The fifth anniversary lecture of Realnews Magazine, slated for Nov. 16 in Lagos, is to focus on “African Leadership in a Turbulent Era’’, the Publisher of the magazine, Maureen Chigbo, announced on Monday.
Chigbo said the choice of topic was informed by emerging global trends, including the emergence of Mr Donald Trump as the 45th President of the U.S.
She described the topic as apt, given the fact of Russia and China wielding increasing influence on Africa.
“There is also the looming threat of nuclear war in the Korean Peninsula.
“This is coming at a time when African countries are struggling with ceaseless political and socio-economic turbulence and high unemployment.
“This is compounded by hundreds, if not thousands of young people from the continent perishing in the Mediterranean Sea on perilous journeys to Europe in search of so-called greener pastures.’’
Chigbo, who is also the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine, said that the prognosis looked bleak, when viewed from developments across Africa.
“From South Sudan where warlords appeared bent on disintegrating the country, to the lingering Boko Haram insurgency in West and Central Africa, the situation looks worrisome.
“This is compounded by a rash of uprisings by separatist groups, including the Niger Delta militants and the Independent People of Biafra and the increasing wave of terror in other parts of Africa.
According to Chigbo, the lecture is to be delivered by Dr Oby Ezekwesili, an out-spoken former Minister of Education at Sheraton Hotel in Ikeja.
The publisher said that Ezekwesili, a former World Bank Vice-President and co-founder of Transparency International, would be the first female to deliver the Realnews Anniversary Lecture Series.
“The event will be chaired by Prof. Akpan Ekpu, Director-General of the West African Institute for Financial and Economic Management.
“Discussants on the lecture have already confirmed their attendance and they include Ahmed Kuru, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria, AMCON.
The panelists include Mr Waheed Olagunju, Executive Director, Bank of Industry and Dr Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Realnews is a general interest magazine and an online publication, thriving on investigative journalism.