The Lagos Business School Breakfast Club, on December 4, 2019, hosted business leaders and top executives to its annual Breakfast at Dinnertime, providing the perfect closing to its monthly meetings for 2019.
The LBS Breakfast Club is a knowledge-sharing forum for top business leaders, C-suite executives and members of the diplomatic community to discuss the nation’s economy and predicts trends that impact business and strategy.
Guest Speaker at the dinner was Managing Director, Chevron Nigeria, Jeffrey Ewing who delivered an insightful presentation on the future of the upstream oil and gas industry in Nigeria. He touched on topics such as the contributions of the oil and gas industry to Nigeria’s revenues, challenges that face the industry and attendant solutions, factors that drive low investment in the country and the required policy imperatives to increase investment.
According to Ewing, Nigeria has resources to compete in the global market as it is the world’s 11th largest oil reserve and 9th largest gas reserve; however, it may not be able to successfully take advantages of its reserves and attract new investments owing to a number of challenges such as its worsening fiscal environment and a tough business landscape (security and community risks).
Ewing added that there a lot of risks upfront for companies in the oil and gas industry and recommended that a well-thought-out holistic reform bill could ‘grow the pie’ by a timely conclusion of the ongoing industry reform to guarantee legislative clarity. Ewing also noted that enabling the safety and security of lives will amount to a conducive business environment for companies in the oil and gas industry.
As expected of a business dinner, the ambience of the night was classy and glamourous but punctuated by conversations that had the potential to influence the business environment in the country. One of such conversations was facilitated by top economist, Bismarck Rewane after he delivered the highly anticipated Economic Outlook for 2020.
Attendees at the Breakfast at Dinnertime included Chairman, Dubri Oil, Uduimo Itsueli; CEO, Seplat Petroleum, Austin Avuru; Chief Operating Officer and Risk Managing Partner, KPMG Nigeria, Victor Onyenkpa; Managing Director, AOSOrwell, Femi Omotayo; and the Consular-General of Spain in Nigeria.
In her speech, LBS Dean, Enase Okonedo drew the attention of the guests to some of the noteworthy achievements of the School in 2019. She highlighted the Financial Times 2019 ranking and the impressive jump made by the Customs Executive Education to emerge among the top 50 in the world, the donation of N500 million by the Gamaliel and Susan Onosode Foundation to the construction of a bespoke research centre and the project’s progress, among others.
Okonedo harped on LBS’ mission to develop leaders who are rich in values and soft skills – creativity, innovation, adaptability – that employers now seek. According to her, the transference of these skills and values require face to face interaction with individuals hence the decision to host programmes in cities such as Abuja and Port Harcourt.
She thanked organisations who have opened their doors to LBS for research and case study development purposes and also extended gratitude to individuals and organisations who have donated to one cause or another in the School.
Sponsored by Dubri Oil, the event closed with a presentation of gifts to the guest speakers after which other guests took to the dance floor.
