Afrexim Bank President, Oramah, delivers Goddy Jidenma Lecture, Thursday, February 22, 2024
- Speaks on governance, insecurity, poverty, economic development
The countdown to the 8th Goddy Jidenma Foundation Biennial Public Lecture has started in earnest with expectations high concerning the programme scheduled to hold on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at the Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos from 11:0am.
To be delivered by Professor Benedict Oramah, CON, the President and Chairman of Board of Directors of African Export – Import Bank (Afreximbank), the theme of the lecture is “Governance, Insecurity, Poverty and Economic Development in Contemporary Nigeria and Africa.”
According to the invitation to the public by Dr. Victoria Ezeokoli-Taylor, Chairman, Planning Committee, Goddy Jidenma Foundation (GJF) and Dr. Ije Jidenma, Executive Secretary GJF, the event will be chaired by Mr. Fola Adeola, OFR, mni, Founder of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank Plc.) as well as founder and chairman of the FATE Foundation.
The 2024 Distinguished Guest Lecturer, Dr. Oramah holds M.Sc. and Ph.D. Degrees in Agricultural Economics, obtained in 1987 and 1991 respectively from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in 1983 and has published a book on “Foundations of Structured Trade Finance.”
A regular speaker at trade and trade finance conferences around the world, Dr. Oramah has written over 35 articles on a wide range of African economic, trade and trade finance issues and is the Chairperson of the Africa Chapter of the International Factors Group (IFG). He also serves on the Board of IFG, the Editorial Boards of Trade and Forfaiting Review (TFR) and the Journal of African Trade (JAT) and is also a member of the Consultative Board on the World Cocoa Economy of the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO).
Before Prof. Oramah, other distinguished personalities that have delivered the Lectures include the now late renowned Constitutional Lawyer, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, SAN, who spoke on “Strengthening the Foundations and Institutions of Democracy in Africa” in 2009; celebrated pan- African Political Scientist, Prof Ali Mazrui, who delivered the second biennial Lecture in 2011 on “Democracy and the Politics of Petroleum: Comparative African Perspectives” and Prof Jonah Isawa Elaigwu, who spoke on “The Practice of Federalism in Africa, the Nigerian Experience and the Way Forward,” in 2013.
Prof. Pat Utomi, Founder and CEO of Center for Values in Leadership delivered the fourth Lecture in 2015 on “Leadership, Responsibility & Good Governance,” followed by Prof Kingsley Moghalu, a Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and former Presidential candidate who spoke on “The Challenge of Economic Growth in Nigeria” in 2017.
Another distinguished pan Africanist, Kenyan lawyer and activist, Prof PLO Lumumba, delivered the sixth lecture, while Prof Attahiru Jega, former Chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was the Guest Lecturer at the Seventh edition of the series held in 2021.
Many are eagerly looking forward to the 8th Lecture, especially given the personality chosen to deliver it and the relevance of the theme to the current governance, security, poverty and economic development challenges confronting the country and the African continent.
GJF, organisers of the lecture series, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization set up in 2007, in the memory of Architect Godwin Jidenma who died on May 24, 2006 in Lagos, Nigeria. The Foundation aims at upholding his ideals and passions which largely revolved around the celebration of the human essence.
