2nd Anaedoonline Anniversary Lecture: Meet Our Speakers (Part 2)

By: Nnenna Joseph

Peter Obi

Peter Obi is a shrewd businessman, an investor, a politician, a philanthropist, and a true Igbo leader. He is one of the greatest Igbo leaders of our time. He championed a debt-free state, built systems that worked, and is one of the very few governors (If not only) from Nigeria to make great savings for the state as he left the state more healthy than he met it.

His brief bio as seen on his Wikipedia page reads:

Peter Obi was born on 19 July 1961 at Onitsha. He attended Christ the King College, Onitsha, where he completed his secondary school education. He was admitted to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 1980, graduating with a B.A (Hons) in philosophy in 1984

He attended Lagos business school, Nigeria, where he did his Chief executive program, Harvard business school, Boston, USA, where he did two programs, London School of Economics, Columbia business school, New York, USA, Institute for management development, Switzerland where he also got two certificates in senior executive program and chief executive officers program.

He also attended Kellogg’s graduate school of Management, USA, Oxford University: Said business school and Cambridge University: George business school.

Impact at the lecture

Mr Peter Obi will be sharing his thoughts on youths in politics. He will address issues on the attitude of youth in the midst of colossal failure/ he will address issues on the lack of youth in politics, he will also share tips and lessons for the journey to political limelight/he will also share steps one need take to aspire for a political position. Okwute will bring his wealth of experience to the fore to benefit today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders.

Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor

Hon. Nonso Smart Okafor popularly known as SMART is a visionary young man with a contagious passion for positive change. This has made him pioneer a number of change initiatives geared toward building a better society.

He is one of the youngest recipients of the prestigious Henry Dunant Gold Medal of Red Cross and Red Crescent; and an awardee of the coveted Nigerian Youth Leadership Award of LEAP Africa, funded by Ford Foundation & International Youth Foundation, USA.

He is a strong advocate of social reform toward the protection of the aged, the vulnerable, and the underprivileged. He was a delegate and strong voice in Next Generation Nigeria, an Independent Task Force for the future of Nigeria powered by the British Council in 2010. He was also one of the 14-man delegates to the Youth Leaders Strategy Session convened by the Presidency in January 2011 to Chat an agenda for youth engagement in government over the next four years.

He has also been a delegate and speaker to several conferences and summits. He was a Speaker at the 2014 Young African Society Conference at World Bank Headquarters, Washington DC.

He is one of the youngest lawmakers in Anambra state representing Nnewi North in the Anambra State House of Assembly. He is the Chair, House Committee on Women and Children Affairs.

*Impact at the lecture*

As a young lawmaker, he has been very passionate about youth development and the need for youths to take up the mantle of leadership in Nigeria.

He will also encourage young people to champion their career, shun and avoid cybercrimes, cultism, and its likes. He is loaded to the brim on the economy, as a businessman and will give an expository lecture on how to develop the country’s economy using the country’s most valuable resource- the youths.

Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi

Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi, also known as Afikpo Chic is a philanthropist, who controls one of the biggest Facebook group in Africa “Igboist”.

she is an amazing photographer, a fashion designer, a former lawmaker, and a mother to many. Her Facebook group, Igboist is the meeting point for the promotion of the Igbo race.

She was born in Afikpo in Ebonyi State before she left for the United States of America at 18 years. She has been involved in social media-related matters and fashion designing since she came back to the country in 2000.

She is also a professional image-maker and has managed social media accounts for organizations, politicians, and brands.