Matilda Omonaiye/
Renowned public policy advocate and former Minister of Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the 7th annual lecture of Penpushing Media, set to take place on July 31, 2025, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Chairperson of the lecture planning committee, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, made the announcement during a media briefing, stating that Ezekwesili has accepted the invitation and will be physically present at the high-profile event.
Themed “Reworking Nigeria’s Federalism: Perspectives on Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism,” the lecture is expected to draw attention to the need for bold reforms in Nigeria’s governance structure, with Ezekwesili offering insights drawn from decades of public service and international experience.
According to Akiyode-Afolabi, four other distinguished intellectuals will join Dr. Ezekwesili as panelists in what is projected to be a robust and thought-provoking conversation on Nigeria’s future.
Dr. Ezekwesili, a globally respected economist and governance expert, praised the editorial board and planning committee of Penpushing Media for their foresight and continued relevance in Nigeria’s evolving media landscape.
With an impressive track record in both national and international roles, Ezekwesili served as Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals and later as Minister of Education before her appointment as Vice President of the World Bank’s Africa Region. At the World Bank, she managed a $40 billion portfolio spanning 47 Sub-Saharan countries.
Currently serving as Senior Economic Advisor at the Open Society Foundation’s Africa Economic Development Policy Initiative, Ezekwesili advises nine African presidents on strategy and policy implementation. She also sits on several prestigious international boards including Bharti Airtel, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Central European University, and the Atlantic Dialogues Advisory Board.
Beyond her technocratic roles, Ezekwesili has earned global recognition for her civic activism. She co-founded the Bring Back Our Girls movement in 2014, which sparked international advocacy for the rescue of schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram. She also spearheaded the #RedCardMovement and co-chairs the FixPolitics Initiative, which birthed the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG).
Her accolades include being named among the BBC’s 100 Women in 2014, TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2015, and the Albert Einstein Foundation’s Genius: 100 Visions of the Future in 2017.
The Penpushing Media anniversary lecture has become a major intellectual gathering in Nigeria’s media and civil society calendar, providing a platform for dialogue on national issues and policy innovation. This year’s edition, with Dr. Ezekwesili at the helm, promises to raise the bar even higher.
0Related posts:
Penpushing Media Fixes July 25 for 6th Anniversary Annual Lecture
Interrogating Two Years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Under President Tinubu
Penpushing Media’s 6th Anniversary Lecture Set for July 25
Obasanjo Celebrates Penpushing Media …Highlights Values
Penpushing Inaugurates Planning Committee for 5th Anniversary Lecture
Victory Life Bible Church GO Blesses Penpushing Founder with Birthday Gig as Eminent Persons Pay Glowing Tributes