Harvard Business School’s class of 2025 has notably excluded Nigeria from its Global Immersion Course, despite the program being led by a Nigerian professor. Instead, the prestigious institution selected Kenya, Rwanda, Morocco, and Ghana as the African focus countries. This decision has stirred discussions, especially considering Nigeria’s significant economic and cultural influence on the continent.
Peter Obi, a prominent Nigerian politician and former governor, highlighted this exclusion in a recent post on his verified Twitter account.
The Global Immersion Course aims to provide students with hands-on leadership, teamwork, and cross-cultural understanding by immersing them in diverse environments across different continents. The exclusion of Nigeria is particularly striking given the country’s vast potential and capabilities. The program’s first preference, Nairobi, Kenya, will see students working with local companies to address real-world challenges, underscoring the collaborative and solution-oriented nature of the initiative.
He lamented Nigeria’s diminishing appeal to international institutions and investors, which he attributed to several “major obvious drawbacks.” Obi’s comments reflect a broader concern about the country’s global image and its ability to attract and retain international partnerships.
Nigeria’s omission from such a high-profile educational program underscores a growing perception of instability and unattractiveness. Recent challenges, including political instability, economic volatility, and security concerns, have contributed to a tarnished reputation on the international stage. This perception has not only affected the country’s ability to draw foreign investment but also its inclusion in educational and developmental initiatives.
The decision by Harvard Business School to focus on other African countries like Kenya and Rwanda, which have been praised for their business-friendly environments and relative stability, sends a message about the importance of governance and infrastructure in shaping a country’s international appeal.
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