THE PRESIDENT\’S DESK

Dear NBA Member and Stakeholder,

At the Association’s AGM I was privileged to be elected as the Association’s President. The very first thing I must do is to thank my predecessor Tunde Arogunmati for four years of excellent service as President and leaving the NBA in good condition.

The Association is over sixty years old and has been focused on Lagos for that time. The world has changed and so have both of our countries. Britain’s role in the world is now very much part of an integrated Commonwealth, European and USA partnership as one of the world’s leading financial centers, innovators and economic producers. Nigeria is consolidating its democratic process and, as Africa’s largest economy and population, is beginning to take its lead position in Africa while seriously laying the foundations for significant growth both economically and socially.

In response the NBA Council has recently adopted a “new vision” to expand our horizons and encompass not only Lagos but also Abuja and London while at the same time focusing our strategies on contemporary sectors. Our Mission is to facilitate relationships between Nigeria, Britain and the Commonwealth at all levels thereby being the “Family Home and Navigator” for individuals and organisations.

Having identified “Youth” as a specific sector, led by Oluwaseyi and Tobi we launched our first “Youth Forum” on the 28th of June. What a great event, with some 200 people present from senior school pupils to young entrepreneurs. The discussion session revealed a need for us to role this programme out around groups of schools and develop a structure to connect the questions with facilities, learning and leadership – not a small task but that’s what the NBA is all about! In the next twelve months we will be launching the “Youth Inventor’s Forum” probably in Lagos first and then around the Country. The highlight of our year is the Akintola Williams, our Life Patron, Annual Lecture – one of the leadership events in the Nigerian calendar.

But it’s not all serious! We will have our Family Day at Inogbe Resort later this year where we can enjoy being with Members, Friends and Family, swim eat and be merry. If you or your organisation are not members why not join and enjoy a great day out – www.nigeria-britain.org/

Finally, I thank all our Patrons, Council and Sponsors for their continued and unequivocal support – it’s a magic

Team.

Peter J Muir CBE

President, Nigeria Britain Association