By MICHAEL EBOH

Aston Business School has entered into a strategic partnership with These Young Minds to help sensitise business leaders in both the private and public sectors in Africa on the rapidly changing global business context, as well as to imbue them with the skills needed to effectively manage their various organisations in tough economic environment.

In a statement, weekend, Alim Abubakre, Founding Executive Director, These Young Minds, said it is aware that there was an urgent requirement for effective strategic leadership development programmes targeted at senior leaders in emerging countries, hence the decision to sensitise the business leaders on effective management skills.

To this end, he said both the Aston Business School and These Young Minds are organising a programme for senior leaders in emerging countries scheduled to hold at Aston in Birmingham, United Kingdom, from November 26 to 29, 2012.

He said, “The programme curriculum is tailored specifically to address the challenges that African Directors face.The programme explores issues such as poor infrastructure (e.g. inadequate electricity supply, limited transportation network etc.), China’s influence on Africa and the implications of the Western legacy on business in an African context.

“Competition in Africa will also be examined, taking into account foreign companies operating in Africa and external market opportunities. Case studies are used to illustrate many of these issues.”

Abubakre also stated that participants will have an exclusive working visit to a global organisation situated in Birmingham, and the opportunity to attend a networking session.  Upon completing the course, he said participants will receive a certificate from Aston Business School which has international recognition for delivering value adding executive education programmes.

Also commenting, Paul Butler, Executive Director at Aston Business School, said “Having received very positive feedback from the first group of participants on the initial programme, a mix of senior leaders from both the private and public sectors, I have no doubt that the programme is directly addressing the future needs of leaders in the African continent. Having spent a lot of time with the group outside of the classroom, I am incredibly impressed with the level and quality of the delegates and this confirmed that Africa already has leaders of the highest calibre.

“It has been a pleasure for me personally to learn from the group about Nigeria as well as Africa and its context and I believe that the Professors at Aston who delivered the programme were challenged throughout the programme to work at the highest level of their intellectual prowess to satisfy the zest for best practice in strategic leadership and change thus, forcing us at Aston Business School to rise to the challenge.”

Butler said Aston Business School looks forward to further iterations of the programme and believes that there may be other opportunities for Aston Business School to partner again with These Young Minds to develop bespoke programmes that meet the needs of Africa’s most senior leaders to enable them to deliver a great future for Nigeria and Africa as a whole.