As part of its effort to foster networking and synergy to drive productivity among its alumni, Lancaster University, UK, recently organised it’s second alumni dinner at the Four Point Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Jonathan Matheny, director, MBA programmes, Lancaster University, while speaking at the dinner said the focus of the dinner is to bring together great alumni from all walks of life that are in business leadership positions across Nigeria, to network, and see what they have accomplished.
Committed to technologically driven training, Lancaster University programmes especially the MBA programme is interested in advancing knowledge for students so they can benefit the organisations they work in and more broadly advance their communities Matheny noted the event which is the second edition organised by Lancaster in Lagos is geared towards creating an avenue for alumni to see what next they need to accomplish working together and in having the opportunities to network, hear about each other’s ideas and what they can do to move things from the sector in which they operate.
According to him, “One of the best things about Lancaster is all the diversities that exist within every one of our classes and programmes, if you look at our programmes, almost every country is represented across our programmes and within any particular programme usually different countries are represented.”
The MBA director further revealed that he is happy that the Lancaster MBA has produced Nigerians who are at the top of their games making contribution to organisations and businesses in Nigeria, adding that they represent different sectors in Nigeria and different functional background as well.
Matheny noted that the Lancaster MBA programme is always open to take Nigerians that are interested in advancing knowledge not only for themselves, but more broadly for organisations to be able to advance their community.
“One of the things we say in our marketing materials, in the application, interview processes is how can Lancaster help you bridge the gap between what you have being doing and what you want to do? How will that make your contribution to your organisation or to your community?”
“Energy, ambition, excellence these are the words that we are after,” he said.
He pointed out that in Nigeria today there are some major challenges that organisations are facing adding that in the value system, there are several challenges at the financing level, technology level, logistics and workforce levels. “There are challenges from the top to the bottom value system, to engage that environment takes real ambition, it takes real vision and leadership and these are the people we are looking for in Lancaster MBA,” he added.
On plans for the future, the MBA director disclosed that Lancaster University through its various programme will continue to build relationship with Nigeria alumni and business community in general adding that the dinner event will be on an annual basis.
On her part, Juliet Anammah, head product operating group, Accenture, who was the guest speaker at the event pointed out that there are various opportunities open to Nigerian Business entrepreneurs in the consumer goods segment of the country for inspired and interested entrepreneurs to actually make a difference in that space.
KELECHI EWUZIE
