The Nigeria-Britain Association (N-BA) held what it called the ‘Executive Roundtable’, the first in the series by the Association, on 26th July 2022. The event was held at the prestigious Prince Philip House in London. Just less than a year back, precisely in October 2021, the Association held its first-ever event in the United Kingdom to celebrate Nigeria’s independence and bring Nigerians, Britons and other stakeholders together as it continued to drive its objectives under the auspices of the Big IDEA (Innovation Diversity Empowerment Agility).
The Executive Roundtable, themed, Our Planet, was targeted at bringing together all the key actors in the eco-system: government, private sector, NGOs and other organisations to forge a working collaboration aimed at exploring the interconnectivity of trade, investment and the sustainability of our planet and how trade and the environment interact with each other.
According to the president of N-BA, Ms Bimbo Okoya International trade has a critical role to play in environmental protection and efforts to mitigate damages to the planet. In her words, the event is aimed at exploring how trade and the environment interact with each other. This she said is in line with the Association’s strategic direction of promoting sustainable economic activities in Nigeria and Britain with the implementation of the BIG IDEA (Inclusion. Diversity. Empowerment. Agility)
The event was well attended by about 121 persons physically and virtually. The attendees were drawn from various sectors and jurisdictions which provided a healthy and robust mix of cultures, thoughts and disciplines. Some of the attendees were a delegation of Nigerian government officials led by the Nigeria Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment – Ambassador Mariam Katagum. Other key participants were the Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom – Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, the COP26 Regional Ambassador for the Middle East and Africa – Janet Rogan, the former British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria – Mr Robin Gywnn, the President and Head of Global Network at Let’s Do it World – Ms Heidi Solba, the Director of Strategy at First Bank of Nigeria (UK) – Mr Carl Nordell, the CEO of the British Insurance Brokers Association – Mr Steve White and several other prominent individuals and attendees who joined remotely from within and outside the United Kingdom.
The N-BA was well represented by its leadership and Council members led by its President, Ms Bimbo Okoya, one of the N-BA’s Vice Patrons Mr Phil Hall and his wife, one of its Past Presidents, Mr Tunde Arogunmati, Assistant Honorary Secretary, Mr Tobi Asehinde as well as Partners, Sponsors and collaborating Agencies.
At the core of the Executive Roundtable are the following objectives:
1. To position the N-BA as a think-tank with the mandate to promote and champion economic, cultural and multilateral bonds between Nigeria, Britain, and the Commonwealth.
2. To discuss topical issues that are pertinent to the Nigerian and British economies.
3. To provide value to attendees by making available to them industry insights and best practices.
4. To engage experts across different fields and provide a platform for them to share their knowledge.
5. To engage Heads of industries and governments, as well as professionals, thought leaders and other members of the British society to leverage their expertise and experience.
Inside Watch Africa (IWA) was informed that for the Roundtable to have been as successful as it was, the N-BA partnered with sponsors like First Bank of Nigeria (UK), Leventis Foundation, Co-Creation Hub, SCIB Nigeria & Company, NEM Insurance Plc, and Nobleserve Capital Management who were the main Partners/Sponsors for the event as well as its collaborators for the event, namely Queen Mercillina Media, Obaseki Solicitors, Digital Marketing Skill Institute, Nigerian Investment Summit and the Skill Mill.
The event has continued to receive commendation from attendees and represents another feather in the cap of the N-BA
