What’s our story?
The INSEAD NAA Nigeria currently has alumni representation ranging from as early as 1973 to as recently as 2017. While we have always had small and steady alumni representation, we have only begun to have more critical mass in the last 18 years, when we’ve had at least four alumni graduates every year.
Our alumni mix is quite diverse, with over 300 members, 19 nationalities and 27% women. Also, our base has historically been a combination of alumni who live and work in Nigeria or visit the country frequently. The following timeline gives a brief overview of our roadmap to becoming an NAA:
- 2005–7: a few MBA and AMP alumni begin to meet informally, holding social gatherings every quarter.
- 2008: 23 alumni graduate from INSEAD – single highest number so far.
- 2009: More than 10 alumni come together for a dinner in Lagos.
- 2014: 35 alumni graduate from INSEAD, breaking 2008 record; 3 events held with 20–30 alumni in attendance at each.
- 2015: 2nd alumni Christmas party is held – and is a huge success.
- 2016: a handful of alumni volunteer to establish a National Alumni Club; later, the first gathering of alumni establishing our mission, vision and executive committee is held, with more than 50 alumni in attendance.
- 2017: the Nigeria NAC votes to become an NAA; the INSEAD IAA ratifies the establishment of a formal National Alumni Association Nigeria.
Who are we?
Alongside our astute and demure NAA Nigeria President, Andrew Alli, MBA‘95D, the NAA committee includes Dami Jones, MBA’16J, events leader; Ijeoma Agboti-Obatoyinbo, MBA‘06D, financial management; Kome Ajegbo, MBA‘13D, PR and communication; Solape Agagu-Hammond, MBA’09D, membership officer; and Ayokunle Ilesanmi, MAP’16Sep, who is responsible for social media.
As we are celebrating 50 years of women at INSEAD, we would like to highlight some of our active and prominent female alumni.
Toyin Odulate, MBA’10J, is the founder of Olori Cosmetics and Country MD for Danone Nutricia Early Life Nutrition. Follow her on Twitter @SayMama1. Olori Cosmetics is an indigenous natural and organic beauty company focusing on hair, skin and beauty. All products are made locally in Nigeria. Danone is a French multinational food-products corporation based in Paris and founded in Barcelona, Spain.
Tokini Peterside, MBA’15D, is the founder and director of ART X Lagos. Follow her on Twitter @tokinipeterside. ART X Lagos is West Africa’s premier international art fair, designed to showcase the best and most innovative contemporary art from the African continent and its diaspora.
Adepeju Adebajo, AMP’00Oct, is currently the Commissioner of Agriculture in Ogun State, Nigeria, the former Managing Director, Geocycle and former PMO at Lafarge Africa Plc. Follow her on twitter @PejuAdebajo. The Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture is tasked with enabling policy that will enhance self-sufficiency in food production, provision of raw materials for agro-based industries, generation of employment opportunities, as well as obtaining desirable levels of exports to improve the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Why should you join the NAA Nigeria?
The NAA Nigeria hopes to broadly achieve the following objectives:
- Create an official alumni network which combines value added business, social, and personal links to support and promote INSEAD and each other
- Increase the awareness of Africa within INSEAD and the IAA; in particular, increase the number of African students attending INSEAD and support African students in current cohort
- Be a thought leader on global business issues through hosting topical events and sharing of experiences and achievements; and
- Be a catalyst for the development of the INSEAD Community in West and Central Africa, and strengthen linkages between alumni throughout Africa
The NAA holds an array of events that cater to all our alumni. Historically, we have had Industry Roundtables once a quarter; these are exclusive and intimate events of not more than 25 people. We hold INSEAD Thursdays on the last Thursday of every month; these are more informal events and open to all. We also have our flagship black tie event on or around Global INSEAD Day every year. Looking ahead, we will be adding events and initiatives to the calendar, such as Host Dinners, with a maximum 10 people, when alumni host other alumni to discuss and debate topical issues over a meal. We will also hold an annual philanthropic event, part of which will work towards one of our long-term goals of establishing a Nigeria Scholarship for MBA students.
