Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe, is scheduled to discuss, as the guest lecturer, the importance of management in the face of the current global financial meltdown at the first annual management lecture organised by the Executive Masters in Business Administration students in collaboration with the Department of Management and Accounting as well as the entire community of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

The lecture, with the lead topic:" The Imperatives of Management in the Face of the Current Global Economic Crisis," will hold in the university campus on August 15, 2009.

Ndukwe, who was recently crowned as the pillar of telecommunications in Africa at a recent event in Lagos, has been various described as a specimen for research for resolving Nigeria's problems as well as an embodiment of faithfulness, integrity, simplicity and transparency.

While reacting to the invitation as the guest lecturer for the occasion, Ndukwe, who is also an alumnus of the university, said: "I am always pleased to be back to the university to contribute my own quota to the development and aspirations of the institution."

According to Taiwo Asaolu, an associate professor in the department of management and accounting, OAU, the goal for the lecture is to provide a platform for robust dialogue and exchange of ideas towards establishing the managerial imperatives in the ever dynamic global economic environment.

Asaolu said the lecture will be reminiscent of the university's academic programmes which are of the highest standard because "we believe in the transformative power of ideas." He said the event is a fall-out of the value which the institution placed on MBA Executive programme with an emphasis on critical thinking and discussion of original texts.

The university's rich alumni, he said, constitutes many of the nation's professionals in many disciplines, including government officials, leading

industrialists and prominent researchers and scholars in many universities around the world.

Adebayo Adenekan, chairman of the organizing committee for the annual

management lecture, also disclosed that the lecture aims at creating an opportunity for the participants, primarily the Executive MBA students, to enrich their knowledge base through the insights gained from the practical experiences usually shared by the guest speakers in such an important occasion.

Adenekan said the occasion will also be used to recognize and award notable individuals and corporate organizations who have contributed immensely

to the development of education in Nigeriain particular and mankind in general.

Olagunsoye Oyinlola, governor of OsunState, is expected to be the guest of honour; Mr. Remi Babalola, minister of state for Finance, will deliver the keynote address, while Professor M.O Faborode, vice chancellor of OAU, will be the chief host on the occasion.

The number of participants is estimated at about 1,000. This would comprise top government functionaries, executive MBA students, other members of the academic community, representatives of media houses and corporate organisations.