Policy Advocacy
2007 Murtala Muhammed Lecture- Exemplary Governance Through Leadership
In an election year, the Murtala Muhammed Foundation set the tone with the theme, Exemplary Governance Through Leadership. The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai lecture was titled, Exemplary Governance Through Leadership. His lecture looked into the failure of the Nigerian leadership over the past to channel the resources of the country positively. Ho posited that bad leadership and governance has contributed to the parlous state of the Nigeria but stated that the present administration, through its reform agenda has set the stage for the country’s upward development and growth. Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo paper was on, Creating Effective Governance and Leadership for Sustained national Prosperity. He spoke about understanding governance and leadership, the aggregate indicators of good governance, the eight steps for transformative leadership and the importance of governance and leadership to prosperity. Both lectures were widely applauded as profound, engaging and thoughtful. The Lecture set an agenda for good governance for leaders as a necessary attribute towards national growth and development.
2nd Annual Murtala Muhammed Conference- Global Perspectives on Disaster Management
The Murtala Muhammed Foundation assembled some of the finest practitioners in the field of disaster management to deliberate on pertinent issues affecting the mitigation of disasters in Nigeria and proffer the way forward. The conference had stakeholders in the field of disaster management from all over the world in attendance. There was a session that looked into the impacts of disaster on victims with the objective of ascertaining the level of emotional and psychological support available in Nigeria to persons affected by disasters. It was evident that Nigeria is lacking in advanced disaster management communication equipment and personnel and also, emergency organizations lack the required skills and equipment needed to mitigate a disaster successfully. The Conference led to the development of a better holistic approach in disaster management.
10th Annual Murtala Muhammed Lecture Africa– A New Agenda
Right Honourable “Jack Straw”, MP United kingdom and Commonwealth Foreign Secretary delivered the 2006 Murtala Muhammed Lecture. His paper was incisive and topical as he delved into Nigerian, African and world issues, their origin, impact and the future ranging from poverty, terrorism and crime to development, governance, migration and the environment.
9th Annual Murtala Muhammed Memorial Lecture
The theme of the lecture was “Breaking Barriers and Limitations – Role of Women in Development and it was delivered by Mrs Graca Machel Mandela, President of the Foundation for Community Development in Mozambique, Chancellor of the University of Cape Town in South Africa, and a board member of the United Nations Advisory Board on Disarmament. Mrs. Graca Machel Mandela strongly advocated for gender representation in all levels of government. Her thought-provoking paper looked into the contributions of women in the society and she called on nations in Africa to enshrine gender equity in governance noting that only Lesotho and Botswana has achieved this in both primary and secondary education.
Murtala Muhammed Foundation participates in regional consultative meeting on Financing water for Agriculture
The Foundation, on October 14-15 2005, on the invitation of Global water Partnership (GWP) joined other African's stakeholders in agriculture development, to participate in the regional consultative meeting on, Financing Water For Agriculture, in Pretoria South Africa.
The organizers
of the consultation had the purpose of continuing and extending the
work of the World Panel (also known as the Camdessus Panel) on Financing
Water Infrastructure. The regional consultation considered in greater
depth the specific problems of financing water in agriculture and related
rural activities and livelihoods in Africa.
It was sponsored by the Global Water Partnership (GWP) and the World
Water Council (WWC) and was also supported by, and contained representatives
of, the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization, International
Fund for agricultural development, and International Water Management
Institute.
First Regional Conference
on Secondary School Education
In
June 2003 global stake holders in the education sub sector held the
first regional conference on secondary education in sub Saharan
Africa. The conference which was organized by the World Bank Institute
took place between 9th and 13th of June 2003 in Kampala, Uganda. It
featured top government functionaries of several countries, international
organizations, institutions of learning and other non governmental organization.
The gathering of the stake holders sought to formulate policies and
reforms that would engender institutional capacity development, resource
mobilization, and infrastructure development. It provided opportunities
for countries, institutions and individuals to share their education
related experience and challenges. It also formed a strong basis for
the participation of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation in education.
Centre
For Ethics and Leadership
The
Murtala Muhammed
Centre for Ethics and Leadership will be built to endow the Murtala
Muhammed Foundation. On completion, the centre will also provide advanced
facilities for research and civic activities that would engender issues
of Ethics, Leadership and good governance in Nigeria and Africa
as a whole.