292 participants of Lagos Business School’s Executive Education programmes graduated on Saturday, November 3, 2018, at the Honeywell Auditorium.
The participants represented 14 classes including the Management Acceleration Programme (MAP 3, 4 and 5); Agribusiness Management Programme (AgMP 7, 8 and 9); Senior Management Programme (SMP 64, 65, 66 and 67); Owner Manager Programme (OMP 25 and 26); Advanced Management Programme (AMP 31) and Chief Executive Programme (CEP 27).
In her welcome remarks at the ceremony, LBS Dean, Dr Enase Okonedo emphasised on the School’s mission of improving the practice of management and encouraged the graduands to go on to impact the nation using the knowledge that has been instilled in them at LBS. She said, “the practice of management is a means by which we can impact humanity and we should see ourselves as solution providers who will influence the world. Also, we need to continually expose ourselves to the best trends in management hence the need for continuous learning even as alumni”.
Dr Okonedo also advised the graduands to follow in the footsteps of notable alumni using Paul Orajiaka of AMP 20 as an example. Orajiaka, the founder of African-themed doll company, Auldon Toys was named Influential Leader by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in February 2018 and has since gone on to empower disabled people and impact communities.
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Peter Amangbo who was the keynote speaker at the ceremony spoke extensively on the importance of corporate governance in organisations. Amangbo said, “Honesty and integrity are the epicentres of good corporate governance and they should be the greatest assets of individuals and organisations. When companies invest in integrity, they present a good business case to shareholders.”
The graduands were presented with certificates after which the presidents of all graduating classes took turns to share their experience on the courses and announce their donations to the School. The CEP class committed to the highest donation of a sum of N2.5 million to advance teaching and research in the School.
Speaking on how the teaching in LBS has impacted his career, MAP 3 president, Olasanmi Afolabi said, “My experience at LBS was terrific as it gave me the opportunity to meet professionals from diverse fields and I am still leveraging on that network till today. Also, working as a career manager, I was faced with challenges that involved managing people but thanks to my facilitators especially Dr Akin Oparison, I learned that creating the right climate for workers is important and that has directly impacted my role”.
AMP 31 president and Group Head, Retail, First Bank of Nigeria, Oladele Bakare said, “I did the Senior Management Programme six years ago and the knowledge I gained back then pushed me up the ladder in my career. I have learned to think strategically and manage people, and I will be returning to take more programmes, in fact, I have set my sight on the Owner Manager Programme as I intend to venture into entrepreneurship”.
The graduands who were inducted into the over 6000-member strong alumni association by Business Day publisher, Frank Aigbogun, reiterated their commitment to continue to do business with an ethical mindset and progress as one large team through the LBS Alumni Association.
Dr Okonedo also advised the graduands to follow in the footsteps of notable alumni using Paul Orajiaka of AMP 20 as example.
