Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Abdul Macacua delivering an inspirational opening message.

The Asian Institute of Management’s TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership and the School of Executive Education and Lifelong Learning conducted the initial workshop of the first phase of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Executive Immersion Program last January 18 to 19 at Radisson Park Inn, Davao City. The workshop aims to provide Bridging Leadership training to the Ministers and Chiefs of Staff of the BARMM.

AIM President Dr. Jikyeong Kang welcoming the participants of the workshop.

Mr. Chetan Kumar, Senior Advisor on Peacebuilding at UNDP, giving his welcome remarks.

AIM President and Dean Dr. Jikyeong Kang opened the program and underscored this historic milestone for AIM to gather such an influential group for a Top Management Executive Immersion Program. Dr. Chetan Kumar of the United Nations Development Programme, the implementing partner of the AIM, welcomed the participants and expressed confidence that the Executive Immersion Program will enable them to collaborate for the betterment of their ministries and communities. Professor Nieves Confesor, the Program Co-Director, presented the program journey of the Ministers and highlighted how working together as one Cabinet will be critical in co-creating the future of the Bangsamoro.

The BARMM ministers engaging in collaborative workshop activities facilitated by Prof. Nieves Confesor.

At the end of the two days, Minister of Basic, Higher and Technical Education Mohagher Iqbal gave a message saying that the principles, concepts, dedications and commitments they have learned this weekend has catapulted them and enabled them to reach a new point in their lives. He added that the learnings should be utilized by the Ministers during the course of the Transition. In this post-conflict situation, he said that “What we learned from all the years of struggle is that war does not last forever… There is hope at the end of the tunnel”.

The Bridging Leadership workshop is the continuing commitment of the AIM TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership in addressing social divides in Mindanao.

All of the BARMM ministers together with AIM and UNDP officials and faculty.

To learn more about the Bridging Leadership Framework and the work of the AIM TeaM Energy Center for Bridging Leadership please visit our site, https://bit.ly/AIMBridgingLeadership or email us at teamenergycenter@aim.edu. You may also call us at (+632) 892-4011 ext. 5606.