Join us on an insightful evening with Olusegun Aganga CON as he launches his book in London: Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa. In Conversation with Nick Kochan.
At this event, the author will share an insider account of how to take Nigeria and Africa from potential to prosperity in conversation with journalist Nick Kochan. Drawing on long experience in both the private sector and government, Olusegun Aganga CON provides practical and pragmatic insights that all Nigerians, and anyone concerned about the broader economic future of Africa, should consider.
The session includes excerpts’ readings and Q&A. Books are available to purchase now or on the day where the author will be signing copies. Proceeds from the sales will go towards poverty alleviation programs in Nigeria and other African countries.
Attendees are invited to stay for a relaxed reception with African food and drinks.
Limited spaces, please register to guarantee your space.
ONLINE ADMISSION
If you are not attending in person, please register to join us online and get your copy of the book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olusegun Aganga CON is a Chartered Accountant with a professional career extending over four decades in the financial services industry and in public service. A former Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in London and Senior Director at Ernst & Young in London, he served first as Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Economic Management Team (April 2010- June 2011) and then as its Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments (July 2011- May 2015). He was also the Chairman of the World Bank and World Trade Organisation.
Currently, Olusegun is an advisor to companies and governments in the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Nigeria. He is the founder of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative, a board member of Technoserve in the USA, an advisory board member of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and a member of the investor advisory council of Time Partners in the UK. He is also currently the Chairman of Leadway Pensure PFA in Nigeria.
ABOUT LORD HASTINGS
Michael John Hastings, Lord Dr Hastings of Scarisbrick CBE, is the current Chair of the SOAS University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) Board of Trustees; he is a Professor of Leadership at the Huntsman Business School, Utah State University, USA; Chairman -London Chamber of Commerce Black Business Association Director-National Institute of Teaching, Governor – MPESA Academy, Kenya; President, UK Community Foundations; serves as a NED at Saxton Bampfylde. He is also a Vice President at UNICEF UK and a former trustee for the Africa Philanthropy Foundation. He is the former Head of Public Affairs at the BBC and was their first head of Corporate Social Responsibility serving for 12 years. He previously served as the Global Head of Citizenship for KPMG for 13 years, Chancellor of Regent’s University London, and is a former Trustee of the Vodafone Group Foundation and subsequently a Governor of the Vodafone/Safaricom M-PESA Academy in Nairobi for hundreds of Kenya’s most poorest children drawn from every county in the country. He is a NED at WIZZIT Digital – a payments tech platform – and also with Cornerstone VC – an investment fund.
Lord Hastings began his career as a teacher then worked across government agencies on policies to build racial equality, being a Commissioner with the Commission for Racial Equality for nine years, whilst work alongside Government on urban renewal, and safer and more effective crime prevention strategies founding Crime Concern in 1988 and then Catch22 in 2009; having been a trustee and Chairman of Crime Concern for 21 years. He is co-founder of My Brother’s Keeper – an in-depth ongoing in-prison service and support network building better outcomes for insiders.
He was appointed CBE (Commander of the British Empire) in 2003 for services to crime reduction, and appointed to the House of Lords in 2005 as an independent peer. He received the UNICEF Award in 2005 for Services to Africa’s Children, and in 2014 received a Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent, Canterbury, in recognition for his leadership at KPMG and the BBC and for his work in international development and corporate responsibility. In 2019, he was the inaugural recipient of the Stephen R Covey Leadership Award for a life built on principles and effective leadership in business and public life.
Location: Brunei Gallery Lecture Theatre, SOAS University of London 10 Thornhaugh Street London WC1H 0XG
Date and time: Wed, 12 Jul 2023 18:00 – 20:00 BST
Get Tickets Here
Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa
A comment by Nick Kochan
Olusegun Aganga has written both an insightful analysis of Nigeria’s economy, politics and culture, but also has suggested some important guidelines and routes for its leaders to follow to convert the country’s huge potential into reality.
Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa is a call to action to Nigeria’s leaders, to its professional class and to its people to grasp the opportunity for change, so that they might create long-term growth, improve their lot and deal with the many woes that need to be tackled, of which one of the greatest is the extent of poverty in the country and continent.
Mr Aganga’s vision is both humane and based on fundamental principles of economics, which is his expertise. He writes with the authority of a long-time practitioner having been in banking and in Nigerian politics.
This book is strengthened by the author’s commitment to his mission and he shows in this book how personally involved he is, bringing his skills and experience to the service of his country.
But this is more than just a personal reminiscence, it is also a very practical handbook for change. He indicates what needs to be done with the economy, the state organisations, the religious institutions, with education, healthcare, law and order, to name just a few.
Reclaiming the Jewel of Africa is essential reading both for Nigeria’s leaders and Africa’s rulers if the continent shall regain its direction and achieve its potential. They have no time to waste to pick it up and absorb its lessons and messages.
Nick Kochan, British-based author and journalist and global economic expert