{"id":800,"date":"2023-04-25T13:11:13","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T13:11:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/?page_id=800"},"modified":"2023-08-20T21:46:09","modified_gmt":"2023-08-20T21:46:09","slug":"founders-note","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/founders-note\/","title":{"rendered":"Founders Note"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"800\" class=\"elementor elementor-800\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7004e4c elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7004e4c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c9d23a9\" data-id=\"c9d23a9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;slideshow&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_gallery&quot;:[],&quot;background_slideshow_loop&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_duration&quot;:5000,&quot;background_slideshow_slide_transition&quot;:&quot;fade&quot;,&quot;background_slideshow_transition_duration&quot;:500}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9ae16d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9ae16d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Founder's Note<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7637c4c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7637c4c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-961ee5f\" data-id=\"961ee5f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13b0573 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"13b0573\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"659\" height=\"1013\" src=\"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/new_steph.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-981\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/new_steph.jpg 659w, https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/new_steph-600x922.jpg 600w, https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/new_steph-195x300.jpg 195w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 659px) 100vw, 659px\" style=\"width:100%;height:153.72%;max-width:659px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-05497e2 elementor-widget__width-auto elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"05497e2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stephenie Coker Rank<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1e32352 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1e32352\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFounder &#038; Chairperson\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a181b7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8a181b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStephenie Coker Rank is a visionary Portuguese Nigerian Global Entrepreneur &#038; Consultant, renowned for her extensive work with leading Private Equity, Venture Capital, Development Finance Institutions, and Impact Investors worldwide. With expertise spanning diverse sectors including Consumer Goods, Healthcare &#038; Education, Food &#038; Beverage, Energy, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Infrastructure, and Technology, she has consistently demonstrated her adeptness in stakeholder management and leadership engagement, even within complex and multicultural contexts. Her impressive credentials include certifications in Entrepreneurship from Harvard, Emotional Intelligence and Resilience from Berkeley, and proficiency in eight languages.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c06e881\" data-id=\"c06e881\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd49a28 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cd49a28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBeyond the surface, Portugal and Nigeria share a profound connection that extends far beyond untapped business and investment prospects. This connection is rooted in shared culture, values, and, in some instances, even a similar mindset, fostering a sense of humanity and warmth in interpersonal interactions. This relationship has deep historical roots, pre-dating Nigeria&#8217;s independence in 1960. Notably, the Portuguese were the earliest Europeans to set foot in what is now Nigeria, predating British colonial influence. Explorer Rui de Sequeira&#8217;s visit to the Lagos area in 1472 resulted in the naming of the region around the city as Lago de Curamo, meaning Lake of Curamo. Interestingly, the name Lagos, formerly Nigeria&#8217;s capital, is also found in the Algarve region of southern Portugal. During this era, diplomatic ties flourished between the Oba of Benin, in present-day Edo State, Nigeria. Today, streets in Benin City, Edo State, and Lagos State still bear Portuguese names as a testament to this historical connection.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-06e59a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"06e59a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOver the past two decades, Nigeria has emerged as a primary supplier of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) to Portugal, serving as a cornerstone in the burgeoning business relationship between the two nations. Recent developments include the establishment of roots by Portuguese conglomerate Mota-Engil within Nigeria&#8217;s railway sector, leading to an influx of Portuguese citizens and companies keen to explore opportunities within the Nigerian market. Notably, Portuguese Football Coach Jose Peseiro&#8217;s appointment as Head Coach of the Nigerian National Football Team in May 2022 further solidified the cross-cultural collaboration, with over two hundred Nigerian football players now competing in various Portuguese clubs.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-084e4d8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"084e4d8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA significant milestone in this journey was reached in June\/July 2022, with the inaugural Presidential State visit by a sitting Nigerian President to Portugal. This historic occasion culminated in the signing of several impactful Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between the two nations. These MoUs encompassed areas such as diplomatic training, research, cooperation in culture, women and girls&#8217; development, empowerment and gender affairs, youth and sports. The joy was palpable, as Portuguese President Marcelo de Sousa, now in his second term, expressed, &#8220;I waited six years for this marriage.&#8221;\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3668ce7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3668ce7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe birth of the PNBTI Forum arises from the collective aspiration to realize the shared objectives and agreements between Portugal and Nigeria, bolstering bilateral relations across various domains and beyond. As a private sector initiative endowed with years of experience and an extensive network within both public and private spheres, our mission at the PNBTI Forum is to expedite business and investment interactions between Portugal and Nigeria.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8206b17 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8206b17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAt the heart of the PNBTI Forum&#8217;s endeavor lies a commitment to go beyond mere economics, business, and investments. We recognize the pivotal role of Women and Girls&#8217; Development, focusing on capacity-building and empowerment initiatives. Furthermore, our unwavering dedication extends to fostering the realms of Arts, Culture, Creative Industries, and Sports, as these sectors serve as universal languages, fostering meaningful collaborations and enriching human relationships.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-751d478 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"751d478\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWe invite you to join us on this transformative journey as we pave the way for a strengthened partnership between Portugal and Nigeria, grounded in mutual respect, understanding, and shared aspirations.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8fbf01 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f8fbf01\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWarm regards,\n<br><br>\nStephenie Coker Rank<br>\nFounder &#038; Chairperson\nPNBTIForum\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-767453a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"767453a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-99acc54\" data-id=\"99acc54\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-30bb68e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"30bb68e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">GET THE LATEST EVENT UPDATES\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67a586e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"67a586e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up to get the latest event updates and information.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9623840 elementor-button-align-center elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-form\" data-id=\"9623840\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;step_next_label&quot;:&quot;Next&quot;,&quot;step_previous_label&quot;:&quot;Previous&quot;,&quot;button_width&quot;:&quot;100&quot;,&quot;step_type&quot;:&quot;number_text&quot;,&quot;step_icon_shape&quot;:&quot;circle&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"form.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form class=\"elementor-form\" method=\"post\" name=\"New Form\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"post_id\" value=\"800\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"form_id\" value=\"9623840\"\/>\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"referer_title\" value=\"Founders Note\" \/>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"queried_id\" value=\"800\"\/>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-form-fields-wrapper elementor-labels-\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-name elementor-col-50 elementor-sm-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field-label elementor-screen-only\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFirst Name\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[name]\" id=\"form-field-name\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"First Name\" required=\"required\" aria-required=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-text elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-field_647f53e elementor-col-50 elementor-sm-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-field_647f53e\" class=\"elementor-field-label elementor-screen-only\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLast Name\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"text\" name=\"form_fields[field_647f53e]\" id=\"form-field-field_647f53e\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Last Name\" required=\"required\" aria-required=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-type-email elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-group-email elementor-col-100 elementor-sm-100 elementor-field-required\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field-label elementor-screen-only\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input size=\"1\" type=\"email\" name=\"form_fields[email]\" id=\"form-field-email\" class=\"elementor-field elementor-size-sm  elementor-field-textual\" placeholder=\"Email\" required=\"required\" aria-required=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-field-group elementor-column elementor-field-type-submit elementor-col-100 e-form__buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"elementor-button elementor-size-sm\" type=\"submit\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Send<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Founder&#8217;s Note Stephenie Coker Rank Founder &#038; ChairpersonStephenie Coker Rank is a visionary Portuguese Nigerian Global Entrepreneur &#038; Consultant, renowned for her extensive work with leading Private Equity, Venture Capital, Development Finance Institutions, and Impact Investors worldwide. With expertise spanning diverse sectors including Consumer Goods, Healthcare &#038; Education, Food &#038; Beverage, Energy, Financial Services, Manufacturing,&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/founders-note\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Founders Note<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-800","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=800"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1745,"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/800\/revisions\/1745"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pnbtiforum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}