Mbeki to chair 2025 Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Webinar

Obafemi Awolowo Foundation will hold the 2025 Awolowo Memorial Webinar with the theme: “Our 21st Century World: Reflections and Projections” on March 6, 2025, as part of its mandate to propagate the continuing relevance of the ideas of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The webinar, which will be chaired by a former President of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, will have as keynote speaker, the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development and professor at Columbia University, who is also a world renowned economist, innovative educator and global leader in sustainable development, Prof Jeffrey Sachs.

A statement by the Executive Director, Obafemi Awolowo Foundation, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, states: “The 21st century has brought rapid transformations across all facets of human life, driven by technological innovation, economic shifts and evolving geopolitical landscapes.

“This webinar, ‘Our 21st Century World: Reflections and Projections’, provides an interdisciplinary platform to reflects on these changes and explore forward-thinking strategies to navigate the challenges and opportunities of our times.”

“With a focus on four critical sub-themes: The Economy, Technology (with special emphasis on artificial intelligence), The North-South Dynamics, and Africa’s Options for Development, the webinar will engage participants in robust discussions aimed at understanding the interconnected nature of global progress and disparities.

“The economy will examine the evolving trends in global trade, financial systems, and economic policies, exploring how nations and regions can achieve sustainable growth amid uncertainty.”

Four eminent personalities are also expected as guest speakers at the yearly event, which is expected to be moderated by three eminent academics from foremost Nigerian universities

The speakers are the President, African School of Governance, Prof Kingsley Moghalu; the Director General, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof Eghosa Osaghae, a pan-Africanist, right activist and lawyer, who is also the Managing Director Programmes, Open Society Foundation Africa, Mr Brian Kagoro; and a professor of Entrepreneurship and Digital Transformation at the Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam, United Kingdom, Professor Seun Kolade.