Ada Osakwe

Check out my latest article: Execution Earns the Seat: How I Got on Boards linkedin.com/pulse/executio… via @LinkedIn

This week my thoughts are featured in @GuardianNigeria in a piece titled “Boardroom Builders: Africa’s Unsung Heroes”, where I share why strong, diverse Boards are critical to Africa’s business success. guardian.ng/features/board…

Vamos, @RafaelNadal!   As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.   Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.   I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.   And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more.    OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.   We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.   I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.   I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.   And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.   Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.   Rafa that!   Best always, your fan, 
 Roger

How can I explain how easy it is to get detached from reality when you are in a senior position in government, without appearing to excuse it? First, you are so consumed about what is happening inside government that you don’t have time to think about what is happening outside government. If you assume that senior government officials have time to follow Twitter trends, you are mistaken. Most have their social media accounts handled by aides who decide what to bring to their attention. Even what they decide to bring to your attention is heavily curated and coloured by their own interpretations. Most government business is still handled through paper files. So, you spend HOURS each day treating files. Many are speculative proposals to do one thing or the other for you. You junk must of them. Some may be interesting and you ask that they are offered an appointment. Then there are things you are asked to approve. You need to treat these with caution because an approval can land you in jail. You send for people and ask questions. You need to meet with others and triangulate what you’ve been told. Then there are letters. You may get 300 every week. Only you can direct what the official response should be. Then there are petitions. Nigerians are excellent petition writers. Many are frivolous but you will only know when you investigate. Investigating means meetings and files. Then EFCC and ICPC may invite you about one frivolous petition or the other. When they kept inviting me monthly, I kukuma gave them an office with all our files to just check things by themselves, instead of going to their office monthly and spending the entire day each time, not knowing what you’ve been accused of this time. Then visitors. If you run an open door policy there are tens of people waiting to see you everyday with one problem or the other. You may need to refer them to other people. There are people you must see. Abi if a Minister comes to see you or your Minister send someone to you, won’t you see them? Or someone is sent from the Villa. Or it’s the traditional ruler from your village or an old classmate, won’t you see him? Then your boss or the SGF sending for you, sometimes several times a day. Then events in the Villa, conferences, seminars and workshops and circulars say you must attend. Loads of them! If you don’t attend, rumours will start that you may have joined the opposition! Then Committees that you are mandated to serve on. Load of them! Then travels. Sometimes, your name is put in a list for some events that are nothing to do with you. You are asked to accompany your boss or to represent him and read a speech somewhere. If you have a Board, that is another level of complexity. Every weekend, there is an event that you must attend. Loads of them! The President is launching something. Or somebody’s daughter is getting married. Then there is the National Assembly. They will send for you or tell you they are coming to see you. You can’t refuse. With everything I’ve said, I haven’t talked about the time to do the actual work o. You may find time to read the papers or watch Network News but they never say what is going on in the minds of the public. Of course, all the while, all your staff are telling you how wonderful you are and why you should ignore “noise makers.” Before you know it, you are totally disconnected from reality. If you are lucky, you will have a wife or mother that will slap you occasionally and tell you that hat is going on in the real world. If they are the type that enjoy the trappings of power, forget it. That is why you must make a deliberate effort to go to markets, enter taxis and Keke, queue in banks and public hospitals and ask people questions just to get a dose of reality. Even explaining it, I don tire. End!

NORDIC TALKS AT #COP28! On the 10th of December, the Estonian Youth Delegate has invited Ada Osakwe for a personal Nordic Talks Session on the complexities and future of sustainable food systems. More information below 👇 nordictalks.com/events

We have to start looking at the financing structures and the architecture around donor funding towards youths and women -Ms Ada Osakwe Managing partner, Agrolay Venture, Board Member, Agra, Youth Ambassador Generation Africa #AGRF2023 @Ada_Osakwe @TheAGRF

Supply of Agricultural produce coming from refugees should lead to market linkages and Jobs -Ms Ada Osakwe Managing partner, Agrolay Venture, Board Member, Agra, Youth Ambassador Generation Africa #AGRF2023 @Ada_Osakwe @TheAGRF

It’s World Breastfeeding Week. Theme -“Let’s make breastfeeding and work, work! “ I strive to normalize #breastfeeding in all aspects of my #work. Workplace cultures, policies & colleagues must make physical & mental space for women to carry out this natural process.

Hey Everyone I’m delighted to announce Homemade by Eden Life, our all-new food offering packed with flavour and the familiarity of your all time home faves.

@TheAishetu @afalli They just needed any male that my daughter shared same last name with

@afalli I agree on your last point. I did same. My last name’s on her birth certificate (my dad still had to stand in on letter of consent). However, easy to do as I’m a choice mom. Those previously married cannot easily give child her maiden name because planning for a future breakup.

Women play a critical role in the #foodsystems this edition of @CGIAR newsletter recognizes women's work in the agriculture space & moreso #AGRA work through #Value4Her @SabdiyoDido @vanessainafrica @AggieKonde @Agnes_Kalibata @JessieKjones @Ada_Osakwe @ndidiNwuneli @chitedze_sophie @Ms_Siki #AGRAinCountry

It's official! #AGRAinNigeria Country Strategy officially unveiled. Together, let's unlock Nigeria's agricultural potential #AGRA #NigeriaFoodSystem #AgriculturalTransformation @Ada_Osakwe @Apollos77 @kmakinde1 @USAIDNigeria @JessieKjones @Agnes_Kalibata @followlasg @HMFmardng

On this episode of the #ForesightAfrica podcast, Nigerian entrepreneur and investor @Ada_Osakwe discusses her personal journey and the programs that helped her succeed. Listen or read the transcript: brookings.edu/podcast-episod…

I enjoyed giving ⁦@BrookingsInst⁩ a peak through the window of my career so far. Thank you ⁦@Aloysiusordu⁩, Director of the Africa Growth Initiative , for such an enlightening conversation. #foresightafrica #podcast #entrepreneurship #africa brookings.edu/articles/a-nig…

It’s the movie they really don’t want you to see: #WhatIsAWoman? Watch the explosive documentary starring @MattWalshBlog FREE on Twitter for 24 hrs. twitter.com/realDailyWire/…

Dear #Obidients, the work we have done in the past 9 months have brought us to this very proud moment and I thank you immensely for it. As we wrap up our campaign, allow me to make one final request of you - come out on Saturday and vote for LP. Let's finish strong! - PO

It was such a special time!

I look forward to this. #AGRA #Foodsystems #Africa

I’m immeasurably honoured to have been selected as part of an impressive group of individuals like @kola_aina @ericidiahi @BankyW in the 2020 Tutu Leadership Fellowship cohort. And excited to join the ranks of past Fellows like @uzonwagba @SanguDelle @Ada_Osakwe and @AO1379. 🙏🏽