Community leader a guest panellist in Nigerian congress.
A Milton Keynes community leader and councillor was among a group of guests invited to speak at an international conference in Africa.
Cllr Nana Ofori-Atta Oguntola, a Liberal Democrat councillor at MK City Council, was among the distinguished speakers at the maiden International Civil Service Conference, held in Abuja, as part of Nigeria’s Annual Civil Service Week celebrations.
The invitation to speak was extended by Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke, the founder of entrepreneur initiative Proof Accelerator Milton Keynes, and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of Nigeria. In her speech, Cllr Oguntola used Milton Keynes as an example of openness and 'an enabling environment'.
The landmark two-day event, themed ‘Rejuvenate, Innovate & Accelerate!’, was hosted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in collaboration with the Global Government Forum UK, and officially opened by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
With more than 100 organisations exhibiting, and participants drawn from across Africa and around the world – including heads of civil services, senior public officials, and private sector leaders – the conference served as a high-level platform for knowledge sharing and global policy dialogue.
Cllr Oguntola spoke as a panellist in the session titled: ‘Leveraging Philanthropic Partnerships for Civil Service Effectiveness’. Drawing from her dual role as an elected councillor and grassroots organiser in Milton Keynes, she shared how the synergy between civic leadership and community engagement can transform service delivery and citizen empowerment.
“As a local councillor and community leader, I view philanthropy not only as an act of generosity but as a powerful tool for social development when integrated into public policy,” said Cllr Oguntola.
She applauded Milton Keynes City Council for its open and enabling environment that welcomes philanthropic contributions to civic life.
“Milton Keynes is a city that does not just allow space for giving – it structures its governance in a way that encourages it. This culture of openness and facilitation is something worth replicating globally.”
