Harvard Alumni Association of Nigeria & Slum2School Africa Host Farewell Dinnerfor Harvard Center for African Studies Delegation to Lagos

On August 15, 2025, the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria, in
partnership with Slum2School Africa, hosted a farewell dinner in honor of Professor Zoe
Marks and the Harvard Center for African Studies (HCAS) delegation. The dinner, held at the
Slum2School Innovation Hub in Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria, was a vibrant evening of culture,
dialogue, and renewed commitments to advancing education and collaboration across Africa.

The event gathered a distinguished mix of guests, including Harvard alumni from the
Kennedy School (HKS), Harvard Law School (HLS), Harvard Business School (HBS), and
the Harvard Center for African Studies (HCAS). A delegation from the University of Lagos
African Centre, led by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Muyiwa Falaiye, attended,
alongside Slum2School scholars, faculty, staff, and friends of Harvard University.

The farewell dinner followed a week of high-level events and engagements designed to deepen ties between Nigeria and the Harvard Center for African Studies. During the week,
delegates participated in academic and cultural exchanges, strategic meetings with local
institutions, and the Folorunso Alakija Distinguished Annual Lecture and Gala, which
brought together leaders from academia, government, and the private sector. The dinner
served as a fitting conclusion to this impactful week, blending reflection, fellowship, and
celebration of the shared vision for stronger partnerships between Harvard and Africa.

The Harvard Center for African Studies delegation included Nthatisi Quella, African Director
based in Johannesburg, and Rosalyn Salifu, Executive Director in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
as well as Sirak Kurban, Director of Communications, representing a diverse team across African countries like South Africa, Eritrea, and Ghana. Their presence underscored Harvard’s commitment to building lasting ties across the continent.

The evening commenced with several cultural showcases in five different Nigerian and
African tribal languages, followed by inspiring performances from several Slum2School
scholars like Jennifer Williams, Promise Okeke, Balikis and Motunrayo Idowu whose talents
reflected the creativity and promise of Africa’s youth. The event hosts were 19year old Divine Ibrahim and 20-year-old Charles Usa who were pioneer scholars at Slum2School Africa and whose performances set a celebratory tone for the evening.

The program featured powerful speeches from both the delegation and alumni. Members of
the Harvard Center for African Studies spoke of the importance of cross-continental partnerships, with Professor Zoe Marks, Professor in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy
School and Oppenheimer Faculty Director at Harvard Center for African Studies, delivering heartfelt remarks on the need to build a collaborative community that advances the Center’s
mission. She emphasized alumni engagement as a critical pillar for shaping Harvard’s work in Africa.

Alumni remarks added further depth. Paul Orajiaka HKS 17’, representing Adaora Ugwu-Ndukwu, President of the HKS Alumni Association of Nigeria, reaffirmed the association’s commitment to collaboration. Kunmi Adio-Moses, Tayo Olosunde, and Professor Joe Attueyi
spoke on the value of academic partnerships, while Rabi Isma and Dr. Aderomola Adeola
highlighted alumni contributions in bridging global opportunities for African scholars and
institutions.

The evening closed with reflections from Orondaam Otto, Founder of Slum2School Africa
and board member of the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Board. He highlighted the
contributions of HKS alumni such as Gov. Yemi Cardoso, Olu Verheijen, Adaora Ugwu-
Ndukwu, Uche Pedro, Jemimah Jatau, and Abosede George-Ogan, whose leadership has
sustained the alumni association in Nigeria. He also expressed heartfelt appreciation to the
Harvard Center for African Studies team, the University of Lagos delegation, the
Slum2School Africa team who were excellent hosts, and the Harvard Kennedy School Alumni Association of Nigeria, whose collaboration made the evening a success.

The dinner concluded with the exchange of gifts and group photographs. The closing moments reflected the spirit of unity, hope, and shared vision that defined the evening.

The farewell dinner was more than a celebration; it was a bridge of culture, academia, and community. It underscored the collective power of institutions and individuals to advance education, leadership and innovation across Africa.