Highlights of 18th CVL Annual Lecture and International Leadership Symposium

TALKFEST ON PATHWAYS TO PROSPERITY IN AFRICA

The Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) had its annual Flagship Leadership symposium on the 5^th of February, 2021, at the Shell hall of the Muson center, Onikan, Lagos. The annual symposium also commemorates the 65^th birthday anniversary of the founder of CVL, Professor Pat Utomi.

The CVL Annual Lecture and International Leadership Symposium was tagged “Capital, Innovation, Trade, Health and Education as Pathways to Prosperity in Africa. The aim was to put in perspective these five variables and discuss how pertinent they are to the development of the African continent. The lecture had in attendance high profile personalities, erudite scholars, seasoned administrators from around Africa and the United States of America, using both in-person and virtual platforms in compliance with COVID 19 protocols. 

Some of such personalities include: Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu Executive Governor of Lagos State, ably represented by the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance Hon. Rabiu Olowo Onaolapo; Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, former Nigeria Minister of Finance; Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, former Minister of Health; Dr. Hippolyte Fofack, Chief Economist at AFREXIM Bank, Cairo, Egypt; Dr. Amany Asfour, Chairperson, African Business Council of the African Union AU; Mr. Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) Secretariat in Ghana; Professor Leif Rosenberger, Economic and Security Expert from the USA; Professor Peter Lewis of Johns Hopkins University, USA. 

Also present were Dr. Omano Edigheji, Special Adviser (Research and Documentation) to the Governor of Kaduna State North West Nigeria; Dr. Ona Ekhomu, Nigerian Security expert and the Chairman/CEO of Trans-World Security; Mr. Peter Okocha, Nigerian Businessman and Philanthropist. 

Opening goodwill messages were delivered by Dr. Amany Asfour on behalf of the African Business Council of the African Union (AU); Hon. Rabiu Olowo Onaolapo, Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, representing His Excellency, Gov. Babajide Sanwolu, Executive Gov. of Lagos State.

The Welcome Address was made by the Chairperson of the Board of CVL, Prof (Mrs) Ifeoma Utomi followed by remarks from the Founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL), Prof. Pat Utomi. 

First keynote speeches were delivered by Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu (Former Nigerian Minister of Finance) and Prof. Leif Rosenberger, a renowned International Economist and Security Expert from the USA, while the second keynote speeches were delivered by Prof. Peter Lewis, director of African Studies and associate professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu (Former Nigerian Minister of Health).

The lecture agenda had two sets of Panel discussions, both moderated by Prof. Pat Utomi.

While the first panel looked at the instrumentality of Trade, Capital, Infrastructure and Development policy to Prosperity in Africa, the Second Panel examined the role of Education, Health and Innovation to the development of Africa as a continent. It was a talk fest of Ideas, Suggestions, Blueprints and valid Recommendations from renowned experts from the various sectors of the Socio-political and Economic Systems of the continent of Africa. 

The following are various thought-provoking quotes from distinguished Speakers at the Symposium that are noteworthy:

“It is not acceptable that we have all the resources of the world, and they are industrialized outside the continent of Africa” – Amany Asfour

“Financial Independence gives you the power of choice and voice. It is time for Africa to have choice and voice through Economic Independence” – Amany Asfour

“Platforms such as this are a delight, as they not only provide an avenue for a talk fest between policy makers, thought leaders and citizens on how to create a nexus of ideas that will prime action for good and accountable leadership, but it as well forms the bedrock that brings forth policies, initiatives, and ideas through which the common good of our nation and continent is prioritized” – Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“In over 50 years of Independence across Africa, we should now begin to ponder on, and provide refreshing ideas on how Africa can look inwards and develop itself, it is against this backdrop, that I find the topic in this symposium thought provoking, timely and ultimately necessary at this point in our history.” – Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“In contrast, a shortage of Natural resources like oil can be a blessing in disguise, at first glance, it seems to be counter intuitive, but appearances can be deceiving in Economics” – Leif Rosenberger

“The theme, Capital, Innovation, Trade, Health and Education as pathways to prosperity in Africa is really the intersection of development, I mean human centric development, regional integration and globalization” – Hippolyte Fofack

“Vaccination and Immunization is one cost effective way to ensure that everybody is healthy.” – Onyebuchi Chukwu

“Without security there will be no peace, without peace and security, there will be no prosperity” – Onyebuchi Chukwu

“If we are going to change the trajectory of the school system, we have to bring back the initial merit system that guided us” – Kalu Idika Kalu

“Capital is very essential, to mobilize capital, you have to work, you have to save, and these two things have to be directed to specific investment” – Kalu Idika Kalu

About CVL

CVL (Centre for Values in Leadership) is a social enterprise involved in leadership development activities aimed at raising self-sacrificing leaders that will drive Africa’s quest for modernity and human progress. For more than seventeen years, we have been in the fore of trying to determine, through training, research, influence and advocacy, the way leaders are shaped, for the Generation Next. We have a number of programmes in pursuit of this objective and they can be reviewed on our website, www.cvl.com.ng. 

The 18th CVL Annual Lecture and International Leadership Symposium was proudly Supported by:

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Bank of Industry BOI, FBNQuest, Stanbic IBTC, Mutual Benefits Assurance PLC, Bon Voyage Hotel, JNCI, M&B Pharmaceuticals, Fidson Pharmaceuticals.

Digital Brochure for 2021 Annual Lecture

Click here to pre-order a copy of Prof Utomi’s book WHY NOT.

For more information

Phone: +234-081-074-80036

Email:  [email protected]  [email protected]

About the Author

Isioma Utomi

Administrator

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