Achebe Day – Discussants

ACHEBE DAY – DISCUSSANTS

PROF KIMANI MUTURI

is the Founder, TexFad, a textile Company located in Uganda. TEXFAD is an organization that deals in production of handwoven textiles in Uganda. We produce handmade textiles and offer opportunities for work based non-formal skills training programs targeting youths and women. We transform waste banana pseudo stems and other waste materials into high quality sustainable textile products.

MRS. LYNA OKARA

Lyna Okara is a strong member of the Nigerian Bar Association. She has a strong sense for what is just, equitable and serves the interest of a vast majority. Her keen sense of justice is always stamped in the legal and community service activities she takes interest in. In professional practice, Lyna has shown her mettle in ensuring good work ethics as she has been a stickler for personal integrity, competence and due process. In public service delivery is known to have brought a lot of respect and honour to her profession. She is an astute team player. A seasoned Lawyer with post-call expertise and working experience spanning over 30 years in drafting, complex negotiating, legal advice, mediation, vetting and interpretation of contracts in contracting, infrastructure development, capacity building, environmental research and commercial law. Her advocacy in environmental awareness and justice caused her to be nominated by the State Department in the United States of America International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) 2004 on the Theme: Resource Engendered Conflicts in the Niger Delta. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria and has served as a member of one of the Disciplinary Committees of the Port Harcourt Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. Mrs Okara, is an In-House Counsel. She has successfully negotiated with major international, multinational companies such as SPDC, Accenture, KPMG and some other prominent national companies and global partners of her employers. All put together, her commitment has been to bring value in bringing parties together to achieve mutually beneficial transactions and projects that have impacted positively in the social intervention and infrastructure development sub sector of the economy. Lyna holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the Rivers State University and a Masters degree in Environmental Law & Policy from the prestigious University of Dundee, Scotland in the United Kingdom. She is a a Chartered Mediator & Conciliator and is also an advocate on gender related issues.

HON SAM KALU

Born in Asaga Ohafia, he attended Township Primary school Uzoakoli, and Technical Secondary School Afara. Umuahia all in Abia State. He obtained a Bsc.Edu in Political Science from University of Port Harcourt, River State. “Sammy” as he fondly called by his colleagues and admirers has served Abia State as Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on protocol. He has been Personal Assistant to the Deputy Chief of staff to the Governor” Late Ukpai Agwu Ukpai Ph.D. He has lived a life of exemplary Character. His humility and magnanimity to mankind have put him in the top hierarchy of Ohafia politic as the Executive Deputy Chairman of Ohafia LGA. Behind every successful man, they say, there is a woman. God gave Hon. Samuel a humble and loving wife, Nkeiruka Samuel Uduma and their marriage is blessed with three well behaved and godly children. Before you is a man of proven integrity quality man and a man who has distinguished himself by a dint of hard work which leads his community Asaga Ohafia to honored him with a Chieftaincy Award as ” Dike Di Oha Nma 1 of Asaga Ukwu Autonomous Community and Anu Ka Enyi Of Amaibe Ezuoke Autonomous Community. I present to you, Hon Samuel Uduma Kalu

MR. ALHAJI SARAJ BAH

I lost my adopted parent during the mudslide disaster in Freetown that was caused by the high amount of deforestation in that area. Today I run a start up company called Rugsal trading which combats deforestation by producing clean, affordable and long lasting bio briquettes. Our bio briquettes are produced from coconut-shell and they are alternate for wood charcoal. We started with just $20 today we’ve employed dozens who earns a living from our company. We are planning to expand our company by acquiring new machines, a bigger production facility etc. Donate and Join us in our quest to save planet earth.

MR.  IFEANYI UKOHA

Ifeanyi Ukoha is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a public servant involved with the promotion of Local content in the Upstream Oil and Gas industry in Nigeria. Ifeanyi’s professional career commenced in Diamond Bank (now Access Bank) from where he joined Bank PHB, First Bank and then the Central Bank of Nigeria. As a Bank Examiner at the Central Bank, he was an integral part of the Bank Consolidation implementation of Professor Charles Soludo who was then the CBN Governor. Ifeanyi’s professional career has traversed External Audit with KPMG, Commercial Banking in Diamond Bank, Bank PHB and First Bank, Central Banking with Nigeria’s Central Bank, Mining, Electronic Payments with Inters witch and currently Oil and Gas where currently works with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board as a Management staff. He is married with children