Consistent with the commitment to assemble noted thought leaders across the nation and the globe to strengthen democracy and advance good governance, Professor Pat Utomi, founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) has announced former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, six serving governors, eminent royal fathers, captains of industry, and international scholars, as part of the key participants in the two-day international symposia to celebrate CVL at twenty, Patitos Gang TV at 25, and his 68th birthday. The two-day events are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, February 5 and 6, 2024, respectively.

The day one event, Entrepreneurship Symposium, scheduled to hold at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, has as its theme, “Skills Driven Entrepreneurship.” The keynote speaker is Dr. Adiele Nwankwo, an innovator in planning applications, who initiated and completed the first Geographic Information System Transportation application in the state of Michigan, USA and is credited with the development and implementation of a methodology for integrating traffic safety with regional transportation plans. The co-speaker is Dr. Henrietta Onwuegbuzie, Director, Business Innovation Accelerator and an associate Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Lagos Business School.

The Panel of Practice include Mustapha Njie, a Gambian, regarded as one of Africa’s most successful property developers. Mr. Njie’s Group, TAF Africa Homes, is present in eight African countries; Engr. Alfred Okoigun, founder and Group Managing Director of ARCO Group Plc, a diversified company with operations spanning maintenance engineering support services, Marine Logistics, Pipelines & facilities Inspection, property development, and consumer power generation; Dr. Leemon Ikpea, chairman/Chief Executive Officer, LEE Engineering and Construction Company Limited; and Dr Cosmos Maduka, founder, President and CEO of Coscharis Group, an indigenous conglomerate with diverse interest in Manufacturing, Petrochemical, Auto care, Auto Components, Automobile Sales and Services.

The day two event scheduled for Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at Shell Hall, MUSON Centre, Onikan, Lagos, will be the Leadership Symposium and Launch of Professor Utomi’s New Book: POWER, POLITICS, PUBLIC POLICY PROCESS AND PERFORMANCE. The theme of the symposium is “DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND NATIONAL PERFORMANCE: THE MUTUAL RELATIONSHIP.”

The Key Note Speaker is Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, a globally acclaimed authority on democratisation in Africa, and Senior Associate for Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Washington DC, USA, while the Co-Speakers are Professor Peter Lewis, the Warren Weinstein Chair of African Studies at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; and Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

The Panel of Discussants are His Excellencies, Dr. Alex Otti, Governor of Abia State; Professor Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State; Mr. Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State; Engr. Sule Abdullahi, Governor of Nasarawa State; Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State; and Engr. Seyi Makinde, Governor of Oyo State.

According to Professor Pat Utomi, a renowned Political Economist, the two-day international event is in keeping with the established tradition of CVL since 2004 to provide a “veritable platform for great intellectual discourse and a think point for national issues, to promote and encourage good leadership in Nigeria and Africa.”

The CVL Annual Lecture and International Leadership Symposium which started in 2004 assembles noted thought leaders and renowned experts from around the world to discuss and analyse topical issues relevant to Nigeria’s economic and socio-political development with the overall goal to strengthen democracy, good governance, rule of law, and sustainable leadership.

The first edition of the CVL Annual lecture took place in 2004 at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) with Mr. Tom Isegohi, a Nigerian Investment banker in the USA as the first speaker. Since then, CVL has consistently hosted thought provoking editions, featuring brilliant minds from around the world as speakers with discussions on various issues ranging from education, leadership, employment, cities development, democracy, economy, youth, values, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and development, amongst others.

Also eminent and inspirational speakers have graced the annual lecture series such as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Professor Yemi Osinbajo, former Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria; Mr. Paul Kagame, President, Republic of Rwanda; Mr. Peter Obi, Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential election; Most Reverend Matthew Hasan Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese; and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank.