Utomi Appointed Chairman of Goddy Jidenma Foundation

Prof. Pat Utomi has emerged as the third Chairman of Goddy Jidenma Foundation.

He was unanimously appointed the Chairman following the most recent Board of Trustees meeting of the foundation held in Lagos.

Utomi is a well known public intellectual. He is a founding Senior Faculty of the Lagos Business School-Pan Atlantic University where he was the Director of the Centre for Applied Economics. He had earlier on served in senior positions in government as an Adviser to the President of Nigeria; the private sector as the Chief Operation Officer of Volkswagen of Nigeria. He is the author of several management and public policy books including the award winning ‘Managing Uncertainty: Competition and Strategy in Emerging Economics, 1998’ and the 2006 book ‘Why Nations Are Poor’.

Prof Utomi has inspired many across generations in Nigeria to make positive contributions to their country. He lives what he teaches and preaches, serving as a Business Angel to many start-up companies that have since grown from their modest beginnings to iconic stature. He was the candidate for President of Nigeria in 2007 and 2011.

He took over the Chairmanship of the BOT of GJF after the demise of Chief Bola Kuforiji-Olubi, who had served as the foundation’s Chairman when the premiere Chairman, Prof. Ben Nwabueze (SAN) retired in December 2015. He had variously served as a trustee and vice chairman.

There is no doubt that Utomi will bring his exemplary leadership and vision to bear in the realisation of the laudable objectives of the Foundation.

Goddy Jidenma Foundation was founded in 2007 in memory of Goddy Jidenma by his widow, Dr Ije Jidenma. His, was a life of service which positively touched most of the people he came in contact with.

The foundation promotes excellence and public speaking in schools through the institute of annual prizes. Some of the beneficiary schools include Loyola Jesuit College Abuja, Pacelli School, Lagos Birch Freeman High School, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe High School, Abagana and Eze Ike High School, Nibo.

Members of the Board of Trustees of Goddy Jidenma Foundation include: Justice Rose Ukeje, Dr. Stella Okoli, Obidi Ezenwa, Mr. Zik Obi, Mr. Chidi Ilogu (SAN), Mr. Joe Obiago, Mrs. Ndidi Nwuneli, Miss Nmachi Jidenma and Dr Ije Jidenma, who serves as the Executive Secretary.