NISM YPro

Research
Framework Launch
Promoting the
participation of young
professionals in Nigerias
development

3rd September 2015

Contents...
Message from the Chairman

Who we are

The NISM YPro team

Todays event

Overview

Programme

Panellists

The issues at a glance

Security

Youth unemployment

Infrastructure

Health

Discussion

10

Welcome...
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to The NISM YPro Framework launch event.
Founded in December 2008, Nigerians in the Square Mile (NISM) is an unincorporated association of Nigerian
professionals based in the City of London. Our membership boasts of high-ranking Nigerian professionals who
work in leading organisations within the financial districts of London.
NISMs overarching vision is to strengthen the relationships between Nigerian professionals at home and abroad.
One of our main goals is to encourage and mentor the future generation of Nigerian professionals. This is how the
YPro sub-group came to be.
We are proud of these talented, intelligent and hardworking young professionals. With their intellectual rigour,
dedication and focus, there is little doubt that the future is bright indeed. To invest in YPro is to invest in the future,
and I am confident that this will be demonstrated in todays events.
I thank my colleagues in the Executive Board for their vision and devotion to this cause in spite of their often busy
schedules. Special thanks also go to the members of the Advisory Board, particularly Dapo Ladimeji of Ladimeji &
Co todays keynote speaker and Segun Osuntokun of BLP our host for todays event.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I commend YPro to you.

Paul Onifade
NISM Chairman

Who we are...
Young people make up 43% of Nigerias estimated
population of 170 million. Thats almost 80 million
people!

Nigeria accounts for c.20% of the SSA

population, and is due to continue rising to
over 1.4bn by 2025! Assuming growth remains

Sadly, we are not pulling our weight. Young people

constant, GDP would rise to over 650bn.

are often marginalised from the key socio-economic

debates which will shape our countrys future.
This has to change. Our young professionals must be
empowered to drive progress.
As a recently instituted subgroup of the well-established
Nigerians in the Square Mile (NISM), we at NISM YPro
seek to foster an empowered network of young Nigerian
professionals by building links between Nigerians at
home and abroad and encouraging active participation
in Nigerias future.
Being overseen by the NISM Executive Committee and
Advisory Board, we have unfettered access to their
invaluable experience and knowledge.

Adopting an inclusive approach, NISM YPro aims to engage with young Nigerian professionals,
and encourage them to be informed about Nigerian issues, while remaining involved and
invested in our countrys development.

The NISM YPro team...

Todays event...
Overview

Today, we want to hear your thoughts on the above - the four aspects of our research framework.
We want you to be bold and open-minded as we brainstorm solutions to Nigerias challenges in these areas. No
idea is off limits.
After the breakout sessions, an expert panel will discuss the issues raised in a Q&A session. This discussion will
inform our research and ultimately result in policy recommendations on each topic, which we will present in a white
paper.
We look forward to a stimulating debate as you think with us.

Programme
6:00pm 6:30pm Arrival / Registration
6:30pm 7:10pm Introduction
7:15pm 8:00pm Breakout sessions
*** BREAK ***
8:10pm 8:40pm Panel discussion + Q&A
8:40pm 8:50pm Closing remarks
8:50pm 9:45pm Refreshments and networking

Panellists...

Infrastructure: Olumide Hassan

Health: Melvin Mezue

Olumide is the founder and director of Hasol

Melvin is an academic physician and clinical

Engineering Ltd., which provides engineering

neuroscientist at the University of Oxford. He runs

consultancy services to the oil & gas industry.

Idozi, a Nigeria-based venture that empowers

Olumide holds a B.Eng in Chemical Engineering

people to self-manage chronic conditions. Melvin

from University College, London and an M.Sc. in

received his doctorate as a Wellcome Trust Scholar

Process Systems Engineering from the University

in Clinical Neurosciences from the University of

of Surrey.

Oxford.

Youth Unemployment: Ikenna Iroche

Security: Akin Iwilade

Ikenna is the founder of Black & Gold Advisory,

Akin is a lecturer in International Relations at the

a boutique consulting firm specialising in Human

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He is also

Capital Management and Business Development.

an ENI Scholar and Doctoral Researcher at the

He has 15 years of experience in the executive

University of Oxford. His research covers post-

search industry, and has executed search projects

Amnesty violence in Nigerias oil-rich Delta, and

for financial services, tech and telecomms clients

regional security architecture in West Africa. He

across the world. Ikenna holds a BSc in Economics

has served as a consultant with the UN University

from the London School of Economics.

of Peace Africa Program, Addis Ababa.

The issues at a glance...

Security

The African Insurance Organisation lists

Nigeria as the ransom capital of the world,
accounting for 26% of global kidnappings
in 2013.

The UK government labels 13 Nigerian

states, as well as the Federal Capital
Territory, as no-go areas, due to security
concerns.

UK-based risk consultancy Maplecroft lists

Nigeria as having the highest number of
terrorism fatalities between June2013 and
2014, with around 3500 casualties - an
average of 24 deaths per incident.

Youth unemployment

Youth unemployment statistics vary from

14% (World Bank) to 50% (McKinsey).

Even going by lower estimates, these

figures suggest that millions are currently
unemployed and/or unemployable 2013
figures show almost 40% of unemployed
youths are either educated below
primary level, or have not received formal
education at all.

Infrastructure

According to figures from 2013, Nigeria has the

Survey data from Nigerian polling company

second highest number of on-going infrastructure

NOIPolls Ltd shows the average Nigerian

projects in Africa.

household received less than six hours of

electricity supply per day from April 2013 to June

Nevertheless, inefficiencies such as inadequate

2015. 17% of the entire population did not receive

power supply and poor transport networks persist.

power supply at all during this period.

Health

Among the MINT economies, Nigeria has the

Diseases like HIV/AIDS and Malaria continue

second lowest expenditure on health as % of

to constitute a major health risk to many young

GDP at 3.9% and the lowest life expectancy by 16

Nigerians. At present around 250,000 Nigerian

years (Nigerias is 55, Indonesias is 71, Mexicos

children die annually from Malaria and it is the

is 75, and Turkeys is 76), according to WHO

cause of 30% of hospitalisations among children

data.

under the age of five.

Despite having the largest economy in Africa,

Nigeria is one of only 3 countries worldwide yet to

statistics from Nigerias WHO report suggest that

eradicate polio. We have not seen new infections

her under-five and maternal mortality rates are

in the past year, but must maintain this for three

lower than the African average.

years to be declared polio-free.

Source: WHO

Discussion...
As you brainstorm solutions to these challenges, we would like you to be guided by three main questions: What,
Why and How?
1. WHAT do you think of Infrastructure/ Youth Unemployment/ Health/ Security in Nigeria?

a.

When you think of Infrastructure/ Youth Unemployment/ Health/ Security in Nigeria, what is the first

thing that comes to mind?

What do you think of the current state of this issue in Nigeria?

b.

2. WHY do you think the current situation is the way it is?

a.

What are the current barriers to improving Infrastructure/ Youth Unemployment/ Health/ Security in

Nigeria?

How do you feel the current decision-making process contributes to this?

b.

3. HOW would you like to see it change?

a.

Describe how you would like to see the system improve.

b.

What tools would you like to see incorporated in the implementation of change in this area?

Of all the points raised, what would you prioritise and why?

10

Contact us...
Visit www.nismypro.tumblr.com
Tweet @NISMYPro
Search NISM YPro
Email nismypro@gmail.com
Website

www.nism.co.uk