Africa's promising future will be determined by leaders who merge professional skill with strong moral character, according to a leading academic. This call to action was central to recent graduation ceremonies at a prominent Nigerian university.
Convocation Celebrates New Wave of Leaders
Professor Olayinka David-West, the Dean of Lagos Business School (LBS), delivered a powerful message during the executive programme graduation of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) and LBS. She stated that the continent's trajectory hinges on leaders who combine competence with character, strategic vision with responsible stewardship, and genuine empathy with a clear focus on goals.
Professor David-West highlighted the institution's core mission of nurturing responsible leadership. "That is why business ethics, sustainability, and good governance are embedded in all our programmes," she explained. "They are not electives, but pillars of our identity as a school." This philosophy concluded two weeks of academic celebrations at the university.
Record Graduation for Executives and Students
The season of excellence peaked on December 13, 2025, with the graduation of 436 executives from LBS. This followed the university's 22nd convocation ceremonies the previous weekend, which saw 266 undergraduate and 236 graduate students from various schools receive their degrees. In total, 702 individuals were celebrated across both events.
The executive graduation, held at the LBS campus, marked the completion of seven flagship programmes:
- Global CEO Africa Programme (GCEO-A)
- Chief Executive Programme (CEP)
- Advanced Management Programme (AMP)
- Owner-Manager Programme (OMP)
- Senior Manager Programme (SMP)
- Agribusiness Management Programme (AgMP)
- Management Acceleration Programme (MAP)
The graduates, drawn from sectors like finance, technology, manufacturing, healthcare, and agribusiness, and representing multiple African nations, are now equipped to drive innovation and sustainable growth.
Alumna Stresses Values Beyond Profit
The keynote address was given by Mrs. Kofo Akinkugbe, Founder and CEO of SecureID Group and an alumna of the LBS Chief Executive Programme. She shared insights on resilience and the critical role of values-driven leadership.
"Ethical leadership goes beyond pecuniary issues," Akinkugbe noted. "It means benchmarking and adhering to global standards and best practices even when the local laws, regulations, and standards do not demand it."
During the earlier university convocation, academic excellence was celebrated across the School of Media and Communication, the School of Science and Technology, the School of Management and Social Sciences, and Lagos Business School. The event spotlighted Dumebi Valerie Duru, who graduated as the best student with a perfect 5.0 CGPA.
In her charge, Vice-Chancellor Professor Enase Okonedo urged the graduates to become ambassadors of integrity and professional excellence as they enter the workforce.
Both ceremonies concluded with the formal induction of the graduates into the Pan-Atlantic University and Lagos Business School Alumni Associations. Mr. Valentine Okelu, Vice-President of the LBS Alumni Association and CEO of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals, welcomed the new executive graduates, encouraging them to leverage the globally connected network for meaningful collaboration and impact.
