By Prisca Sam-Duru

In a colourful ceremony held last weekend, Lagos Business School (LBS) graduated a total of 212 accomplished leaders from seven of its flagship Executive Education programmes.

The vibrant ceremony, held at the Honeywell Auditorium on the LBS campus, was a powerful testament to the graduates’ dedication as well as the school’s unwavering commitment to fostering excellence.

As it is customary, the event commenced with an opening prayer by the school chaplain, Father Boniface Okafor after which LBS paid a poignant tribute to the memory of Mr Peter Okoloh, a member of the Advanced Management Programme (AMP) cohort 42, who sadly passed away during his programme. The programme’s academic director, Dr Emmanuel Imafidon, who delivered a heartfelt tribute, extolled Peter’s life of excellence and impact. “Peter’s career was marked by excellence and a deep commitment to human-centred leadership. His impact went beyond titles. He nurtured talent, leading with empathy and humility.”

Following the tribute, the wife of the late Peter Okoloh, Mrs. Evelyn Okoloh was invited to receive the certificate on behalf of her husband. It was a moment that resonated deeply with all in attendance.

In her welcome address, Dean, Lagos Business School, Professor Olayinka David-West, lauded the graduates’ perseverance and commitment to continuous learning, stating, “Your rebirth started when you walked through our doors, arriving on time, critically thinking about diverse problems, challenging assumptions, and framing and reframing until arriving at a decision, wearing the shoes of many a protagonist, guided by responsible management principles, and making lifelong connections.”

In her insightful keynote address, founder and Executive Vice Chair, Emerging Africa Group, Dr Oluwatoyin Sanni spoke passionately about ethical leadership, credibility, and sustainability.

Dr Sanni, an accomplished LBS alumna who completed the Chief Executive Programme (CEP) in 2016, urged the graduates to preface every decision with the critical question: “Am I building for the future or just meeting today’s targets?” Her powerful address was met with enthusiastic applause from the graduates and esteemed guests.

Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the graduates to the Vice-Chancellor, by the Director of Executive Education at LBS, Mr. Victor Banjo, who confirmed that they had fulfilled all the requirements for the award of their certificates. The academic directors of each graduating class then coordinated the presentation of certificates for the programmes, including: The Global Chief Executive Officer Africa Programme(GCEO-A), Advanced Management Programme(AMP), Senior Manager Programme (SMP), Owner-Manager Programme (OMP), Agribusiness Management Programme (AgMP), Management Acceleration Programme (MAP), and Human Resources Academy (HRA).

The graduates were then officially inducted into the Lagos Business School Alumni Association (LBSAA) by its president, Dr Owen Omogiafo.

While congratulating the new members, Dr. Omogiafo urged them to embrace their individual and collective responsibility to support the school and its leadership as it advances its vision of developing responsible leaders to inspire Africa’s growth.

Speaking on behalf of their respective classes, each class president shared insightful reflections on their transformative journeys at LBS. Mr. Jerry Chukwueke, president of the graduating GCEO Africa class, spoke eloquently about the crucial need for leaders who will drive positive change in both the private sector and public service. According to Chukwueke, “It is a tough call, but it is doable.” His sentiments were echoed by the other class presidents, who expressed gratitude to the faculty, staff, and fellow cohort members for an enriching and memorable learning experience. The graduating classes also made donations in support of the LBS endowment fund.

The ceremony concluded with a celebratory cocktail reception, where graduates, faculty, and guests celebrated the momentous occasion.