Anti-corruption guru to headline UCCI conference
(CNS): Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a globally renowned economist and Nigeria’s finance and economic minister, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker of the 2014 International Conference on Ethics, Values and Morality that will be hosted by the University College of the Cayman Islands (UCCI) on 19-21 March next year. Well known for her work on the issue of corruption and the need for transparency and accountability in African countries, Okonjo-Iweala's achievements paved the way for her to serve in Nigeria’s government, where she continues to fight corruption, initiate transparency and establish economic reform to make Nigeria more hospitable to foreign investment.
Educated at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Dr Okonjo-Iweala is known for her work at the World Bank, where her career as a development economist spanned 21 years and where she held the post of Vice President, Director and Corporate Secretary.
UCCI President Roy Bodden said that securing Dr Okonjo-Iweala was a real coup for the college, taking the conference to the next level.
“While the University College of the Cayman Islands has developed a reputation for its excellent conferences and the calibre of keynote speakers it attracts this next conference takes us to new heights. It is a tribute to the conference director Dr Livingston Smith, his hard working and dedicated organising committee, the University College and its associates, that the Nigerian finance minister and former World Bank director, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has graciously accepted the University College’s invitation to be next year’s conference keynote speaker,” he said.
“To be able to attract a person of such eminence speaks volumes of the respect accorded to UCCI as an institution of higher learning as such invitations are not accepted without proper due diligence being done. As president, I wish to record my gratitude to the board, the institutions which are partnering with UCCI on this Conference and of course the many sponsors and well-wishers,” the president added.
He said that corporate Cayman and the general public could feel proud that UCCI, which a few years ago was suffering from a ‘crisis of confidence’, was finally demonstrating its resilience and value to Caymanian society.
Prospective presenters are being asked to submit a 250-300 word abstract, a 50-word biography, information on university affiliation, if any, and a photograph, if there is no objection to displaying such on the conference website. The deadline for submission is 31 December but full papers are due on 31 January.
For further information, please visit www.ucciconference.ky or contact Dr Livingston Smith, Conference Director at lsmith@ucci.edu.ky or call 623-0539.
Category: Politics
I have a bridge in Nigeria that I am going to sell…
I am offering to pay people in Cayman a 20% commission if they will hold the funds in Trust for me…
I will just need everybody to send me a small processing fee of $100 and advise me their bank account number, password. and pin code and wife or gf phone number…
Oh sorry. I am a Docta and I inherited the bridge from my uncle who was a top General in Nigeria…
So lookout for my email please…
Docta Knot So Smart…
what ???? why so many curruption experts here ? why ? is there a HUGE problem ?
and then …this expert is from where ? NIGERIA ?????????? i suggest she stays home and gives speeched in her OWN hugly currupt country
…and by the way ………..LOVE the hat !!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Whoa?!!
Now this is MAJOR!
Thank you Mr. Bodden and committee for continuing to raise the bar for our people and country.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the most educated, relevant, respectable and esteemed individual to be officially invited to our country for quite some time.
Great news! Very inspiring.
Wait a minute! Isn't she the third keynote speaker in a row, who is an expert on corruption? Are we really that corrupt,1` that we now need a third expert to teach us about ethics, values and morality? Please Roy get someone who will teach us how not to waste funds bringing in more keynote speakers.
Pardon me but I'm laughing a bit here!! Are we really that bad? I don't think so! How about an expert on how to avoid wasteful spending. I have read the good Doctors resume and she is one well educated lady, and she's now minister of finance in Nigeria. Maybe she should be speaking on something like Financial Prudence in Government.. But morals and ethics? This one floors me! Nigeria is one of the most corrupt, immoral and unethical places in the world, so it does seem a bit laughable.
Anyway! A warm welcome to you Dr. Okonjo-Iweala and enjoy your time on our Island!
You are laughable. The most corrupt countries in the world always have citizens brave enough to fight it. They are the most qualified to speak on the topic. Would it be more meaningful to bring in someone from a country where there was very little corruption? He/she would not have nearly as much knowledge on the topic. If you don't like the selection, don't attend. I am really looking forward to hearing her speak.
13.24..generally I agree…execpt for here of course…no-one seems to want to fight that..
Yes, they do, but they get sacked for it.
Yea, either fired or hated and sneakily attacked behind their backs for exposing those with friends in high places. Sad.
I suspect that the writer of Wednesday, 21:50, has an axe to grind, otherwise he would not be questioning the exploration of a concern facing the entire world: the decline of integrity, values, and trust.
Dr. Ngozi is designated to open the 2014 UCCI conference taking place in March 2014 which is designed to focus on those issues.
The other two speakers to which the writer referred were part of UCCI's Distinguished Speaker programme, which takes place every year. The organizers of that programme decided it would be helpful to focus on issues related to the 2014 conference themes as a way to sensitize the public to an important issue facing the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean as a whole in advance of the conference.
The UCCI conferences are designed to serve the entire region, as well, bringing together minds that are grappling with strengthening related values in their communities.
Dr. Trevor Monroe's public lecture was the first speaker to which our writer referred. Dr. Monroe spoke prior to the election and was hugely supported by members of the public who are only too well aware of the growing menace of corruption and decline of values that made us the success we are today.
I look forward to the conference's exploration of related issues as they affect politicians, the civil service, the church, the media, those in related special interests areas. The major aim of the conference is to sensitise all players and sectors about their responsibilities. The hope for us locally is that we will all understand that every member of the Caymanian public can make a difference in restoring our strong traditions for truth and Christian values.
Nigeria…the most corrupt place in the world…coming to preach to US…?
This should be a very interesting conference indeed. Congratulations to the President, Mr. Bodden, and his team at UCCI.
Can't wait!
Seems from my reading that the University College is putting on international Caribbean ethics conference. They don't seem to be targetting any one country. This kind of activity aught to be encouraged, I think. Nation-building also has an intellectual aspect to it. So congrats to UCCI for thinking big.