Institutions in the mould of Lagos Business School will be empowered to drive sustainable development of African economies at this year’s Association of African Business Schools (AABS) conference, scheduled for the Strathmore Business School in Nairobi, Kenya from 18 to 21 May 2014.
This year’s conference, tagged ‘The Role of Business Schools in Building Lasting Institutions in Africa’, will include presentations, discussions and roundtable working sessions. Also on the lineup are networking opportunities, quality review visits to the United States International University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Nairobi; even as business schools in Francophone countries will be participants.
Currently, AABS has 30 full members across Africa and nine pipeline members. LBS, a front-liner in management education, is a full-time member of the Association. Thus, the school is entitled to a visit from an AABS Mentor for 3 days once in three years, and encouraged to host AABS events and workshops which it can attend at discounted rates like other full-time members.
Last year’s AABS Conference was held in Morocco, where issues affecting African business schools were debated. This year’s event promises the same, and will feature topics such as ‘The Role of Institutions in Africa’s Economic Story,’ ‘Advancing Management Education in Africa’ and ‘Business Schools in the Digital Age.’ Speakers will include: Economist Dr Robin Kibuka from Uganda; Patrick Bitature, Chairman of the Simba Group; Paul Kinuithia, Marketing Director, Interconsumer Goods; Patrick Ithau, Managing Director, L’Oreal; Professor Nick Binedell, Dean, Gordon Institute of Business Science and Jonathan Cook, Chairman, African Management Initiative.
“Never before has the outlook and potential of the African economy been so positive,” observed AABS Chairman and Director of the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Professor Walter Bates, on the Association’s website. “With a number of African countries among the fastest growing in the world, the challenge is not only to drive growth across the region, but to drive inclusive growth.”
Also speaking, Dr George Njenga, Dean at Strathmore Business School, said: “This conference is an excellent opportunity to network with thought leaders from across the continent and share ideas and best practice.”
Interested participants are encouraged to register on the AABS website: www.aabschools.com
