DR. LUCY SURHYEL NEWMAN
Identity – an International Consultant, Policy Advisor and Author, with almost four decades’ experience. Considers herself a global citizen, proudly African, of Nigerian descent and North Eastern Nigerian Extraction. Has made professional & private travels to half of Africa + four other continents, multiple times. Is happily married to Dr Gabriel Rotimi Olokodana; a mother of four, aged between 35 and 16.
Education – has Doctorate in Business Administration from University of Phoenix, Arizona USA, MBA & a B.Sc. in Business Administration, from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria and an International Director Certification in Corporate Governance, from INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France. She started off from Shehu Garbai Primary School in Maiduguri, then Federal Government College Kaduna and the School of Basic Studies, ABU Zaria. Dr Lucy is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors [CIoD] Nigeria and served as an elected member of the Institute’s Governing Council from 2018-2020.
Work experience – executive, non-executive and consulting or advisory roles with experience in the Private, Public and Non-Profit Sectors in Nigeria, including Sub Regional, Continental and Global Professional Networks as well as some Multilateral Agencies. Presently CEO, Africa Private Sector Summit, a pan African non partisan non profit based in Accra, Ghana. Continues to serve on Boards, Think Tanks, Jury Panels and Multilateral Missions.
Honours, Awards and Networks – a recipient of [a] 2024 Modern Governance 100 [MG100] Award by Diligent, a world leading GRC and Saas Corporation; [b] 2019 Thomas F. Gilbert Distinguished Professional Achievement Award, the International Society for Performance Improvement [ISPI]’s highest individual award, [c] 2016 Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Platinum Leadership Excellence Award as ‘Garkunwan Matasan Arewan Nigeria’, by the Arewa Consultative Youth Assembly, and [d] was the first African to serve on the ISPI global board by election, in its 50th year as the International Director, representing members in 48 countries outside the United States from 2012-2014. She has authored several professional articles & book chapters, including ‘African Leaders’ Tete A Tete: Navigating Entity Design and Prioritization for Systemic Outcomes’, her latest book, which has been well received.
