The AIESEC Alumni Nigeria is set to host the 41st edition of its prestigious Omolayole Management Lecture (OML Series), featuring the internationally acclaimed Kenyan author and cultural strategist, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor.
The lecture, themed “Plotlines of Prosperity: African Stories, African Rights & African Returns,” will hold on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at the Metropolitan Club, 15 Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event commences at 2:30 PM.
This year’s event, which builds on a 40-year legacy of provoking thought leadership and business discourse in Nigeria, will explore the powerful intersection of narrative, economics, and identity in shaping Africa’s future. Owuor is expected to draw from her profound literary works and strategic advisory role in African creative economies to challenge and inspire business leaders, policymakers, and professionals.
The lecture will be followed by an expert panel discussion featuring:
· Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, CON, Former Group CEO, Airtel Africa Plc.
· Mr. Seni Adetu, Former MD/CEO, Guinness Nigeria Plc & Chairman, Algorithm Media.
· Toju Dottie, Partner, Intellectual Property Law at Tortiseju & Co. The session will be moderated by Brenda Nwagwu, Founder/CEO of QVT Media and former President of AIESEC Alumni Nigeria.
Ahead of the main event, a press briefing was held on Wednesday, September 17th, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI). Key figures from the organising committee and partner institutions addressed the press, outlining the lecture’s agenda and its significance for fostering a new mindset for transformational leadership in a complex global economy.
“We are thrilled to have Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, a voice of immense intellectual and cultural significance, headline this year’s lecture,” said Mr. Marcel Mba, President of AIESEC Alumni Nigeria. “Her unique perspective on how African stories and rights directly influence African returns offers a fresh, vital framework for our business leaders and policymakers. This aligns perfectly with our mission to develop leadership that can navigate and transform the African business landscape.”
Following the lecture, on Friday, September 26th, the public is invited to a more intimate session with the author. In collaboration with the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA), Ms. Owuor will headline a Special Book Reading event titled “A Conversation with Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor” as part of the CORA BOOKTrek series. The event holds at 3:00 PM at the CORA Library & Resource Centre, Freedom Park, Lagos. It will feature readings from her award-winning novels and a deep dive into the themes of history, memory, and storytelling.
The OML 2025 is hosted in partnership with leading professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM), Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Nigerian Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and the Chemical and Non-Metallic Products Employers’ Federation (CANMPEF).
Profile: Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (born 1968) is an award-winning author and cultural strategist. She won the 2003 Caine Prize for African Writing for her story “Weight of Whispers” and is the author of the critically acclaimed novels “Dust” (2014) and “The Dragonfly Sea” (2019). Her works interrogate the intersections of history, memory, and the resilience of the African spirit. Beyond literature, she advises governments on leveraging creative assets for economic growth.
Invitation: Attendance for the OML is by invitation. The CORA BOOKTrek event on September 26th is free and open to the public. For accreditation and media enquiries, please contact [Insert Media Contact Name and Details].
The Omolayole Management Lecture Series is the flagship programme of AIESEC Alumni Nigeria, established to honour the legacy of the renowned management guru, Dr. Michael Omolayole, and to provide a platform for robust discourse on issues critical to Nigeria’s economic and managerial development.
About AIESEC Alumni Nigeria: AIESEC Alumni Nigeria is the association of all graduates who were members of AIESEC in Nigeria and members of AIESEC from foreign universities. The association continuously seeks to promote the aims and objectives of AIESEC, geared towards enriching the academic work life of students by providing practical experiences useful for the growth and development of youths.