Silva Opuala-Charles, a foremost Professor of Economics and President of Garden City Premier Business School in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, has been named Head for Africa Operations for the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership, USA.
The appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by Israel Henry, Executive Director of the Institute which is based in Kentucky and Oklahoma, USA. The letter said the Nigerian professor is now head of their African operations.
Opuala-Charles is currently the President and Chairman, Governing Council of Garden City Premier Business School. He is a Faculty Member of both the American Trinity University, California, USA, and European Global School, University, Paris, France, as a Professor of Economics, Entrepreneurship, and Management.
Opuala-Charles has PhD in Economics specializing in Monetary Economics with a Master’s degree in Economics with a specialty in Money and Banking. In September 2016, Opuala-Charles was awarded the prestigious TRIUM Global Executive MBA with an MBA degree from the affiliate Universities of London School of Economics and Political Science, London; New York University, Stern Business School, New York; HEC Business School, Paris.
He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School a graduate of the Breakthrough Program for Senior Executives (BPSE) and an Alumnus of IMD Business School, Lausanne, Switzerland. He is an Alumnus of the London Business School, London; London School of Economics and Political Science, London; New York University, Stern School of Business, New York and HEC Management School, Paris.
The appointment from the Executive Board of the Chartered Institute of Management and Leadership (CIML) USA said the position was executive and reflects their supreme confidence in his leadership capabilities, strategic vision, and commitment to advancing executive education, professional membership, and management standards across the African continent.
The letter said the position is an executive strategic expansion and growth role with a primary strategic mandate including establishing, structuring, driving, and supervising CIML operations, regional secretariats, and national chapters across African countries. ‘This encompasses securing strategic partnerships, institutional accreditations, and corporate alliances across target nations’, the letter added.
By this, Opuala-Charles, a Monetary Economist, is authorized to represent CIML USA in official capacities across Africa, subject to maintaining the highest standards of professional ethics, global corporate integrity, and adherence to CIML USA constitution, bylaws, and operational policies.
The tenured appointment with renewal options mandates him to drive and implement strategic campaigns for substantial membership growth and expansion across all membership grades in African countries; Establish, structure, and supervise CIML national secretariats, regional operational centers, and country chapters across Africa; Promote and advocate for CIML professional development certifications, executive training modules, and leadership programs across target nations; and Build and maintain high-level strategic partnerships with corporate organizations, academic institutions, and public sector bodies across the continent.
The Bayelsa-born professor is equally mandated to plan, oversee, and coordinate regional leadership conferences, executive summits, workshops, and official member induction ceremonies; and ensure all regional operational units adhere to local legal, statutory, and regulatory frameworks across operating African countries.
The headquarters said they look forward to his strategic vision and leadership driving CIML’s growth and continental footprint in Africa.
Opuala-Charles is believed to be fit and prepared for the enormous tasks of the new challenge. He worked long in the banking industry rescuing sections and branches. He grew to the General Manager’s cadre before his appointment as the Honourable Commissioner of Finance/budget/Economy in 2007, where he played a leading role in public sector institution building. As a commissioner, he spearheaded a lot of reforms. His stint in government led to the establishment of the Bayelsa State Economic Management Team which he served as a vice-chairman with the Governor as Chairman.
He pioneered the domestication of the legislations in public procurement, fiscal responsibility, public private partnership, infrastructure concessioning, and microcredit management as well as landmark policies in recurrent and capital expenditure approval processes, scholarship policy, budget, and treasury operations policies.
The erudite academic is now busy growing the next generation of business and finance experts at the Garden City Premier Business School as President.
He has published several books and over 70 articles in renowned journals (scopus-indexed) both overseas and in Nigeria. He has also supervised over 100 Thesis and Capstone Projects for both Master’s Degree and PhD Students.
He is indeed regarded widely as one of the best brains from the Niger Delta of Nigeria and a gift from Africa.