Adeleye Paul Oyeniyi is a Nigerian facilitator at the National Open University of Nigeria. He was a participant in the 2000 session 'The Entrepreneurial City'

"As a tested researcher, peace campaigner, media consultant, and instructional/tutorial facilitator in peace and conflict studies, and more importantly as a Fellow, my varied experiences have continued to serve as a vehicle for the best possible education, expertise and the most outstanding research that have enhanced capacities to effectively direct, coordinate and oversee the need to provide and sustain a long-term vision and well-defined growth path, which will facilitate the basis, reference and indeed a guide for short term actions.

Realising that the real world decision makers require training that enhances their ability to solve concrete policy problems, this specialist study will access me to a firm grounding in policy analysis. The Fellowship was of great interest and value to me, whose educational, academic and professional backgrounds, and whose work and career related to the Salzburg Global Seminar discourses, and also of practical importance for priority sectors of national development of my country. My contributions to workshops, seminars and meetings with governments, firms, organizations and relevant publics and bodies have sensitized functionaries to their strategic and professional roles which enable them to perform effectively. The knowledge, experience and successive specialized training are invariably essential to balance the economic, social, political and environmental interests and effects of development actions, with the post-study knowledge and strategies for contributing to the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of people in specific regions, in relation to their historical circumstances, ecological conditions or law.

The world has always been tricky. The environment changes so rapidly that direction must, therefore, continuously be re-established. Proficiency in oral and written communication skills in English and knowledge of other languages including German; computer proficiency, ability to maintain confidentiality, to inspire trust and to demonstrate high personal integrity also added to my inherent relevance in encouraging innovation in an open, team-based environment and creating an environment conducive to team work and continuous learning; building alliances and promoting open communication and collaboration to achieve joint objectives. My quest to acquire knowledge and skills, therefore, served as vehicle for efficient policy formulation in relevant spheres. The drive was to help improve my ability to plan and drive reforms, and capacity to identify, formulate initiate improvements in the delivery of high quality support – and amplify on proposals to meetings in a concise and informative manner – in intergovernmental affairs and a supervisory capacity requiring policy formulation, in-depth understanding of (and ability to evaluate) international socio-political and economic situations. Others included good knowledge of international practices and procedures, ability to make timely decisions, discretion and sound judgment in handling highly complex and sensitive human rights issues, planning and organizing skills, as well as establish action plans, implementation of conventions and propose appropriate democratic solutions.

Thus, the Salzburg Global Seminar did provide me with strong background and capacity to contribute to strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and inequality, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievements. Overall, the Fellowship helped to put my knowledge and capabilities in a more functional use, and brought new perspectives on leadership, human rights and democracy, and have enabled me to effectively take charge of the successive stages of my career."