‘Let’s talk Africa’ was conceived due to the increasing number of African students acquiring excellent quality education overseas and in light of the global economic climate that is forcing many overseas graduates to consider returning home to contribute to the development of Africa. The event was organised by The International Education Consultancy (TIEC) in collaboration with Cambridge University Nigeria Society and held on May 1, 2010 at the Cambridge Union with a hundred students, graduates and practitioner from the UK and beyond were in attendance.
The event kicked off formally at noon with Henry Bonsu, former BBC presenter and co founder of Colourful Radio, who gave the opening address in his capacity as chair of the day. The first speaker Dr Adesina Iluyemi (Executive Secretary, New Partnership for Africa Development NEPAD Council) talked about the investment opportunities in the health sector of Africa. This was followed by Cambridge alumni, Osamede Okhomina, CEO of Energy Equity Resources whose speech was divided into three philosophical acts that challenged the student delegates to think well about their motives for returning home and consider its challenges carefully. Mr. Onche Ugbabe, Chief Strategy Officer of First Bank Nigeria Plc was the last speaker to address the delegates before lunch and he made a good presentation on the gaps and investments opportunity in the banking sector in Africa using First Bank as a case study. In between each speaker’s address, students were allowed to pose questions to the panellists. And this continued over lunch where the delegates were also able to network and get first-hand quality advice from representatives at the ‘Careers in Africa’ stand.
The afternoon session was opened by Tommy Garnett, Director of Environmental Foundation for Africa and Faculty core member for the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability. Tommy made a case for ‘Sustainable Development in Africa’ using his work in Africa as a case study. This was followed by a presentation from Jesse Ndika the Business Development Director of Careers in Africa about how students could participate in their upcoming three day conference in London where they would have the chance to meet potential employers and in some cases be offered jobs on the spot. The final speaker of the day was Martin Woolnough, Managing Director and CEO of Nestle Nigeria & Ghana who gave six good reasons for people to return home to work showing the role of the manufacturing industry as pivotal to economic progress. He listed three things as key for a successful career, “Skills, knowledge and attitude.”
For an hour, questions were taken from the audience which covered a wide range of issues from funding to deciding when is right to return home. The day ended with a Vote of Thanksgiven by Mr. Olugbenga Ogunbode, CEO of TIEC who thanked all the participants, apologised on behalf of Ms. Pratibha Thaker, Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Africa department (part of the Economist Magazine) who was unable to make it due to the ‘Ash’ situation and wished everyone success in their pursuits.
‘Let’s Talk Africa’ is part of TIEC’s corporate citizenship initiative the event was sponsored by Nestle Nigeria and EER, and supported by Careers in Africa, BBC Focus on Africa, First Bank and the British Council. 234 Next, Financial Standard and Business day are key media sponsors.
Story by Isabella E.C. Akinseye and Alim Abubakre.
Photograph: Courtesy of Michael Derringer.
Loading ...