Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade Appointed First African Member Of World Trade Board

Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, an international legal and finance expert, has been appointed as a member of the World Trade Board.

Dr. Adesegun Akin-Olugbade, an international counsel at ǼLEX Law Firm, joins 20 other global trade and finance leaders on the board as the first African member.

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Adeagbo Simidele Selected As 2019 World Fellow At Yale University

Adeagbo Simidele, the Nigerian Olympian, sports advocate and entrepreneur is among the 16 women and men who have been selected as 2019 World Fellow at Yale University.

Adeagbo Simidele, represented Nigeria in Skeleton racing at the 2018 Winter Olympics, becoming the first person to do so.

This cohort brings the total number of World Fellows since the program’s start in 2002 to 346 Fellows, representing 91 countries. This year marks the 18th cohort of World Fellows.

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Listed In Transparency International “Anti-Corruption Fighters”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been listed as one of the eight Transparency International “Anti-Corruption fighters”. She is the only Nigerian and the second African to make the list.

According to Transparency International, the women listed are:

“… setting a positive example, showing that women are not only victims of corruption, but also key players in the struggle against it.”

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Murjanatu Gamawa Appointed EITI Country Manager [2018]

Murjanatu Gamawa, has been appointed Country Manager by the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) based in Oslo, Norway.

Murjanatu Gamawa is the first Nigerian to be appointed to work with the international Secretariat of the EITI since its inception in 2003.

Murjanatu Gamawa will be responsible for all English and Portuguese (Anglophone/Lusopohone) EITI implementing countries in Africa with specific roles of coordinating, supporting and guiding member countries in these affected African regions on implementation of EITI standards.

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6 Nigerians Selected For Second Cohort Of The British Council Future Leaders Connect Programme

Six Nigerians have been selected out of eleven finalists for the second cohort of the British Council Future Leaders Connect programme.

The Nigerians include: Mary Dinah, Edwin Oyoma Akpotor, Dolapo Oladayo Olaniyan, David Oluwadiya Ashaolu, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, and Yemisi Christiana Fawibe.

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Tonye Cole & Muhammed Sanu Abdullahi Appointed Into World Bank’s Expert Advisory Council

Tonye Cole and Muhammed Sanu Abdullahi have been appointed by the World Bank Group into its Expert Advisory Council on citizen engagement.

The council was established in 2014 to guide the development and implementation of the Strategic Framework for Mainstreaming Citizen Engagement in the Bank’s operations.

The strategic framework of the council was designed to give citizens a stake in decision making to improve the intermediate and final development outcomes of their partnerships with government.

Mr. Tonye Cole, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Sahara Group, who is one of the first two Nigerians ever to be appointed to the Council, said:

“The World Bank is a results-driven institution. I am delighted at the opportunity to collaborate with other members of the Council on robust agenda setting and implementation of initiatives that are so crucial to global sustainable development.

My work with global agencies and institutions on sustainable development has only reinforced the importance of private and public sector collaboration. My colleagues and I believe continued cross-sectorial and multi-stakeholder engagement can transform the landscape on sustainability and social development for the next generation. I am feeling very positive as we collectively embark on this new chapter.”

Mr. Tonye Cole is one of the two designated private sector specialists on the Council, composed of two representatives each from civil society, academia, the private sector, governments, foundations and development partner/donor organisations.

Muhammed Sanu Abdullahi represents the Government of the State of Kaduna.

Other new members joining the Council are: Flavia Milano (Inter-American Development Bank), Helena Bjunemalm (Swedish International Development Agency), and Emily Martinez (Open Society Foundations).

World Bank official Jeff Thindwa, Manager of the Global Partnership for Social Accountability and who oversees the Council nomination and selection process, on Cole’s addition to the Council said:

“Mr. Cole will bring a unique private sector perspective to the Council. Combined with his longstanding experience serving global development institutions in various capacities, this positions Mr Cole to make an impactful contribution to the work of the Council.”

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Appointed To The Board Of Twitter [2018]

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been appointed into the board of Twitter Inc. alongside Robert Zoellick (previously president of the World Bank) as new independent directors.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is the third woman and first African to ever be appointed unto the board of Twitter.

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