UNDP Organises Leadership Retreat for Governors

Chuks Okocha in Abuja

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), yesterday said that it was organising a three-day leadership retreat for governors in Nigeria.

The organisers said the programme, funded by the UNDP, was scheduled for 24th to 27th August in Kigali, Rwanda.

According to a statement by Rasaque Bello Barkindo, the UN agency stated that the retreat was part of its commitment to raising the level of governance in Africa and other parts of the world.

“In today’s dynamic world, the multiplicity of mega trends – ranging from invisible threats to democratic governance, the impact of an increasingly digital and innovation-driven society, a looming job crisis, a growing youth population with an elusive youth dividend, the rapid pace of urbanisation, a highly globalised world, to rising climate change, pose tremendous challenges for African countries,” Lealem Berhand Dinku of UNDP said of the programme.

“A new leadership approach is required to transform these challenges into opportunities.”

The official added, “The programme is designed to provide a transformative platform for public officials to collectively reflect, learn and exchange insights on effective leadership and complex challenges.

“By focusing on experiential learning, exploration and reflection, the distinguished participants will be equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to lead in highly complex and uncertain environments.”

The statement noted that highly-regarded facilitators have been pooled from around the world to facilitate sessions such as “Re-imagining and Exploring the Future of Nigeria”, “Opportunities and Challenges of Contemporary Leadership in a ‘New’ World”, “The Future of Development as Influenced by Digital Transformation, Big Data, Disruptive Innovation and Emerging Technologies”, “Ensuring Socio-economic Transformations: Industrialisation, Agriculture, Climate and Green Transition”, “Revenue Generation and Resource Mobilisation” and “Effective Leadership Communication in a Fast-Changing World.”

Among those lined up to speak at the retreat are Governors Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos,  and Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, former President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Arkebe Oqubay (senior minister and special adviser to the prime minister of Ethiopia), Asishana Okauru, director-general of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ahunna Eziakonwa, assistant secretary-general and director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Africa.

The facilitators also include Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s minister of communications, innovation and digital economy; Donald Kaberuka, former President of the African Development Bank; Mohammed Yahya, the UNDP resident representative in Nigeria; Olugbenga Adesida, co-founder of the Africa Innovation Summit; William Tsuma, chief innovation officer for UNDP Nigeria; Narue Shiki, a senior adviser for the UNDP in New York; Andrew Mwenda, publisher of The Independent, Uganda; Rachel Nyaradzo Adams, founder and managing director of the Narachi Leadership Centre; Ari Aisen, the resident representative of the International Monetary Fund; Mimi Kalinda, group CEO, Africa Communications Media Group; Tolani Alli, Nigerian documentary photographer; Rubingisa Pudence, mayor of Kigali and Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, mayor of Freetown.

The UNDP said it expects the programme, being organised in partnership with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, to equip participating leaders with enhanced leadership skills, knowledge, and the mindset necessary to cultivate the leading of others.