ICYMI: Chevening Alumni get new leadership

A new leadership has emerged at the Chevening Alumni Association of Nigeria (CAAN).

New executives of the association were elected during a virtual extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Saturday.

The association is a body of Nigerian beneficiaries of Chevening Scholarships, the UK government scholarships and fellowships which enable future leaders to study in the UK, while joining a global community of professionals who are creating positive change around the globe.

Kester Osahenye, a senior manager with MTN Nigeria and the immediate past general-secretary of the alumni association, was elected president.

Adetoun Mustapha was elected as the new vice-president, Oluwafemi Adedipe was elected as general -secretary, and Suleiman Mshelia emerged as the assistant-general secretary.

Other elected executives are Ajibola Anjorin, who was elected as the chief whip; Nkiru Okobi, who emerged as the association’s financial secretary; Marilyn Eze, a lawyer, was elected legal adviser; while Ijeoma Onyeator of Channels TV was elected as publicity secretary of the association.

The new executives will lead the alumni association for a period of two years.

In September 2019, the association elected John Momoh, president of Channels TV, as chairman of its board of trustees (BoT).

Other members of the BoT include Amina Oyagbola, Adamu Garba, Markie Idowu, Florence Iheme, in addition to the newly-elected president and general-secretary.

In his acceptance speech, Osahenye promised to work with the executives and the board of trustees to rejig the CAAN mentoring programme that will help returnee Cheveners find their feet in the corporate world.

He also reaffirmed the alumni association’s commitment to grow educational programmes in Nigeria through its educational work streams.

Osahenye said CAAN will embark on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) boot camp for young Nigerians, which will be sponsored by the association and its global alliances.

Since 1983, over 50,000 professionals have studied in the UK through Chevening.

More than 1,400 Nigerians have reportedly benefited from Chevening Scholarship and fellowships, among them are Simon Kolawole, CEO of TheCable; Okey Nwuke, deputy-managing director of Coscharis Group; Amina Oyagbola, a lawyer; Kenneth Amaeshi of the University of Edinburgh, and Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Bank.