St Brigid's Day with Susan Hayes Culleton, 2025
Ambassador Ryan and Honorary Consul Guilfoyle hosted the annual Saint Brigid’s Day gathering at the Honorary Consul’s Residence in Lagos which was attended by a very special guest from Ireland, Susan Hayes Culleton, who visited Nigeria as part of Team Ireland’s Economic Speakers Series. At the gathering, Susan met with some great Friends of Ireland based in Lagos, sharing some insights from her work in Ireland and learning from them on the challenges and opportunities in Lagos.
In her own words, here is a quick recap of Susan’s visit to Nigeria
“Back in Ireland after a most memorable week in #Lagos and
#Abuja, #Nigeria! Thank you sincerely to Peter Ryan for his kind invitation to, and designing a programme whereby, I
- worked with 150 Savvy Teens in two schools (St Finbarr’s and Knosk ‘100 Naira a Day’ School, Abuja)
- facilitated a 100 person dialogue shaping the international office at VERITAS UNIVERSITY ABUJA
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spoke at a female leaders roundtable discussion at Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry with Dr. Chinyere Almona
- presented to a group of young professionals at Jameson Yard (which might have been the first event of a new women’s network in Lagos)
- gave the second ever public lecture at African School of Economics focusing on 100 years of economic history in Ireland
- led an entrepreneurial workshop at Mama Nike’s art gallery with some wonderful artists
- shared my perspective on how traditional economic models underestimate the contribution of women to global GDP during a St. Brigid’s Day with a phenomenal group of women at the Honorary Consul Resdience
- participated in a most insightful conversation at a dinner at the Irish Embassy in Nigeria with Joy Rademene Asonye and several other people very passionate about the country as well as what’s shaping its future
- discussed experiences of structured active peer learning and company school interaction with Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University
- had a really enjoyable and interesting about life and business over dinner with Alice Dina
- traversed Lagos in the wonderful company of Aduke Gomez who has an admirably rounded history of the place with sharp insights of its evolving society that she shares in such an endearing way
Thank you Africa for a week I will remember, and treasure, forever”.
