Kukah To Chair LEADERSHIP Conference & Awards

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Reverend Matthew Hassan Kukah, is expected to chair the 18th edition of the LEADERSHIP Conference and Awards ceremony, scheduled for 12 February 2026 at the Bola Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Kukah, recognised as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished public intellectuals, is also a scholar and advocate for social justice. He has confirmed his availability to chair the conference, themed: “Political Stability and Sustainable Development in Africa in an Increasingly Unstable Global System: A Roadmap for Nigeria.”

The keynote address will be delivered by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr Amina Mohammed.

In 2022, Fr. Kukah delivered the keynote address at the LEADERSHIP awards and conference, themed “Resetting Nigeria: Culture, Politics, Geography and the Role of Big Ideas.”

A statement by the Chairman of LEADERSHIP, Zainab Nda-Isaiah, said Mohammed was invited as the keynote speaker because of her distinguished leadership at the United Nations and her invaluable contributions to sustainable development and respect for a rules-based global system.

“The theme of this year’s conference is very fitting and aligns well with Amina’s persistent call for sustainable development. Therefore, we expect her to analyse this topic and ultimately provide perspectives on how the world can achieve lasting political stability,” Mrs Nda-Isaiah stated.

It would be recalled that LEADERSHIP, in November 2025, unveiled its 2025 awardees, with Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, emerging as the Person of the Year 2025.