Nigeria, July 26 -- I've always had a soft spot for the University of Oxford. As the oldest university in the English-speaking world, dating back to 1096, it's a place that seems to breathe history. But more than that, it has an uncanny ability to reinvent itself, century after century, thereby remaining relevant and world class. It's hard not to admire a place that has mastered the art of sustainability in the truest sense.

My journey with Oxford began toward the end of my PhD studies at the University of Warwick in 2007. I had the privilege of spending time as a visiting scholar at the Said Business School, working on my doctoral thesis on political economy and international business. Specifically, I was exploring how different varieti...