Princess Oghene Launches Compendium at GAHAwards 12th Edition  

Vanessa Obioha

At the 12th edition of the GAHAwards, recently held, convener Dr. Princess Oghene launched her new compendium, Against All Odds: Global GAHAwards Chronicles. Authored by Oghene, the book is a collection of inspiring stories about leaders, innovators, and changemakers. Each chapter highlights the resilience and determination of these trailblazers, showcasing strategies and collaborations that extend beyond Nigerian shores.

This year’s event, themed Against All Odds, featured both a summit and an awards ceremony. In her opening remarks, Dr. Oghene described the theme as capturing “the essence of what we need to build a lasting legacy, to rise above adversity, and to create opportunities where others see obstacles.”

The summit included panel sessions with speakers from various sectors, addressing the challenges facing businesses and strategies for overcoming them.

In a keynote speech, former Labour Party gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, discussed the collective and individual challenges facing Nigeria. He argued that Nigerians are experiencing a crisis of identity that keeps them divided.

“This challenge for me is a mental one,” he said. “It is why, individually, Nigerians are superstars all over the world, but as a collective, we are home to multi-dimensional poverty. Even our attempts at unity in the African Union are funded mostly by non-Africans, and this has to change.”

He called for a shift in mindset, particularly in education and leadership. “We must start to nurture empire ambition, where we not only think about today, but we think about three to four generations that are coming, and we make our plans in that regard and also manage our resources with them in mind.”

Rhodes-Vivour also emphasised the importance of teaching children “and ourselves our true history, the greatness of Africa,” because, in his point of view, this will help us to understand that Africa is the founder of civilisation and not the receiver. 

He further highlighted how poor policies negatively impact businesses, urging a reevaluation of leadership and economic strategies.

Prominent personalities participated in the summit, including veteran comedian Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba. He emphasized the importance of retraining staff to add more value to businesses and discussed the role of education in the creative industry, especially in today’s tech-driven age.  Other panellists include the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Government on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titilayo Oshodi, Founder of Slot Systems Limited, and Nnamdi Ezigbo, among others.

The awards ceremony recognized leaders across various fields. Chima Anyaso, Chairman of the Caades Group, received the award for Best NGO Impact of the Year, Dr. Simon Adozi was named Real Estate Developer of the Year, and Akhator Peace was recognized as the GAHAwards Business Excellence Icon.