Lagos Business School (LBS) was honoured to host the landmark inaugural edition of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor’s Annual Lecture Series on Friday, October 3, 2025. The event, held in the school’s Honeywell Auditorium, brought together policy makers, industry captains, and the next generation of leaders: students from Pan-Atlantic and other top Nigerian universities, including the University of Lagos, Yaba College of Technology and Lagos State University, for a robust dialogue themed “Next Generation Leadership in Monetary Policy and Nation Building.”

The lecture series, part of the CBN’s new knowledge acceleration initiative, reflects a shared commitment with LBS to fostering critical thinking and bridging policy with practice.

In her welcome address, the Dean of Lagos Business School, Professor Olayinka David-West, articulated the school’s dedication to its founding principles. “Since its inception in 1991, Lagos Business School has sought to develop responsible leaders who will inspire Africa’s growth by creating and disseminating knowledge in business and management. This aspiration extends beyond the classroom, encompassing partnerships like these that aim to foster thought leadership, policy engagement, and in-depth discourse.”

​Restoring Trust: The Foundation of Economic Renewal

​CBN Governor, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, delivered a candid address detailing the challenging economic landscape upon his assumption of office and the strategic reforms enacted to restore confidence. He anchored his leadership on courage, credibility, and accountability, emphasising that stability is the non-negotiable foundation for national prosperity.

​Key reforms highlighted include:

​Taming Inflation: Aggressive tightening of the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to combat spiralling prices.

​Forex Orthodoxy: Unifying exchange rate windows under a transparent, willing buyer, willing seller framework.

​Clearing Backlog: Clearing the multi-billion-dollar verifiable foreign exchange backlog, an action he credits as fundamental to rebuilding international trust and stabilising the Naira.

​Insights for Future Leaders: The Road Ahead

​Addressing the student-heavy audience, the Governor stressed that success, both in central banking and in life, hinges on credibility, calling it “the most valuable currency.” He affirmed that the current macroeconomic indicators, including moderating inflation and rebounding capital flows, signal a “developmental inflection point.”

​Mr Cardoso further outlined the need for future leaders to embrace the digital future. He confirmed the CBN’s push toward full digitisation and AI adoption, advising students that those who thrive will be the ones who embrace innovation without sacrificing stability. Concluding on an optimistic note, he urged the youth to “stay the course” with determination, declaring the future of Nigeria’s economy to be bright.

​Student-Moderated Fireside Chat Sparks Dialogue

A key highlight of the day was the engaging fireside chat that followed the lecture. Demonstrating the university’s commitment to bridging policy with practice, the session was expertly moderated by students from the Pan-Atlantic University community.

The students posed insightful questions to the Governor on topics ranging from Naira stabilisation strategies and financial inclusion to the impact of global shocks on domestic policy, eliciting comprehensive and candid responses that provided clarity on the CBN’s forward roadmap.

A Landmark Event for LBS and PAU

Professor David-West expressed profound gratitude for the CBN’s choice of LBS as the inaugural host, noting that the event reinforces the school’s position as the premier centre for thought leadership and policy discourse in Africa.

“It was an honour to host the CBN Governor and such a distinguished gathering. The quality of dialogue, particularly the engagement led by our own students, signals a promising path for ‘Next Generation Leadership’ in Nigeria,” the Dean remarked.

 Click here to watch the replay of the lecture and fireside chat.