1st Covenant University Conference on Leadership and Development
(CUCLeD 2024)
Theme:
Integrating Leadership and Development for Africa
- CUCRID Auditorium, Covenant University, Canaanland, Ota.
- September 11 - 13, 2024
Sponsored
by
Synopsis
The conference, “Integrating Leadership and Development for Africa,” is a pivotal gathering that addresses the imperative of incorporating sustainability principles into leadership and development studies across the African continent. With a focus on fostering responsible practices, the conference aims to explore innovative approaches that harmonize economic growth, social equity, and environmental stewardship.
Leadership and development play integral roles in shaping the trajectory of nations, and Africa stands at a crucial juncture where sustainable strategies can redefine its progress. This conference seeks to illuminate the intersections between leadership, development, and sustainability through engaging discussions, keynote presentations, and collaborative workshops.
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Jim Unah
Distinguished Professor /President, Philosophical Association of Nigeria
Prof. Jim Unah
Distinguished Professor /President, Philosophical Association of Nigeria
Jim Ijenwa UNAH (PhD) is the first University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at the University of Lagos. He was recently the Visiting Faculty Dean, Faculty of Arts, Dennis Osadebay University, Anwai, Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, and formerly the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) at the Premier University of Sao Tome and Principe, Gulf of Guinea, Central African Republic.
A consummate and versatile scholar, Unah is author of over 30 books, over 50 chapters in books, and over 30 articles in high impact learned journals published at home and abroad. He has 5 invited lectures at the Oxford Roundtable of the University of Oxford, Oxford, England, and 2 invited lectures at the National Kapodistrian University, Athens, Greece. He was the Editor of The Nigerian Journal of Philosophy in the late 1990s and the current Editor of Philosophy and Praxis.
With specialization in Philosophy, his expertise and research interests traverse the fields of Metaphysics, Phenomenology, African Philosophy, Applied Ontology, Logic, Development Philosophy, and Peace, Ethics, and Character Studies.
Jim Unah is Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (FNAL), Fellow of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (FNARC), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Leadership and Governance (FCILG), Fellow and President of the Philosophers Association of Nigeria (FPAN), Consultant and Resource person to UNESCO and Expert at the UNESCO Inclusive Policy Lab.
Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi
CEO, Healthy Living Services Ltd
Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi
CEO, Healthy Living Services Ltd
Dr Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi is a conventional medical doctor now a Growth mindset and integrative lifestyle specialist.
Growth mindset and integrative lifestyle is consistent and continuous personal development in one's spiritual, mental, emotional, physical life, building healthy relationships and marriage, tapping into ones innate resources to improve one's financial state and knowing and living one's purpose.
She used the Growth mindset and integrative lifestyle to move herself from a low - energy depressed, anxious woman with severe indigestion to the God - centered high- energy happy, healthy, vibrant passionate and impactful woman she is today at over 70.
She is passionate about working with women men and youths to achieve vibrant health build healthy relationships and marriages and be assets to their world.
She is the CEO of Healthy living services - a Vibrant Health Growth mindset and integrative lifestyle company.
She is the initiator and Executive chair of Women Aligned For Growth - a character rebuilding social change and female impact NGO.
She is the executive chair Enugwu - Ukwu Daughter's Community Development Initiative. She is, also a member of the Board of trustees of Azu- Ogbunike Impact Initiative and Late sir FGN and Dame Monica Okoye foundation.
She is passionate about encouraging women and youths to make more impact in the area of social impact, politics and leadership
She is, the business Development Director of Fymak Group of Companies, a pioneer Director GTB and a recipient of the award, one of the leading women entrepreneurs of the world.
She is a disciple of Jesus Christ and strives to live an authentic Christian life. She is very positive and lives in inner contentment harmony happiness peace humility integrity transparency compassion empathy passion and impact. She is a huge asset to her famiiy, community and society
Adegoke Omotola
CEO, 1st Degree Consulting
Adegoke Omotola
CEO, 1st Degree Consulting
Adegoke Omotola, MCIPM, is the CEO of 1st Degree Consulting and a renowned figure in the field of business and personal development. With a background in banking at UBA Plc and Fidelity Bank Plc, Adegoke brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role as a consultant and trainer.
As an accomplished author, Adegoke has penned two highly regarded books, "Customer Retention: An Experiential Approach" (May 2009) and "Practical Selling Skills" (May 2013), showcasing his deep knowledge and understanding of customer service and sales.
Adegoke is a sought-after keynote speaker, regularly sharing his insights and empowering individuals and organizations across various industries. He is a trusted trainer, delivering impactful programs and workshops on topics such as world-class customer service, business etiquette, personal grooming, and professional selling skills through Udemy Online Portal.
With an impressive educational background, Adegoke holds a Finance degree from the University of Lagos (1992), a Masters Degree in Property Valuation and Law from City University Business School, London (1997), and an MBA in Management from the University of Lagos (2000). He is also certified in customer service training by the Service Quality Institute, Minnesota, USA (2011), legacy training by the Zig Ziglar Incorporation, Dallas, Texas, USA (August 2013), and as a coach, trainer, and speaker by the John Maxwell Team (August 2016).
Adegoke is the host of the engaging podcast, "Leadership Talk with Adegoke," where he shares valuable insights and interviews prominent figures in leadership. He is a full member of The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and serves as a speaker for Conference Speakers International and Speakers Inc in South Africa. Recognized for his contributions to the speaking industry, he became a Fellow of the Professional Speakers Society of Nigeria in June 2019.
Passionate about giving back, Adegoke actively mentors aspiring entrepreneurs through his involvement with FATE Foundation. He also serves as a public speaker and life coach, helping individuals unlock their potential and achieve personal and professional growth.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Adegoke finds joy in his role as a devoted husband and father
Featured Speakers
Ayọ̀ Akínwándé
Curator /Artist /Writer
Ayọ̀ Akínwándé
Curator /Artist /Writer
Ayọ̀ Akínwándé is an artist, curator, and writer from Lagos, Nigeria. With an academic background in Architecture from Covenant University, Nigeria, his practice is multi-disciplinary, working across lens-based media, installation, sound, and performance. He explores power dynamics, the relationship between the “powerful” and the “powerless,” as it manifests in the multi-faceted layers of the human reality.
He is interested in the flow of information in global democratic discourses, and how it reflects existing power structures. His ongoing project “Archiving the Future,” a long-term research work involves collecting and archiving social media screenshots, and sound recordings of conversations at bus stops in the city of Lagos. His long-term exhibition series “Power Show,” creates visual monologues and dialogues on socio-political realities in his society as he incorporate architectural processes in a spatial detailing and sectioning of his ideas and thoughts, to evoke both intimacy, and monumentality.
Akínwándé co-curated the 2017 Lagos Biennial, and was also a participating artist at the exhibition held at the Nigerian Railway Museum. He was selected for the 2nd Changjiang International Photography and Video Biennial, and was part of the “Chinafrika-under construction” exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Leipzig. In 2019, he presented solo exhibitions in Nigeria, Scotland, and Cuba for the 13th Bienal De La Habana.
He is a contributor to the book “Asiko: On the Future of Artistic and Curatorial Pedagogies in Africa” by the Centre for Contemporary Arts Lagos. His works and writings have been featured in Art Africa, Dienacht Magazine, Omenka Online, PoetsArtists, Contemporary&, The Sole Adventurer, Somethingweafricansgot, People’s Stories Project (PSP), Art Momentum, and other journals and publications around the world.
Akínwándé is a recipient of the 2021 Prince Claus Seed Awards, and the 2020 Edith-Russ-Haus Media Art Awards. The Fonderie Darling in Montreal awarded him the 2019 Place Publique prize. He is a 2018 ArtX prize finalist, and a finalist at the 2018 ABSA L’Atelier Art Competition, with his work included in the exhibition at the ABSA Gallery.
In October 2022, Akínwándé had the exhibition “All the world’s protests,” his first museum solo exhibition, at the Edith-Russ-Haus Medienkunst, Oldenburg, Germany. His current project “Paintings for the gods” explores spirituality and abstraction. He has exhibited in solo, and group exhibitions around the world.
Ibukun Akinola
Head, Customer Finance, Piggyvest
Ibukun Akinola
Head, Customer Finance, Piggyvest
Ibukun Akinola is currently the Head of Customer Finance at Piggyvest since April 2016.
Prior to that, she was the Co-Founder/CFO at PushCV from July 2014. Before that, she worked as a Logistic Officer/Finance Officer at Spids Logistics from January 2014 to June 2014.
Ibukun holds a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in International Business from Coventry University, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Accounting from Covenant University Ota, and completed their SSCE at Dansol High School.
Chiamaka Obuekwe
CEO, Social Prefects Tours
Chiamaka Obuekwe
CEO, Social Prefects Tours
Jennifer Uchendu
Founder, Sustyvibes
Jennifer Uchendu
Founder, Sustyvibes
Timi Ajayi
Partner, Primeridge Real Estate Ltd
Timi Ajayi
Partner, Primeridge Real Estate Ltd
Timi Ajayi is a distinguished alumnus of Covenant University, graduating withadegree in Estate Management in 2016.
He is a Real Estate Investment Specialist and Property Developer dedicatedtohelping clients increase their net worth and build wealth through safe and securedinvestments in real estate. He is the Managing Partner at Primeridge Real Estate, afull-service real estate company providing expert services across investment advisory, property development and construction, property brokerage, and propertymanagement for clients in Nigeria and the Diaspora.
In addition to his role at Primeridge, Timi Ajayi is the Co-founder and CEOof Riltee, aProperty Technology company that is democratizing access to real estate investment. Riltee makes it possible for professionals to invest securely in global real estate fromas little as $100. This innovative platform empowers individuals to own fractions of pre-approved rental properties, providing new opportunities for wealth buildinginreal estate. Timi Ajayi's entrepreneurial spirit extends beyond real estate.
He is passionate about providing solutions in the agricultural and human resources sectors, which led to his recognition as one of the top 100 of 20,000 entrepreneurs in The March 8th initiative organized for the immediate past Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo.
Timi currently serves in the Covenant University Alumni Association (CUALA) as theFlight Lead for the 2016 set. (The Prestige Set). He ascribes most of his success to the solid foundation that was gotten from his undergraduate days in CU and the priceless values of leadership that was instilled in him in CU.
Funto Ibioye
Interior Designer /Faith based coach
Funto Ibioye
Interior Designer /Faith based coach
Conference Objectives
- Foster a deep understanding of sustainable leadership principles among participants, emphasising ethical practices that contribute to Africa’s long-term socio-economic and environmental stability.
- Showcase and analyse innovative development strategies that integrate sustainability, focusing on their adaptability and effectiveness within diverse African contexts.
- Facilitate discussions on region-specific challenges in Africa, encouraging participants to propose contextually relevant, sustainable solutions that can be scaled and adapted globally.
- Highlight the role of education in shaping the next generation of leaders committed to sustainable development. Identify strategies for integrating sustainability into educational curricula and promoting continuous learning.
- Provide a platform for networking and collaboration among governmental bodies, non-governmental organisations, academia, and the private sector. Encourage the formation of partnerships to implement sustainable development initiatives.
- Share and celebrate success stories of sustainable leadership and development projects from various African regions. Extract valuable lessons and insights to inspire further initiatives.
- Examine the policy landscape and identify opportunities for integrating sustainability into leadership and development policies. Encourage dialogue on creating an enabling environment for sustainable practices.
- Ensure inclusivity in discussions, considering diverse perspectives and experiences. Emphasise the importance of gender equality and social inclusivity in the context of sustainable leadership and development.
- Facilitate the exchange of research findings, innovative ideas, and best practices in sustainable leadership and development studies. Encourage participants to contribute to the growing body of knowledge in this crucial field.
- Inspire participants to translate insights gained during the conference into actionable steps, fostering a commitment to incorporating sustainability into leadership and development practices for the betterment of Africa and the global community.
CUCLeD 2024 Sub-Themes
- Circular Economy Practices
- Climate Action: Leadership Strategies for Mitigation and Adaptation in Africa
- Community Engagement and Participatory Leadership for Sustainability
- Community-Centric Development
- Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: Leadership for Sustainable Development in Africa
- Conservation and Biodiversity Protection: Leadership Approaches in Africa
- Religious Leadership and National Rebirth in African Countries
- Cultural Preservation and Ethical Leadership in African Contexts
- Economic Resilience and Sustainable Leadership Practices
- Education and Awareness: Empowering Communities through Knowledge
- Education and Capacity Building for Sustainable Leadership
- Effective Communication Strategies for Leaders
- Educational Initiatives for Sustainable Leadership
- Empowering the youth to be catalysts for sustainable change.
- Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Business Practices in African Leadership
- Environmental Stewardship and Leadership: Strategies for Resource Management
- Gender Equality and Women’s Leadership in Sustainable Development
- Governance and Policy Reform for Sustainable Development in Africa
- Health and Well-being: Promoting Sustainable Lifestyles
- Innovation for Sustainable Development
- Leadership Ethics and Values
- Policy Frameworks for Sustainable Leadership
- Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development
- Renewable Energy and Sustainable Infrastructure Development
- Social Equity and Inclusion. Building Fair and Just Societies in Africa
- Technological Innovation and Sustainable Leadership in Africa
- Youth Leadership: Empowering the Next Generation for Sustainable Development