Category: Leadership & Diplomacy

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) has announced Mariam Yinusa as the 2016 Ibrahim Leadership Fellow from Nigeria who will join the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

Also, Diane Sayinzoga of Rwanda emerged a Fellow, who will join the International Trade Centre (ITC).

The programme is designed to mentor future African Leaders. The candidates, chosen from among a pool of over 1,000 applicants, will take up posts in these two multinational organisations and benefit from direct mentorship from their current leaders.

Commenting on the new Fellows, Mo Ibrahim said:

“I would like to extend my warm congratulations to our two new Ibrahim Leadership Fellows. Through the programme, the Foundation continues to develop a community of individuals who are pushing boundaries in their fields.

The Foundation is particularly proud of our former alumni who now contribute their skills and learning to benefit our continent and our people.”

Mariam Yinusa comes from the African Development Bank in Abidjan where she worked as a Senior Financial Analyst. In this capacity, she has successfully designed, appraised and task-managed development projects in over 15 African countries.

She is also a Chartered Stockbroker with several years of experience in stock markets and developing innovative financial products in emerging markets.

Queen Elizabeth honours 3 Nigerians; Olanrewaju Adeloye, Imrana Alhaji Buba, and Olumide Femi Makanjuola with the 2016 The Queen’s Young Leaders Award

Two journalists with Nigerian heritage; Adeshina Emmanuel and Ese Olumhense have received the prestigious Ida B. Wells Fellowship in investigative journalism

Pearlena Igbokwe has been named the President of Universal Television, a subsidiary of National Broadcasting Cable (NBC), Universal Television Group

Mohammed Barkindo has emerged as the new Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

OPEC said in a communique after its 169th Meeting  held in Vienna, Austria, stated:

“The Conference decided to appoint Mr. Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, from Nigeria, as Secretary General of the Organization, with effect from 1st August 2016, for a period of three years.”

Mohammed Barkindo, who was a former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) from 2009-2010, replaces Libya’s Abdalla El-Badri, who has completed his tenure.

A Nigerian lawyer, Dr. Uchenna Emelonye has been decorated with the Outstanding Career Achievement award of the Central European University, (CEU).

CEU is a post graduate institution in Budapest Hungary, funded by George Soros and dedicated to promoting open societies worldwide.

As part of the celebration of its 25th Anniversary, CEU held the Alumni Impact Award on May 7, 2016 to showcase and salute those alumni whose actions have helped to bolster its overall mission and enhance its international reputation.

The award was vested on 25 recipients selected from among more than 13,000 fellow alumni all doing impressive things around the world.

Uchenna Emelonye graduated from the CEU Legal Studies Department in 2004 with an LL.M in Human Rights Law. He is presently the Country Representative of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Uganda. Prior to this position, he was the Senior Human Rights Adviser to the United Nations Africa Headquarters in Kenya; Head, Governance, Institutional and Justice Reform Division of the international Development Law Organisation Rome, Italy; Judicial Affairs Officer of the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur Sudan.

Uchenna Emelonye was also a Human Rights Officer with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Pristina Kosovo, and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan; chief-of-Party of RCN Justice and Democratic, Brussels, Belgium; Rule of Law Coordinator of the International Rescue Committee, New York, USA and Executive Director of the Constitutional Rights Project Nigeria.

He holds a doctorate degree in Law (LL.D) from the University of Helsinki Finland; master’s degree in Human Rights Law (LL.M) from Central European University, Budapest Hungary; another master’s degree in law (LL.M) from Abia State University in Nigeria and a bachelor’s degree in law (LL.B) from Abia State University Nigeria. He was admitted a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 1995.

Amongst numerous international peer review articles, Dr. Emelonye has authored and contributed chapters to 8 books in the area of human rights, rule of law, protection of civilians and good governance.

Professor of Biochemistry, Pollution Control and Biotechnology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Ikechukwu Onwurah has emerged President, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), Africa.