LBS launches Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair to deepen Africa-focused strategic management research

Lagos Business School (LBS) has launched the Professor Albert Alos Endowed Chair in Strategic Management, positioning the initiative as a major step toward strengthening research, leadership development, and institutional excellence across Africa.

The launch, held in Lagos on Wednesday, drew academics, corporate leaders, and alumni who underscored the significance of the chair as both a tribute to a pioneering educator and a long-term investment in knowledge creation.

Olayinka David-West, dean of the school, described the initiative as a defining moment in the institution’s trajectory.

“Today marks a definitive milestone in the storied evolution of Lagos Business School,” she said. “We stand at a unique vantage point: a moment to reflect with gratitude on the foundational vision of this institution, and a moment to pivot with renewed intentionality towards the future we are destined to shape.”

She emphasised that the endowed chair goes beyond symbolic recognition, serving as a permanent platform for advancing rigorous scholarship and thought leadership.

The chair honours Professor Albert Alos, founding dean of Lagos Business School and pioneer vice-chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, whose contributions to management education and institutional development span decades.

Born in Barcelona, Spain, Alos studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Bilbao before earning his doctorate in 1966. His academic career took him from Kenya, where he taught at Strathmore College and the University of Nairobi, to Nigeria in 1967, where he would spend over 25 years shaping engineering education at institutions including Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Lagos, and the University of Ibadan.

At the University of Ibadan, he served as professor and head of the Department of Electrical Engineering, contributing to curriculum development, research, and the establishment of advanced laboratories, while maintaining strong links with industry through consulting and applied research.

His most enduring legacy began in 1993 when he led the establishment of Lagos Business School, building it into an institution recognised for academic rigour, ethical leadership, and practical relevance to the African business environment. He later spearheaded the process that culminated in the creation of Pan-Atlantic University, becoming its pioneer vice-chancellor and laying the foundation for its long-term growth.

Beyond academia, Alos played key roles in national development, serving as vice-chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and contributing to the Vision 2010 Committee. He is a fellow of several professional bodies and was granted Nigerian citizenship in 2022 in recognition of his contributions.

Speaking at the event, Fabian Ajogwu, senior partner at KENNA, described the endowed chair as a strategic commitment to sustaining critical fields of study.

“What we endow chairs is a community’s decision that a particular discipline or field of learning is so important that it deserves permanence,” he said. “It’s an act of memory… an act of strategy to make sure that that field is sustainable, and in this instance… an act of honour.”

The senior advocate of Nigeria outlined key pillars for the initiative, including Africa-focused research, transformation of management education, policy engagement, and the development of future strategic thinkers.

“It’s time we began to show the success stories of people who have done things well in this environment,” he said, stressing the importance of building local case studies and knowledge systems.

He also called on individuals and corporate organisations to support the endowment, noting that sustained funding would be critical to its success.

“We all need to support the Professor Albert Alos Endowment Chair in Strategic Management because it is a permanent endowment for faculty excellence and for leadership development in Nigeria and Africa at large,” he added.

Raymond Ihyembe, chairman of the Endowed Chair Committee, urged stakeholders to see the initiative as a long-term commitment to institutional transformation.

“This is not just a one-day effort… we should commit ourselves to doing and mastering things to transform the school [and] transform our leaders,” he said.

Members of the committee include Pat Utomi, Frank Aigbogun, Clare Omatseye, Chris Ogbechie, Oghogho Osula, Patrick Akinwuntan, Nkechi Iwegbu, Jacinta Anakua, and Sylvia Nwakwue.

Stakeholders said the endowed chair would not only preserve Alos’ legacy but also strengthen Lagos Business School’s role as a hub for thought leadership, capable of shaping business practice and economic development across Africa.