The Lebanese Nigerian Initiative (LNI), a non-profit organisation founded by business leaders from the Lebanese community in Nigeria, has granted a fully funded scholarship for an MBA program at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in Lebanon to Mr. Bosun Adebola, a young IT specialist.
This marks the third occasion that a Nigerian, Mr. Adebola, has been selected to benefit from the $1.5 million LNI-AUB endowment fund.
This fund is committed to supporting a Nigerian student annually to pursue the MBA program at AUB, an initiative intended to continue indefinitely. Previous beneficiaries of this fund, Ajibola Olubando and Johnson Nwazuruahu, have already graduated and are making substantial contributions to Nigeria’s political economy.
During the scholarship award ceremony held at the Lebanese Consulate in Lagos, Mr. Ali Safieddine, Vice-chairman of LNI, expressed that the AUB MBA Scholarship is a gesture of gratitude to the Nigerian community for maintaining a strong and harmonious relationship spanning over 120 years, since the Lebanese first settled in Nigeria. Safieddine emphasised education as the cornerstone of development, stating that a well-educated populace, particularly in a developing nation, possesses the potential to shape policies that positively transform lives and cultivate a robust economy.
Safieddine noted that AUB, renowned for producing influential political and business leaders in the Middle East and beyond, will play a pivotal role in preparing these young Nigerians for responsible leadership positions in Nigeria’s near future.
An essential criterion, beyond academic excellence and good character, is that the LNI-AUB MBA scholars must return to Nigeria after graduation to drive positive change across various sectors of the economy.
Consul General of Lebanon in Nigeria, Mr. Elias Nicolas, underscored the invaluable learning experience that the LNI-AUB scholars will gain from Lebanon’s rich diversity, being a country situated at the crossroads of three continents and numerous civilizations. Nicolas highlighted the scholarship’s potential to reinforce the strong ties between Nigeria and Lebanon, both culturally and economically.
Mr. Adebola, the LNI-AUB MBA Scholar, conveyed his decision to choose the American University of Beirut for the MBA program, citing its distinguished reputation in nurturing leaders in business and politics. As an IT specialist, Adebola shared his intention to leverage his training at AUB to foster growth, create employment opportunities, and contribute significantly to the GDP by working with start-ups, following his departure from PwC after six years of service.
