Recently, a small group of senior executives from diverse backgrounds gathered to complete the last stage and collect their certification as graduates of the Kellogg School of Management Executive Leadership education programme, as this distinguished group of leaders completed their certificates and proceeded onwards to dinner, one of the participants made plans to attend a long planned private dinner with one of the most powerful men in the world.

In his continuing quest for education and leadership experience, Peter Obi, continues to build important relationships and move forward in his own mission to improve his own immediate environment and those of his fellow Nigerians.

Obi is a complicated man who cannot be easily dismissed, a natural leader and a tireless worker; he is blessed with the humility of the ages and seemingly fortified by his experiences and his education.

Over the past decade, he has been almost a permanent student, taking senior courses at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, the Kellogg School of Management where he is already a Kellogg Executive Scholar, Harvard, the Institute for Management Development in Switzerland, & Insead in France. It is of note that he has focused in on leadership and entrepreneurship in a process of continuous review and learning,

He has over the past two decades built significant enterprises and of course was the youngest Chairman of a Nigerian bank, Fidelity Bank. What is of interest is that he has embarked on this gruelling process of additional study, after holding senior public office and the privileges associated with it, however he continues to push himself hard and to prepare himself to offer service at a higher level to Nigeria.

His message seems to be clear, Nigeria needs strong and decisive leadership and he is arming himself with the best in class teachers, experiences and conversations to build wider networks and stronger platforms to bring back positive value to Nigeria.

The picture of him with Paul Ryan presents an intriguing question, what impact will both men have in their nations over the next five years, Ryan is the Speaker of the U.S House of Representatives and remains one of the most powerful political figures in America, Obi, is a successful entrepreneur, leader and politician who is focused on the opportunities for a New Nigeria and is broadening his global and local networks seeking consensus, & innovative solutions to our problems.

In many respects Obi provides a positive example on how a businessman and professional can impact their political environment in Nigeria, Nobody knows tomorrow but one thing is clear Peter Obi is respected across those two worlds of Finance & Politics for the work he has done, as he moves forward it will be interesting to see how he will contribute to driving Nigeria forward.

•Chibuzor Okeke writes from Lagos.

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