The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Harvard Business School

  • Sanwo-Olu showcases Lagos’ infrastructure blueprint at Harvard Business School 

    Sanwo-Olu showcases Lagos’ infrastructure blueprint at Harvard Business School 

    The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has presented Lagos as a model for infrastructure-led prosperity during a guest lecture at Harvard Business School in the United States. 

    Sharing his experience via his X handle, the Governor, while addressing students in Professor Hakeem Belo-Osagie’s course, Understanding Africa: Business, Entrepreneurship, Political Economy and the Complexities of a Continent, highlighted the significant progress Lagos has made in transportation, housing, climate innovation, and industrial development. 

    The Governor’s engagement at Harvard comes as Lagos continues to position itself as a global city, with sustained investments in large-scale infrastructure and sustainable urban planning. 

    He wrote: “I had an amazing experience speaking at Harvard Business School. Presenting on Building the Future: Lagos State’s Infrastructure-Led Transformation allowed me to share our ambitious vision for Lagos and the real progress we’re making in areas like transportation, housing, climate innovation, and industrial development.” 

    Sanwo-Olu emphasised the importance of infrastructure as a catalyst for inclusive growth and prosperity across the African continent, noting that Lagos’ ongoing transformation is evidence of its growing global relevance. 

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu thrills audience with DJ skills at Lagos carnival

    “Lagos is on the rise, not only in terms of growth but also in importance. We aim to be a shining example of how infrastructure can drive prosperity across the continent,” he said. 

    What particularly stood out for the Governor was the interactive session with the students, whom he described as “brilliant” and deeply interested in Africa’s evolving political and economic landscape. 

    “Their insightful and thought-provoking questions covering topics such as leadership, sustainable revenue generation, infrastructure renewal, and investment partnerships showcased just how much interest there is in Africa’s urban transformation,” Sanwo-Olu remarked. 

    He expressed gratitude to the Harvard community for their warm hospitality and the robust intellectual engagement, describing the experience as “truly special.”

  • 7Up unveils 14th Harvard Business School scholarship award

    7Up unveils 14th Harvard Business School scholarship award

    Nigeria’s leading beverage brand 7Up has announced Ms Boluwatife Akinola as its 14th recipient of the prestigious 7Up Harvard Business School (HBS) scholarship award. 

     Akinola was unveiled at an exclusive ceremony held at SBC’s head office in Ijora, Lagos.

    The fully funded MBA scholarship at the prestigious Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, is awarded each year by Seven-Up Bottling Company to a Nigerian resident who must have been admitted to HBS for an MBA programme but unable to fund it.

    The recipient screening and selection goes through a thorough and rigorous competitive process upon which a winner is selected based on a set of criteria by the management of Seven Up Bottling Company.

    Head of Legal and Corporate Affairs, SBC, Mrs Nkemdirm Agboti, commended the Chairman of SBC, Mr. Faysal El-Khalil for birthing the 7Up Harvard Business School Scholarship initiative while also appreciating the efforts of the Managing Director, Mr. Ziad Maalouf for sustaining and building on the initiative.

    The Chief Marketing Officer, SBC, Mr. Norden Thurston, said that the initiative is one of SBC’s proofs to continually inspire and empower young Nigerians by investing in the education of future leaders of the country. 

    “By providing ordinary Nigerians an extraordinary access and exposure to one of the world’s leading educational institutions, we are not only equipping young Nigerians with the skills and knowledge needed to make a substantial impact on our society but also inspiring them in driving innovation and change in diverse sectors for a better society,” he said. 

    The 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship established in 2010 to commemorate SBC’s 50th anniversary has successfully awarded 14 receipts and now grown to become a testament to SBC’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and its dedication to giving back to the society where it has been operating since October 1, 1960.

    Read Also: FG replies Peter Obi, denies correlation between Harvard Business School, Nigeria’s image

    Restating its commitment to this initiative, the Managing Director, Mr. Ziad Maalouf noted that the initiative has been designed to nurture a pool of globally educated Nigerians who will contribute significantly to the nation’s development. Mr. Maalouf in a charge to the recipient inspired her to “Go, spread your wings, learn and develop. However, important to return home to make a difference in Nigeria and SBC will support you in making a difference” By empowering young minds like yourself, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for all Nigerians.”

    Since its inception, the scholarship has recognized and supported the following outstanding individuals who have gone on to achieve remarkable successes: Misan Rewane the maiden recipient of the scholarship in 2010 is fully involved in upscaling the employability skills of fresh graduates across West Africa through her organization- West African Vocational Education(WAVE).  Other past recipients who are doing amazing things and adding value to the society are: Olujimi Williams (2012), Mayowa Kuyoro (2013), Oluwasola Olaniyan(2014), Bankole Makanjuola(2015), Chidozie Ibekwe(2016), Ahmed Alimi(2017), Olunma Izejiobi (2018), Uzoma Anyanwa (2019), Abdul-Rahman Buhari (2020), Desayo Ajisegiri (2021), Dafi Rogers-Halliday(2022) and Ms Oreoluwa Agunbiade(2023).

    Expressing her gratitude, Ms. Boluwatife Akinola, the 2024 recipient, said: “I am deeply honored to receive the 7Up Harvard Business School scholarship. This opportunity is a dream come true, and I am committed to using my education to make a significant impact in Nigeria by returning to contribute my quota in reducing the number of out of school children in Nigeria. I am grateful to SBC for believing in my potential and providing me with this platform to contribute to the betterment of our society.”

  • TEF works attract Harvard Business School’s recognition

    TEF works attract Harvard Business School’s recognition

    The Harvard Business School, the graduate business school of Harvard University, is set to cast the spotlight on the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF). The school will be recognising the Foundation’s extraordinary philanthropic achievement in a ground-breaking case study.

    The case study, first of its kind on any philanthropic organisation in Africa, is to be launched today, before a class of graduate students in Boston, Massachusetts and will explore the Foundation’s unique approaches and transformative initiatives, showcasing how strategic philanthropy offered by TEF is driving positive change and elevating countries and communities.

    This move by Harvard underscores the Foundation’s pivotal role in empowering young African entrepreneurs across all 54 African countries and places the Foundation at the forefront of global discussions on transformative and catalytic philanthropy, acknowledging its significant contributions towards fostering entrepreneurship in Africa.

    In addition to delving into the foundation’s innovative approaches and the resultant impact it has garnered over the years, the event will also feature an exclusive acknowledgment of the Founder of TEF, Tony Elumelu’s economic philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the private sector, and most importantly entrepreneurs, as the catalyst for the social and economic development of the African continent.

    The Tony Elumelu Foundation is the leading philanthropy, empowering a new generation of African entrepreneurs, driving poverty eradication, catalysing job creation across all 54 African countries, and increasing inclusive economic empowerment.

    Since the launch of the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme in 2015, the Foundation has trained over 1.5 million young Africans on its digital hub, TEFConnect, and disbursed over USD$100 million in direct funding to 20,000 young African women and men, who have collectively created over 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.

    Read Also: Burna Boy: Set good examples for younger females – Sean Paul tells Stefflon Don, Jada Kingdom

    Tony Elumelu who spoke on the impact of TEF on the African youth said, “TEF is creating economic hope and opportunity for African Entrepreneurs. We know that entrepreneurship is the antidote to poverty, youth unemployment and insecurity. Through the intervention of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, we are encouraging our young people, giving them hope through the seed capital we provide, capacitising them through the training and mentoring we provide and setting them up to create businesses that will succeed and create even more jobs. Collectively we are fixing the challenges that we have on the continent.

    Continuing, he said, “the Tony Elumelu Foundation was set up to create more successful African business leaders. We want to replicate our own success and create entrepreneurs who will build more prosperity on the continent and for the continent. It’s all about transforming our society and making sure that we leave the society better than we met it. It is not about the money that we have in our bank accounts, it is about the legacy that we make and the impact we create. Prosperity for all is what will create the security, harmony and peace that we need.”

    The Harvard Business School session will provide a platform for thought leaders, scholars, and business enthusiasts to engage in a meaningful discussion on the role of philanthropy in shaping sustainable and inclusive economies. As the world grapples with complex challenges, the Tony Elumelu Foundation stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing how strategic philanthropy can be a driving force for positive change.