Stanbic Bank is a lead sponsor of the University for Development Studies (UDS) Africa Leadership Lectures, the fifth edition of which would be delivered by His Excellency Benjamin William Mkapa, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Speaking on the bank’s support for the leadership lectures, Alhassan Andani, Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank said: “Being a bank with a proud African heritage and having done business on this continent for 155 years, we understand its people. We see leadership as a key driver and critical cog in helping to move Africa forward.

With the theme African Development: From Freedom to Union, the lectures would tackle the topics: Resistance against colonization and empire building as African development on day one; Self-determination and independence as African development on day two and the African Union as the ultimate development on day three.

President Mkapa would be conferred with an honorary Doctorate Degree at a special congregation at the end of the lecture.

Stanbic Bank is a progressive organisation that constantly raises the bar by providing solutions that help to progress the life of Africans. We have a unique understanding of Africa’s needs and those of our clients. As an authentic bank, we turn insights into reality and solutions that benefit the markets in which we operate.

These lectures are timely for a continent’s whose development agenda appears to be in need of leaders who would lead their societies to understand and interpret the environment, develop winning strategies, execute and systematically measure the impact of the strategies”, he said.

The lecture series were introduced in 2013 to facilitate an environment for a discourse on leadership and thereby provide a platform to inspire positive and innovative leadership initiatives.

The maiden lecture was delivered by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of the Republic of Nigeria, Festus Mogae, former president of the Republic of Botswana delivered 2014 edition with Joachim Chissano, former president of the Republic of Mozambique delivering the third edition.

The 2016 edition was delivered by Hifikeunye Lucas Pohamba, former president of the Republic of Namibia.