GREENFIELD EXECUTIVE EDUCATION
Kigali, Rwanda, In a landmark gathering that brought together distinguished leaders from across Africa, Greenfield Executive Education successfully hosted the inaugural African Leadership & Governance Masterclass and Honorary Doctorate Conferment — Kigali 2026, held from April 27–30, 2026 at the M Hotel Kigali.
The four-day programme, organised in partnership with UNIPGC Africa and the American University of Peace and Governance (AUPG), Texas, USA, brought together five exceptional African leaders for an intimate, high-impact experience combining executive learning, formal recognition and cultural immersion in one of Africa’s most inspiring cities.
About the Programme
T he African Leadership & Governance Masterclass was facilitated by Mr. OscarKimanuka one of Rwanda’s most distinguished governance and diplomacy experts, former Director of Research and Speechwriter to President Paul Kagame, and published author of “Sub-Saharan Africa’s Development Challenges” (Palgrave
Macmillan, New York).
The masterclass covered five intensive sessions spanning Foundations of African Leadership, Governance Systems and Policy Leadership, Institutional Accountability and Ethical Systems, Leadership for Sustainable Development, and Action Planning for Personal Leadership Impact.
Mr. Oscar Kimanuka facilitating the executive masterclass session, April 28, 2026
The Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony
The highlight of the programme was the formal Honorary Doctorate Conferment Ceremony held on the evening of April 29, 2026. Presided over by the President of UNIPGC Worldwide Ambassador Dr. Jonathan Ojadah the ceremony was an elegant and deeply moving occasion befitting the calibre of leaders being honoured.
The evening opened with an opening prayer, welcome remarks from Greenfield Executive Education’s International Program Coordinator Ms. Lilian Ugorji, and a breathtaking performance by a traditional Rwandan cultural dance and music troupe a fitting celebration of the rich heritage of the host nation.
Five distinguished leaders received the Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) and Doctoral Fellow distinctions, conferred jointly by the American University of Peace and Governance and the Chartered Institute of Peace and Governance (CIPG), USA.
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Ambassador Dr. Jonathan Ojadah presenting the Honorary Doctorate at the Kigali 2026 Conferment
Ceremony
Our Distinguished Honourees
The following distinguished leaders were formally honoured at Kigali 2026:
Dr. Iyabode Olusanmi | Nigeria
Dr. Iyabode Olusanmi is a distinguished physician and international development leader with five decades of service spanning public health, humanitarian development and global governance. A former UNICEF Representative in Ghana and the first Nigerian appointed to head a UNICEF Zonal Office, she has served in North Korea, Kenya, Sudan and Nigeria — reaching millions of children and families through immunisation, safe motherhood programmes and HIV response. After retirement, she led a USAID programme that reached 300,000 orphans and vulnerable children across Nigeria. She is a recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Leadership and Governance, Kigali 2026.
Advocate Bernard Berchmance Mbakileki | Tanzania
Advocate Bernard Berchmance Mbakileki is a Tanzanian legal scholar, maritime governance expert and public servant whose career of over five decades has shaped institutions across East Africa. A former aide to the founding President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, he served as Secretary General and CEO of the Inter-Governmental Standing Committee on Shipping, Corporation Secretary of the Tanzania Harbours Authority, and Director General of the Tanzania Central Freight Bureau. He remains in active legal practice today as Managing Partner of Kanywanyi, Mbakileki, Mtaki and Nditi Advocates in Dar es Salaam. He is a recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Leadership and Governance, Kigali 2026.
Professor Babatunde Bolaji Benard | Nigeria
Professor Babatunde Bolaji Benard is an environmental scientist, United Nations Expert Scientist and Commonwealth Scholar whose work has taken him from the laboratories of Lancaster University to the creeks of the Niger Delta. A faculty member at the University of Port Harcourt and a certified Nuclear Analytical Techniques Expert through the International Atomic Energy Agency, he has trained over 80 young Nigerian scientists across Europe, Africa and the Americas. As a World Bank Safeguard Consultant, he has led large-scale environmental restoration projects across Nigeria and contributed to the landmark Ogoni Cleanup Blueprint. He is a recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Leadership and Governance, Kigali 2026.
Dr. Njoroge Obadiah Kimani | Kenya
Dr. Njoroge Obadiah Kimani is one of East Africa’s most accomplished multidisciplinary professionals simultaneously an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Arbitrator and a Certified Professional Mediator. With over 34 years of experience in accounting and over a decade in legal practice, he is the founder of both Kimani and Associates and Njoroge O. Kimani and Co. Advocates. He holds a PhD in Finance, a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, and an MBA from Moi University, and has lectured at the Kenya School of Law. He is a recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Leadership and Governance, Kigali 2026.
Dr. Meka Niyi Olowola | Nigeria
Meka Niyi Olowola is a communications strategist, brand management expert and institutional builder recognised as one of Nigeria’s most influential voices in public relations and corporate reputation. As Founder and Managing Partner of Zenera Consulting and Executive Chairman of BuzzDigital, he has built award-winning institutions recognised as PR Firm of the Decade and Outstanding Brand Management Company of the Year. Named Outstanding Brand Strategist of the Decade at the 2024 Edge Awards, he has advised governments, corporations and development institutions across Africa. He is a recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Leadership and Governance, Kigali 2026.
Rev. Dr. Shodankeh B.E.B. Johnson | Sierra Leone
Rev. Dr. Shodankeh B.E.B. Johnson is a faith leader, peacebuilder and development champion whose ministry spans 21 nations across Africa, Asia and Latin America. As Executive President of New Harvest Global Ministries, he has overseen the establishment of over 2,000 churches, 124 schools, a university, three hospitals and three radio stations. The first African recipient of the William Wilberforce Award
from the Colson Center USA, he has also served as Chairman of the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion in Sierra Leone and as President of the Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone. He is a recipient of the Honorary Doctor of Leadership and Governance, Kigali 2026.
What Our Honourees Said
I thank you and the Leadership of the esteeemed Greenfield Executive Education for conducting the successful Masterclass on African Leadership & Governance in Kigali, Rwanda. Quite sincerely I am most inspired for being among the 4 celebrities conferred the Honorary Doctorate. I too, commend you for being an efficient Coordinator of the Program and look forward to more interactions in the
future as we strive towards achieving the desired inspiring African Leadership & Governance in Africa.
Dr. Bernard Berchmance Mbakileki | Tanzania
A million thanks for yours, for fishing me out, for all the preparations and for the excellent execution of the process. I am highly impressed by your professionalism, even when under pressure. For me, I feel highly honored and I appreciate that someone, somewhere has appreciated the little I did.
Dr. Iyabode Olusanmi | Nigeria
Study & Cultural Tour of Kigali
On the morning of April 29, participants embarked on a curated study and cultural tour of Kigali, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the Kigali Convention Centre, and the African School of Governance.
The tour, facilitated by the Kigali Institute of Capacity Development and Data Analytics, offered participants a powerful and deeply moving immersion into Rwanda’s extraordinary transformation story making it not just a tour but a living masterclass in what accountable leadership can achieve.
Looking Ahead
Kigali 2026 marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Greenfield Executive Education. Building on the success of this inaugural programme, we are proud to announce two upcoming events:
Upcoming Programs
The Abuja AI Executive Summit 2026
June 2–4, 2026 | Abuja, Nigeria — A landmark event exploring how AI is transforming public and private sector leadership across Africa. In collaboration with Lifesquare Leadership Initiative and UNIPGC Africa. Click here to learn more.
The Singapore Executive Leadership Programme 2026
August 2026 | Singapore An all-inclusive four-day executive education and cultural immersion programme in one of the world’s most dynamic business destinations. Click here to learn more.
For inquiries about upcoming programmes contact us at info@greenfieldexedu.com or visit www.greenfieldexedu.com.