Linus Okorie, A Nigerian Leadership Doctor

Mr. Linus Okorie is an attitude and leadership development consultant with over 20 years’ experience and a passion to develop young people individuals, companies and nations.

He was born in Cameroun on 30 April, 1974 to Pa Linus.  He is the president and founder of Guardians of the Nations International, a nonprofit leadership development organization, based in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.  He is a conference speaker and a regular guest in many print media, radio, and television platforms across Nigeria. He is the radio and TV host of "The Leadership Clinic."

While in University, he mobilized a few young people who bought into his leadership vision and this led to the initiation and institutionalization of Guardians of the Nation International (GOTNI) as a non-profit leadership development. He did his National Youth Service at the National Assembly, Abuja and proceeded to the Lagos Business School where he took appointment as the Research and Executive Assistant to Prof. Pat Utomi, the Director of the Lagos Business School of the PAN African University.

He is a member of the Third World Leadership Association (TWLA), based in the Bahamas with Dr. Myles Munroe as Chairman. He heads two organizations; Guardians of the Nations International (GOTNI) and New Vision Consults. Linus is a board member, Imo State University Alumni.

Linus is a board member, Imo State University Alumni. He was an Assistant Secretary, Senate Committee on Integration in Africa and National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review (2002), respectively

FACTS ABOUT LINUS OKORIE

Leadership and Positions Held by Linus Okorie:

·         President, Guardians of the Nation International, (November 1996 till date)

·         Managing Consultant - New Vision Consults (2007 till date)

·         Board Member - Imo State University Alumni, (2007 till date)

·         Special Assistant (Youth and Leadership Development) to Prof. Pat Utomi - Presidential Candidate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, (2006-2007)

·         Executive and Research Assistant to Prof. Pat Utomi, Director, Centre for Applied Economics, Lagos Business School (Pan African University, 2004-2005)

·         Chief Research Officer - New Vision Consults (2003)

·         Assistant Secretary – National Assembly Joint Committee on Constitution Review (2002)

·         Assistant Secretary – Senate Committee on Integration in Africa (2002)

·         Special Assistant to Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, Gubernetorial Candidate of Imo State (1999)

·         Head, Politics Bureau – Royal Youth Movement (June 1999)

·         Students Union President – Imo State University, Owerri (1994-1995)

Research Publications

·         Research/Analysis – “The Social Cost of Corruption”(2008)

·         Research/Analysis – “Leadership Capital Demand in Nigeria as an Emerging Economy” (2007)

·         Research/Analysis – “The Imperative of Leadership Development in the Sub-Saharan Africa” (2006)

·         Research/Analysis – “The Role of the Youth in National Transformation” (2005)

·         Research/Analysis – “Why Nations are Poor” (2005)

Speeches and presentations:

• Inspiring Vision and Enterprise in the African Youth- Pan African Parliament, South Africa, May 2015
• Inspiring Visionary Leadership in Africa- Young CEO’s Business Summit Ghana, 2015
• Developing Mind Power for Productivity- International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) 2014
• Making the Best Use of Your Service Year to Make a Difference- NYSC Orientation Lecture, NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa Abuja. April 2010
• Economics of Leadership- National Youth Leadership and Economic Summit 2010
• Emerging Economy: The Youth Leadership Demand- Lagos State Youth Leadership and Economic Summit January 2009
• Understanding Effective Leadership- Owerri Youth Leadership Summit, March 2009
• Learning to Lead- Regina Pacis College Abuja. November 2009
• Mobilizing for Transformation the Need for the Now- National Youth Leadership and Economic Summit June 2008
• Mind Power for Productivity- Inland Revenue Staff Retreat Lagos 2008
• New thinking for a New Nigeria- National Youth Leadership Summit August 2007
• Leadership for Results- GOTNI National Leadership Summit, Lagos 2006
• Leading in Times of Uncertainties- GOTNI Roundtable 2005
• Developing an Action Mentality Culture- Neimeth Pharmaceuticals Sales Executive Retreat 2004

Awards and Nominations:

·   Fellow of International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP), Department of State, US Government – 2013

·         International Community Service Award for Africa by George Fraser, United States

·         Fellow of African Business School (FABS), African Business School, Abuja – November 2014

·         Honorary Doctorate Degree, Commonwealth University, Belize – 2013

Nigeria's renowned youth leader; Amb. Sunday-Chibuzo Okereke wins triple awards

Nigeria's renowned youth leader; Amb. Sunday-Chibuzo Okereke wins triple awards at the just concluded President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Regional Leadership Center-Accra. Amb. Okereke is the Regional Representative (West Africa), African Union Chapter (AUC) a continental youth body that is focused on implementing the African Union Agenda 2063. He is also the founder/Executive Director ProjectHopeAlive: A youth initiative that have been leading change in the areas of inclusive quality education, youth & leadership and wise governance/electoral integrity in Nigeria.  Covener-GreenThumbAfrica.

Amb. Okereke whose quality of representation, participation, excellence, and delivery skills was described as excellent, resourceful and great show of quality leadership by the organisers; received the award of : The YALI SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP, MOST INTERACTIVE  PARTICIPANT and was conferred with the highest honour of YALI-RLC... THE YALI AMBASSADOR.

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) was launched by President of the United States Barack Obama as a signature effort to invest in the next generation of African leaders; which began in 2014, with the mandate to empower young people through academic coursework, leadership training, and networking. The need to invest in grooming strong, results-oriented leaders comes out of the statistics: nearly 1 in 3 Africans are between the ages of 10 and 24, and approximately 60% of Africa’s total population is below the age of 35. Who will empower and lead these young Africans? Who will shape the future of business and entrepreneurship, civic leadership, and public policy management? In order to answer these questions, YALI promotes three models designed to identify and empower young leaders: the YALI Mandela Washington Fellowship, YALI Network and now the establishment of Regional Leadership Centers across Africa.

Supporting this progress, the Accra Regional Leadership Centre (RLC), a part of President Obama’s Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI),  offers an innovative and game changing leadership training program in Africa. The program is hosted by Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA),  and with Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) as Nigeria's Campus.

The five weeks long  programme featured trainings in: Visioning & Motive for Leadership; effective communication; emotional intelligence; leadership & resilience; personal statement; culture & leadership; leading change & dynamics; corruption, leadership & followership; Ethical Leadership; Ethics, morality and legality; Public Finance, resource mobilization and management; Public policy cycle and stakeholders management; urbanization and sustainable cities; health and policy; Gender and diversity; Technology and urbanization; Business Model Canvas; Innovation and Managing Change and new venture creation.  Participants were grouped along key tracks such as: Public Policy Management; Civic Leadership and Entrepreneurship and animal energy groups which include the Elephants; Lions and Eagles for effective participation and learning. Here, the participants solved leadership case studies that highlight the importance of teamwork, collaboration, tolerance, reasoning, courage, respect and time management. The young change makers treated the case study of Corruption in La paz-city of Bolivia from the J F Kennedy School of government and leadership simulation exercise to climb to the summit of mount Everest from the Harvard Management school.

The YALI Nigeria Cohort one recorded 150 change makers/young African leaders drawn from seven West African countries of: Nigeria(host), Ghana, The Gambia, Cote d' Viore, Cameroon, Liberia and Sierra Leone who have demonstrated leadership, innovation and community impact in their respective countries. Amongst which are over 100 Nigerians.

The YALI Nigeria Cohort one was organized by YALI Regional Leadership Centre-Accra in partnership with USAID, GIMPA, The MasterCard Foundation, Africa 2.0, University of Notre Dame, Presidential Precinct, Howard University,  Lagos Business School, Microsoft, Atlasmara, IBM and ASCON.

Addressing the press at  the closing ceremony held at the prestigious ASCON auditorium,  the newly honoured YALI Ambassador/recipient of the YALI spirit of leadership award:  Chibuzo Sunday Okereke commended President Obama for his thought towards African youth in establishing the YALI program. He expressed deep gratitude to USAID, U.S Embassy Nigeria and Ghana, Department of state, Africa 2.0, YALI-RLC-Accra, GIMPA and ASCON for their commitment in putting up an excellent organization of the YALI Nigeria Cohort one.

Ambassador Okereke assured the organisers of the YALI project and partners that the participants will exemplify excellent conduct in their daily lives and be a good Ambassador of the program. He said "We came into this program five weeks ago as raw materials but now we have been processed into quality finished product that are ready to be consumed in the educational sector, public policy management, health, politics and governance, business management and entrepreneurship, civic leadership and all other sectors of our national and continental lives". Whilst presenting a take-home document produced by a group of participants on the 150 problems and solutions already been solved by the YALI Nigeria Cohort one participants; Amb. Okereke emphasised that "We are the young Africans who have quit agonizing but have started to organize, speak out and take positive actions on issues of concern in our dear continent of Africa. Amb. Sunday Okereke went on to salute his fellow participants for displaying excellence, enthusiasm, quality participation, teamwork, tolerance in all tasks, assignments, debates, creative works and networking throughout the training program.

Amb. Okereke called on young Africans who are leading change in the areas of social development, community development, innovation/technology, public management, health and advocacy, law/human rights and all other areas of development works to take advantage of the unique opportunities offered by the President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leadership Centres across Africa to build their leadership capacities, expand their network and experience quality mentorship by visiting www.yaliwestafrica.org for applications and other learning opportunities including online courses.

Amb. Sunday Chibuzo Okereke also called on national governments, regional and continental bodies, development organizations, the private sector, multi-national organizations, foreign missions and well to do individuals to emulate USAID and US Embassy who have continued to shoulder the burden of building the capacities of Nigerians and Africans youth across time by keying into the numerous partnership opportunities offered by theYoung African Leaders Initiative, Regional Leadership Center.