A new date has been announced for The Nigeria Symposium for Young and
Emerging Leaders. The event was postponed from January following the
protests called by organized labour and civil society. The event will now
hold on Monday, March 19, 2012.
“It has been a most instructive few weeks, and perhaps the upside to the
protests and the chain of events that followed is that they give us a
powerful real-time case study for the issues that this new generation of
leaders will gather to discuss,” said Chude Jideonwo, who is executive
director for The Future Project, lead presenter of the Symposium.
The theme for the Symposium has also been updated to “The Challenge of
Responsible Governance: How Can This Generation Do Better?” The structure
of the discussions has also been changed into three broad sections that
will reflect the recent leadership challenges highlighted recently.
“I am excited that this is back on track and that all of our speakers have
confirmed to join the conversation at this new date,” said Obiageli
Ezekwesili, the Headline Speaker. ““The necessity for such conversation
has become even more accentuated for this Turning Point Generation of
emerging leaders.”
According to the Central Working Committee, flowing from The Future
Awards, this is the next stage of its involvement in building a new
generation of leaders: creating a critical mass of new leaders who are
already blazing a trail and controlling systems – including business and
political leaders, media leaders, thought leaders, civil society and
public service leaders.
The Keynote Speaker and Headliner is Obiageli Ezekwesisli, World Bank
Vice-President for Africa. She will be supported by Bishop of the Sokoto
Diocese and member of the defunct Oputa Panel, Bishop Matthew Kukah.
The discussions will be driven by young leaders across the nation and
different sectors, but Lead-In speakers include Governor Rotimi Amaechi of
Rivers State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Oronto Douglas
(Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research, Documentation &
Strategy), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi (Honourable Minister of Youth
Development), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai (Former Minister of the FCT), amongst
others.
The event is presented by The Future Project in association with
EnoughisEnough Nigeria. Partners include the World Bank, the International
Republican Institute, the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Paradigm
Initiative Nigeria, the Nigeria Leadership Initiative and LEAP Africa.
Media Partners are Y! (www.ynaija.com), Channels TV, Beat FM,
BellaNaija.com and CP-Africa.com.
The event will be held at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre in Lagos, and
will be hosted by Tolu Ogunlesi, winner for CNN African Journalist of the
Year 2009; and Adaure Achumba, a correspondent for Reuters.
