Sunday Ehigiator
The University of Reading over ther weekend, marked its 100th anniversary in Lagos, reaffirming its commitment to Nigeria and unveiling plans to deepen its presence across Sub-Saharan Africa as the institution begins its next century of global engagement.
The centenary celebration and awards evening, brought together university leaders, alumni, business executives and other stakeholders to celebrate the institution’s century-long journey and its growing links with Africa.
Delivering the University of Reading Centenary Address, Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean & Director, Henley Business School Africa, Jon Foster-Pedley, said the decision to hold the Nigerian leg of the centenary celebration in Lagos was deliberate.
“This centenary started in India. It went through the UK, then Malaysia, Thailand and China. Tonight it’s in Lagos, and it finishes in December in Southern Africa.
“You can tell what a university has become by where it chooses to have its birthday. We chose to have ours across the world, and we chose to have this part of it in Nigeria,” he said.
The celebration also featured a keynote address by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of X3M Ideas, Steve Babaeko, who challenged University of Reading alumni to combine formal education with creativity, resilience and practical leadership.
Babaeko, a Henley alumnus and visiting fellow, reflected on his leadership journey and argued that global business education could be successfully applied within the African environment.
“What I understand now that I did not understand then is that world-class rigour and African relevance are not opposites. You can have both in the same room.”
Also speaking at the event, the Head of Henley Business School Nigeria Alumni Association, Paul Orajiaka, expressed delight at the centenary celebration, saying the quality and diversity of award recipients demonstrated the impact of the university’s alumni on Nigerian society.
“As the Head of the School’s Nigeria alumni association, I’m very delighted with today’s event as this shows the impact the school’s alumni are making in Nigerian society, with the quality of awardees recognised tonight from different sectors of the economy,” Orajiaka said.
According to him, the achievements of the alumni were a testament to the institution’s emphasis on more than academic excellence.
“This is a testament of the school’s training of her students in not just academics but also in leadership and values,” he said.