The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms. Robin Renee Sanders, will be the Distinguished Keynote Speaker at the inaugural Isaac Moghalu Foundation Leadership Lecture and Symposium on Wednesday 23 April 2008. The event will take place at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos at 10 a.m. prompt.

Ambassador Sanders will speak on the relationship between governance and poverty in Nigeria, and the role of government, private sector and civil society in finding solutions to the problems of development that confront Nigeria.

Prof. Pat Utomi of the Lagos Business School and Rev. Father Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah, Vicar-General of the Kaduna Archdiocese of the Catholic Church of Nigeria and a former member of the Nigerian Human Rights Violations investigation Commission (Oputa Panel), will respond to the keynote speech by Ambassador Sanders, followed by an interactive session involving the audience. Chief Arthur Mbanefo, former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, will chair the event.

The Isaac Moghalu Foundation (IMOF) was established in memory of Elder Isaac Chukwudum Moghalu (1925 – 1998), one of Nigeria’s pioneer Foreign Service Officers in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after independence in 1960, and a retired Permanent Secretary in Anambra State at the time of his death. IMOF is dedicated to promoting literacy and social change in Nigeria. The Foundation was inaugurated in December 2005 at a ceremony in Nnewi, Anambra State presided over by H.E. General Dr. Yakubu Gowon, former Head of State of Nigeria.

The Isaac Moghalu Foundation Leadership Lecture & Symposium is the flagship activity of the IMOF Leadership and Citizenship Development Programme. The lecture/symposium will be held annually, and is aimed at contributing solutions to the problems and challenges that confront Nigeria in its quest for development. IMOF also has a scholarships program for underprivileged children and youth in rural areas, as well as a book club.

Click here for the draft agenda and programe of the event.