Former UK Prime Minister Johnson to deliver Anyiam-Osigwe lecture

the 16th session of the Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe annual lecture series in Lagos. The former UK leader will address the august gathering ion March 27, 2023, coming after the last edition that was addressed by the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Acting Coordinator-General of the foundation, George Anyiam-Osigwe, noted that Johnson will join a list of several distinguished men and women who have served as keynote speakers at the Foundation’s annual Lecture.

They include F.W. de Klerk, former President of South Africa, Shimon Peres, former Prime Minister and President of Israel; former American Vice-President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper Gore ; His Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the 16th Asantehene of Ghana; John Major, former British Prime Minister; Helmut Kohl, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany; Cherie Blair (QC), wife of the then British Prime Minister; Fernando Cardoso, former President of Brazil; Alexander Kwasniewski, former President of Poland; Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic; His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso; Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former President of Sri Lanka, General Pervez Musharraf, former president of Pakistan and Joyce Banda, former President of Malawi.

On the choice of Boris Johnson, the Coordinator-General said the former PM was chosen for his courage, extensive and practical knowledge in confronting some world knotty domestic and global problems such as Brexit, COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war during his premiership.

“We considered him the right person to speak to the theme of Rehumanising the world. The world has gone through serious upheavals in the last two decades. Former Prime Minister Johnson is one of the active global leaders of the last decade who had to deal with some of these problems and led the world through a once in a century pandemic. We are of the strong view that our country and the world can benefit from his experience and perspectives.”

Johnson served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Leader of the Conservative Party, Foreign Secretary, Mayor of London and is a Member of Parliament.