UNDP organizes intensive leadership retreat for Nigerian governors

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The United Nations Development Programme is organizing a three-day leadership retreat for governors in Nigeria.
Organisers said the programme, funded by the UNDP, is scheduled for 24-27 August in Kigali, Rwanda.
In an invitation letter to one participant, the UN agency said the retreat is part of its commitment to raising the level of governance in Africa and other parts of the world.
“In today’s dynamic world, the multiplicity of megatrends – ranging from invisible threats to democratic governance, the impact of an increasingly digital and innovation-driven society, a looming job crisis, a growing youth population with an elusive youth dividend, the rapid pace of urbanisation, a highly globalised world, to rising climate change, pose tremendous challenges for African countries,” Lealem Berhand Dinku of UNDP said of the programme. “A new leadership approach is required to transform these challenges into opportunities.”
The official added, “The programme is designed to provide a transformative platform for public officials to collectively reflect, learn and exchange insights on effective leadership and complex challenges. By focusing on experiential learning, exploration and reflection, the distinguished participants will be equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to lead in highly complex and uncertain environments.”
Highly-regarded facilitators have been pooled from around the world to facilitate sessions such as “Re-imagining and Exploring the Future of Nigeria”, “Opportunities and Challenges of Contemporary Leadership in a ‘New’ World”, “The Future of Development as Influenced by Digital Transformation, Big Data, Disruptive Innovation and Emerging Technologies”, “Ensuring Socio-economic Transformations: Industrialisation, Agriculture, Climate and Green Transition”, “Revenue Generation and Resource Mobilisation” and “Effective Leadership Communication in a Fast-Changing World”.