The Nation Newspaper

Tag: business school

  • AUN appoints former NNPC GED as professor and Dean of Business School

    The American University of Nigeria (AUN) has appointed a former Group Executive Director with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Attahir Yusuf, as the new Dean of the School of Business and Entrepreneurship (SBE).

    Dr. Yusuf now heads the SBE, one of AUN’s five schools and host of the university’s prestigious Business and Entrepreneurship programs taught by an experienced global faculty.

    The university announced the appointment in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Daniel Okereke, on Sunday in Abuja.

    The statement quoted the President of AUN, Dr. Dawn Dekle, as saying: “I am delighted Dr. Attahir Yusuf has accepted our offer to become the next dean of SBE.

    “He brings the right combination of academic credentials and industry experience to lead SBE to the next level of development. His infectious smile and professionalism have already captivated our campus community, and we look forward to learning from him and supporting him in his vision for SBE in the years to come.”

    Prof. Yusuf received his PhD in Management from the University of Sussex in the UK in 1986.  He has an MSc in Management Technology from the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (now University of Wales, Cardiff, Business School) in 1984.

    Following a long and productive international academic career, in 2005, Dr. Yusuf was appointed as General Manager Corporate Planning, NNPC, and a year later was promoted to Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Development, a position from which he oversaw Strategy, Budget, and Business Development matters.

    He rose to the position of Group Executive Director, Corporate Services, in April 2009 and was in charge of Human Resources, Medical, Pension, Security, and the London Office.

    He later became the Group Executive Director, Commercial and Investment.  In this position, he oversaw nine subsidiaries.  Dr. Yusuf was also the Group Executive Director of Business Development and a member of the Board of NNPC.

    Dr. Yusuf has chaired the boards of several other companies and is credited with establishing several companies for NNPC, including Crude and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Shipping companies (Nikorma and Nidas), and revamping the NNPC Retail Ltd and Duke Oil into profitable ventures.
    Before joining the NNPC, Dr. Yusuf taught in a variety of universities in Nigeria and abroad, including the University of Maiduguri; The University of the West Indies, Barbados; PNG University of the Technology, Papua New Guinea; the University of the South Pacific, Fiji; Massey University, New Zealand; Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, and the University of Sharjah, UAE.

    Dr. Yusuf has also consulted for companies in New Zealand, the Middle East, the West Indies, the South Pacific, and Africa. His expertise in consulting includes Organizational Development, Strategy Implementation, Change Management, Strategic Information Systems Management, and Small Business Development.

    Dean Yusuf’s scholarly research and professional activities have included the publication of more than 20 articles in academic journals such as the Journal of Small Business Management, the Journal of Entrepreneurship, and Journal of International Management.  He has also given over 30 international conference presentations and is a member of several international professional organizations.

    Being himself from Adamawa State, Dr. Yusuf plans to play a huge role in helping AUN as a Development University and in uplifting the region.

    “This University is great. I would say the AUN system is probably 80 percent of the economy of Yola, if not Adamawa State.  Therefore, if it succeeds, it is going to be more than just a success for me.  It will be most fulfilling for me.  And I came here purposefully to be part of that success,” he said in the statement.

    Founded in 2003, the AUN was created to be Africa’s first Development University; its mission is to promote service learning and to educate leaders who will be prepared to tackle the development issues of Nigeria and Africa.

    The University offers an American-style education modeled after the curriculum of American universities, using the latest in Internet technology and e-learning resources.

  • Business school targets international relevance

    WHAT should the government do about candidates unable to get admission into higher institutions yearly? It should diversify access to education to help them, Pastor Tunji Adepoju, President/CEO, Eden Global Business School has said.

    Adepoju said Nigeria could turn its large population of youngsters into exportable assets if they are well trained. He urged candidates to seek alternatives to conventional university education by taking the professional route.

    In an interview with The Nation, he said his school is working to achieve that aim through its array of professional programmes which are locally and internationally recognised.

    He said: “We are offering educational solutions that will offer our students both in national and global certifications.  In the sense that once you are certified in your area of competence, you can work anywhere.

    “Our vision is that for the next 10-20 years we have a situation in Nigeria where we become the number one hub for exporting human capital worldwide.”

    Locally, Adepoju said Eden Global Business School runs professional, certificate and graduate, and postgraduate diploma programmes in collaboration with the University of Ibadan in Business Accounting; Business Information System; Computing and Information Technology; Data Processing Management and Management Information System; while internationally, its professional postgraduate programmes in Business Administration, Management, Marketing and Computing and Information Technology are accredited by the International Professional Managers Association (IPMA), United Kingdom, United Kingdom.

    “Our programmes have national certifications from University of Ibadan; the IPMA certification is global,” he said.

    Checks by The Nation showed that Eden Global Business School is listed on the IPMA website as an outreach affiliate centre.

    Adepoju said EGBS is accredited by IPMA as a teaching and examination centre because it has the facilities and trained personnel to take its courses.

    He said admissions of students into the various programmes are handled by UI and IPMA to ensure only eligible students are accepted for the different levels.

    “The University of Ibadan and IPMA UK are involved in admissions and moderation of examination.  Admissions are open now.  Before now, we offered six-nine month programmes.  But now we have restructured to 15-month programmes, which includes an internship period as well as project,” he said.

    Entry level requirements vary for each of the five levels of certifications.  To enter for a professional certificate in any of the programmes, Adepoju said a student must have at least three O Level credits; five credits (including English and Mathematics/IJMB/NCE and non-relevant National Diploma) for a Diploma; and five O Level credits plus a partially relevant HND/BSc for a postgraduate diploma.

    Apart from these programmes, Adepoju said EGBS also offers programmes useful for church leaders and administrators up to Postgraduate Diploma level.  Some of the courses include: Church Finance and Asset Management; Theology and Urban Christian Ministry; Church Project Management; Prayer and Counseling Ministry; and Human Capital Management.

  • Business School plans youth academy

    This year promises good things for young people seeking to get ahead in their careers courtesy of the Business School Netherlands (BSN) Nigeria, which has announced an elaborate programme to address unemployment.

    The Youth Leadership Academy is BSN Nigeria’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to give back to the society, where it has enrolled over 1,000 students for the Action Learning MBA programme of BSN.

    CEO, BSN Nigeria, Mr Lere Baale, said the programme to be implemented with Howes Consulting Group would entail various technical and soft skills training to enhance employability skills of young people and encourage them to become entrepreneurs if they are unable to find jobs.

    “Informed by an estimated over 50 million unemployed and underemployed youths in Nigeria, Youth Leadership Academy will form a consortium of volunteers and partners to invest in youth employability skills for accelerated career growth and empower underemployed/unemployed youths in order to deepen their interest in self employment and synergise joint ownership of enterprises,” he said.

    The participants would be paired with mentors in the business world, particularly among BSN graduates.

    Baale said the CSR programme is in line with BSN’s focus to train business managers who are skilled in the science and art of business management and able to solve problems that organisations face doing business in Nigeria.

    He expressed hope that through MBA as well as the CSR initiative, Nigeria would boast of indigenous businesses that would outlive their founders and last many centuries like many multinationals.

    “We want African indigenous firms to continue to stand the test of time and wax stronger even after the departure of the founders,” he said.

    On the landmark achievement of enrolling 1,000 Nigerians for BSN Action Learning MBA, among whom 341 successfully completed the programme, Baale said it represented a significant contribution to Nigeria’s manpower.

    Apart from the CSR programme, Baale spoke of plans to launch the Leadership Legacy Award to “recognise distinguished leaders across various sectors who have demonstrated exemplary ethical leadership”, as well as introduce the Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme for senior professionals and CEOs. Already, he said, 10 people have been enrolled for the programme.

     

  • Business School plans youth academy

    The Year 2016 promises good things for young people seeking to get ahead in their careers courtesy of the Business School Netherlands (BSN) Nigeria, which has announced an elaborate programme to address unemployment.

    The Youth Leadership Academy is BSN Nigeria’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to give back to the society, where it has enrolled over 1,000 students for the Action Learning MBA programme of BSN.

    CEO, BSN Nigeria, Mr Lere Baale, said the programme to be implemented with Howes Consulting Group would entail various technical and soft skills training to enhance employability skills of young people and encourage them to become entrepreneurs if they are unable to find jobs.

    “Informed by an estimated over 50 million unemployed and underemployed youths in Nigeria, Youth Leadership Academy will form a consortium of volunteers and partners to invest in youth employability skills for accelerated career growth and empower underemployed/unemployed youths in order to deepen their interest in self employment and synergise joint ownership of enterprises,” he said.

    The participants would be paired with mentors in the business world, particularly among BSN graduates.

    Baale said the CSR programme is in line with BSN’s focus to train business managers who are skilled in the science and art of business management and able to solve problems that organisations face doing business in Nigeria.

    He expressed hope that through MBA as well as the CSR initiative, Nigeria would boast of indigenous businesses that would outlive their founders and last many centuries like many multinationals.

    “We want African indigenous firms to continue to stand the test of time and wax stronger even after the departure of the founders,” he said.

    On the landmark achievement of enrolling 1,000 Nigerians for BSN Action Learning MBA, among whom 341 successfully completed the programme, Baale said it represented a significant contribution to Nigeria’s manpower.

    Apart from the CSR programme, Baale spoke of plans to launch the Leadership Legacy Award to “recognise distinguished leaders across various sectors who have demonstrated exemplary ethical leadership”, as well as introduce the Executive Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme for senior professionals and CEOs. Already, he said, 10 people have been enrolled for the programme.

  • Business school to train Kwara civil servants

    Business school to train Kwara civil servants

    Newly established Goshen International Business School has expressed its intention to train Kwara State  civil servants.

    The training, if consummated, will be in the areas of human capital development, transformation of the state civil service through our training programmes, socio-economic research, environmental Conservation activities; partnering with state government in its economic transformation programme and social awakening of the citizens of the state.

    Others are offering genuine advice to the state government on its socio-economic activities and advice on security to the state government, the Chairman, Governing Council of the school, Bayo Atoyebi has said.

    Mr. Atoyebi, a lawyer, said this at the commissioning of the school in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    He added that “it is with this in mind that the school’s management has taken a decision to partner the state government to help develop the civil service by way of bringing the civil servants up to date in terms of the required knowledge to translate government policies into economic development.

    “We intend to contribute to the extension of the frontier of knowledge of the civil servants in terms of Management training in key areas. This we hope would empower them to effectively transform and translate the state’s economic policies into real development to the benefit of all.”

    He said that a well equipped civil service will facilitate rapid economic transformation efforts of the government.

    The governing council chair stated that no amount of salary paid to civil servants could make them as effective as the knowledge of economic transformation/policies that “we are ready to provide not only for this state but for the states around Kwara in the first two years of our operation in Ilorin.”

    Said he: “It becomes imperative here to highlight the strategic importance of the state as the gateway between the southern and northern parts of the country. It is also one of the middle-belt states which make it accessible to the two divides of the northern and southern states of the federation.

    “Its accessibility is not in doubt considering the avalanche of routes open to would-be visitors and tourists to the state. The state is accessible by Rail through the main trunk from Lagos to Kano, it is a nodal city considering the road transport, it can be accessed through the International Airport situated in the Capital City, Ilorin which also host an Aviation College. There is no gainsaying the fact that Ilorin presents the best location ever possible to site the school, and which we have done.

    ”Equally important is the fact that the proponents of the school are stakeholders in the state who are willing to contribute to the socio-economic development of the state.

    “We therefore appeal to His Excellency to consider this school as one of your achievements in the state during your tenure particularly when measured against the huge potentials it has, to help build a solid human capital base for the state.

    We offer to train the entire civil service staff in batches at a discounted rate as part of the school’s contribution to the state government.

    “We wish to appeal to you to avail this school the opportunity to train the entire civil servants of the state in phases such that in a spate of one-year, the bulk of the service would have been translated from mere ‘worker’ to human capital – an essential ingredient for accelerated socio-economic development of the state.”

    He said that the school has designed retreat/Workshop for state executive council members; retreat/Workshop for members of the House of Assembly; facilitating local and overseas training for senior civil servants; skill acquisition for all categories of civil servants.

    Commissioning the project, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed represented by his deputy Peter Kisra said that his administration would not allow the current financial challenges in the country affect the training of its civil servants.

    He added that the school is in a position to contribute to the economic activities in the state as its students and faculty would patronize business across the state.

    Governor Ahmed said: “I find it remarkable that Goshen Business School is focusing on strategic areas that are of priority interest to my administration of particular interest are human capital development, Training of civil servants, environmental conservation and security.  I assure you that the state government stands ready to collaborate with you in these and other areas of mutual interest to uplift our state and create a better life for our people.

    “We are particularly interested in human capital development especially through the expansion to access to quality health and provision of functional education.  In line with this commitment, this administration intends to extend our hospital remodeling project to an additional five general hospitals in the state in our quest to ensure that more of our people can access affordable quality health care wherever the live in the state.

    “The establishment of additional comprehensive and primary health care centres will also complement our efforts in this key sector. Additional, we will boost educational reforms and ensure that our youths receive functional education that will prepare them for entrepreneurship and instead of searching for increasing competitive and shrinking positions in the public and private sector.

  • Business School to partner organisations on human capacity devt

    Business School to partner organisations on human capacity devt

    The President , Impact Business School, Ibadan, has expressed readiness to establish working relationship with professional bodies in Nigeria in the areas of capacity building and certification programmes that would reinforce the growth of different sectors.

    Its President, Mr Owolabi Oladejo who spoke when he hosted the April meeting of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN) at the headquarters of the  school, in Ibadan, said the schoool is entering into partnership with professionals that wants to sharpen their skills and competence of their workers.

    “Unless professionals embrace self-improvement, they can never attain their height in life. If you are not productive in your organisation,  you will never be elevated. We are here to train and re-train the work force in order to meet up with the standard of organisations.

  • Lawyer floats business school

    Lawyer floats business school

    •To train 9,000 unemployed youths free

    A Lagos-based lawyer, Barrister Lade Adeyemi, has established a school – Translantic Negotiation School of Business – to train unemployed graduates in business negotiation. The move, according to Adeyemi, is to stem the tide of unemployment in Nigeria.

    When the school eventually takes off, about 9,000 unemployed youth will receive free training, the founder said.

    The school of business is the first African negotiation school established to help the government to realise its Millennium Development Goals. The first quarter of the programme will have 250 graduates across the 36 states of the federation to get training on business negotiation.

    Adeyemi noted that the training expenses would be borne by Lade Adeyemi Business Negotiation Improvement Scholarship for Africa (LABNISA), adding that the school would bring out entrepreneurial skills of the youth.

    He explained that people needed to inculcate the habit of business negotiation, which he defined as a discussion between two or more individuals who seek to find a solution to a common problem that meets their needs and interest.

    The business negotiation programme will, however, be held in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

    The School of Business is affiliated to Harvard University Law School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology School of Management. Adeyemi said participants could further their training in the top-rated institutions.