July 7, 2007 to honour all the NLI Fellows who served in the last administration. The Dinner which also served as a culmination of the July 5-7 Inaugural NLI Future Leaders Seminar took place at the Panoramic View Room, Civic Center, Lagos and was officially sponsored by Zenith Bank Plc.
(L to R) NLI Foundder with Mr. Akintola Williams and Chief Emeka Anyaoku
The Special Guests of Honour at the Dinner were Mr. Akintola Williams (2006) NLI Values-Based Leader Award Recepient) and Chief Emeka Anayoku (Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth). Also in attendance were NLI Senior Leader Fellows, members of the Inaugural NLI FL Class and CEOs and Managing Directors of various public and private sector organisations in Nigeria.
The following NLI Senior Leader Fellows are the recepients of the NLI Special Recognition:
H.E. Dr. Christopher Kolade CON, former High Commissioner for Nigeria to the United Kingdom and Founding Patron, NLI.
- Dr. Auwalu Anwar, former Secretary of Education and former Secretary of Agriculture to the FCTA and NLI 2007 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Mallam Nasir El-Rufai OFR, former Minister of the Federal Capital Authority, Abuja and NLI 2006 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Dr. Bashir Ibrahim, former Special Assistant to the Nigerian Vice-President and NLI 2007 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Major-General Sarki Mukhtar (rtd) CFR, National Security Adviser to the Nigerian President and NLI 2006 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Ambassador Ayodele Oke, Ambassador, Commonwealth Secretariat, United Kingdom and NLI 2006 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Minister of Finance and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and NLI 2007 senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Prof. Oluyemi Osinbajo SAN, former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Lagos State and NLI 2007 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and NLI 2006 Senior Leaders Class Fellow.
- Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, former Chief Whip of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the leader of the South-South Caucus.