. Click on the speaker’s name or the + icon to see the speaker's full info Meet our Keynote Speakers from ODES 2023
Event Speakers
Taiwo Olaonipekun
Founder, Farm Fixers
Taiwo Olaonipekun
Founder, Farm Fixers
Taiwo Olaonipekun stands as the visionary force behind Farmfixers, an esteemed agri-tech enterprise founded in 2014. His mission has been to lead the charge in revolutionising farming practices through the innovative concept of absentee farming and meticulous farm management.
Under Taiwo's astute guidance, Farmfixers has effectively overseen the management of over 400 acres of farmland. This initiative has not only yielded remarkable agricultural success but has also provided a platform for local farmers to showcase their industrious and creative farming endeavours.
Since taking the helm in 2018, Taiwo has steadfastly committed Farmfixers to empowering rural farmers and youth by providing essential farm inputs and modern farming training. Furthermore, he has leveraged his profound understanding of agricultural trends to establish lucrative and strategic marketing channels for farm produce, tapping into the current agricultural landscape.
Beyond the fields, Taiwo's commitment extends to improving the lives of local farmers. He ensures their financial well-being by consistently and punctually disbursing wages. He also conducts regular training sessions to equip them with the latest agricultural techniques, promoting increased productivity and profitability. His team's direct engagement with rural communities has brought to light the harsh reality of hunger and poverty, motivating him to expedite efforts to eradicate poverty and pave the way for prosperity.
Taiwo Olaonipekun's dedication is unwavering in expanding Farmfixers' outreach to local farmers, youth, widows, and their families, all with the overarching goal of enhancing food security and eradicating hunger in Nigeria. His leadership and management prowess have consistently delivered substantial returns to investors, solidifying Farmfixers' reputation on a global scale.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Taiwo is an ardent believer and a passionate lover of God who seeks the pleasure of his maker. He is happily married to Oluwabusayomi Olaonipekun and he is blessed with a lovely son.
Bisi Oni
Executive Director / COO, FundQuest Financial Services Limited
Bisi Oni
Executive Director / COO, FundQuest Financial Services Limited
Bisi is a seasoned economist who holds both his first Degree and master’s degree in economics from the University of Lagos. He is a Council Member and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (ACS) Nigeria. He is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) Nigeria, and a fellow of the London-based Leadership for Environment and Development where he has been involved in developing initiatives in the areas of business and investment sustainability.
Career wise, Bisi has notably held several managerial and leadership positions in the finance sector. He was a Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FBN Securities Limited (the stockbrokerage business of First Bank of Nigeria Plc), and prior to this, he was the Head, Funds Asset Management of FBN Capital Limited, with responsibilities for FBN Heritage Fund and principal investment.
Bisi has an extensive experience in the provision of investment advisory, strategy, personal finance, economic research, stock brokerage and portfolio management.
An articulate system thinker, who combines rich understanding of economics with investment, Bisi has featured at several C-level corporate events speaking on a broad range of topics across corporate restructuring, equity investing, strategy formulation and corporate motivation.
Presently, Bisi serves as the Executive Director and COO of FundQuest Financial Services Limited, a financial institution which seeks to provide innovative funding and financing solutions across modern Africa.
Abiola Dabiri
Ass. Vice President Corporate Secretariat, Africa Finance Corporation
Abiola Dabiri
Ass. Vice President Corporate Secretariat, Africa Finance Corporation
Abiola R. Dabiri is an experienced corporate lawyer and governance professional, with over a decade of experience in the legal and financial industry. She obtained her LLB from Lagos State University in 2005 and went on to obtain a Master of Law in Commercial and Corporate Law from the University of London in 2014. She has also obtained several postgraduate diplomas and certificates in Corporate Governance, AML, Corporate and Securities Law, Banking and Finance Law from various institutions. She is currently concluding a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oxford as well as being trained under the University of Oxford’s Women’s Leadership Development program. She is also a certified member of the Chief of Staff Association.
Abiola currently works as the Associate Vice President, Corporate Secretariat at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
Arturo Machado
Research and Development Director, ST Engineering Hackney (High Tech Manufacturing)
Arturo Machado
Research and Development Director, ST Engineering Hackney (High Tech Manufacturing)
Arturo Machado is a professional engineer in the United States of America where he currently works as Director of Research and Development for STE Engineering (a multinational company based out of Singapore). He also works as a business Mentor with Branches International, a Non-for-Profit organization that provides consulting and business mentoring to entrepreneurs in 20+ countries around the globe.
Mr. Machado holds Bachelor, Masters, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering. He has successfully worked in the professional field in the areas of Product Development, Innovation, Research and Development, Project Management in the Automotive, Transportation and Materials industries in the United States of America for the last 35 years.
Arturo was born and raised in Mexico but moved to the United States of America in 2000, where he currently resides and is a citizen of. Arturo has 5 beautiful daughters (ages 21 to 31) and currently lives in the State of South Carolina. He is a member of the Morningstar Church and Morningstar Fellowship of Ministries.
Mr. Machado has pursued the Lord Jesus Christ since his early life when he invited Jesus to be His Lord and Savior at the age of 13. The Lord Jesus Christ is the main passion and pursuit in Arturo’s life.
Arturo also holds a bachelor’s in biblical studies and has been able to work as a lay servant in roles such as Youth Pastor, Worship Leader, Men’s Ministry, Bible School Teacher, Elder and Associate Pastor.
Arturo is passionate about mentoring young professionals and has spent some time traveling internationally both in Ministry and the Business world in places like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, India, China, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Canada. He is fluent in 4 languages.
Kunle Adegoke
CEO, Archiscope Limited
Kunle Adegoke
CEO, Archiscope Limited
Mr Kunle Adegoke, an Architect by profession with over 36 years in Building and Real Estate Development.
He started his profession with Tropics Consult in Ibadan as a Project Architect between 1987 to 1989.
He later moved to Lagos where he joined Logbon Estate and Properties, Eko Court, Victoria Island where he was the Resident
Architect from 1989 to 2001.
He is now the Managing Director of Archiscope Limited, a company he started 23 years ago.
He has been involved in the Design, Construction and Project Management of various projects in different parts of the country.
He is also a Director of Innovations Facility Services Limited with the head office at Plot 318, Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Stephen Fola-Badejo
Founder/CEO, LogiTrak
Stephen Fola-Badejo
Founder/CEO, LogiTrak
Stephen FolaBadejo is a Tech Entrepreneur, he is the Founder and CEO of The Removalist Logistics (a relocation company) and LogiTrak Africa (a full E-logistics company connecting vetted and trusted truckers to B2B, B2C and B2G businesses that needs to move their cargo and freight across Nigeria and Africa), both companies has its HQ based in Lagos Nigeria with partners across Africa and Europe. Both companies came into existence by divine, first in 2015 and second in 2020 during the hit of the pandemics.
Since founding these companies, they have gone ahead to serve and still serving major multinationals and local brands across Nigeria and Africa.
He has won several local and international awards and has spoken on several local and international platforms on logistics and transportation. In 2021 alongside other African Entrepreneurs at ‘The Going Global Summit 2021’ organized by INNOPOWER, JP MORGAN CHASE AND CO AND ELEVEN FIFTY ACADEMY in INDIANNA U.S.A he won the African Innovator on the rise in Logistics/Tech sector.
He also won the Grand Nigeria Business Awards in the logistics and transportation category in year 2022
Recently, LogiTrak made it to the regional finals of the GLOBAL STARTUP AWARDS AFRICA in the Logisticstech/Mobility category.
He has been featured on Business Incorporated on Channels TV, BBC Africa, Startup Lagos, and by several blogs, podcasts and business magazines with articles on entrepreneurship and logistics in Africa, UK and US (Business Africa Online, Founders Podcast UK, Foundamental USA etc.), He also recently spoke at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Yearly Conference in Rwanda and at the 4th edition of The Lagos Transport Fest where the governor and other delegates were in attendace. He is an Ambassador of NYAGGI (National Youth Advocacy for good Governance Initiative), and an Ambassador of AfCFTA (The African Continental Free Trade Area), with active engagement on Africa Trade. He believes the AfCFTA will bring freedom to African trade if African can leverage on technology as a tool.
Recently his company LogiTrak Africa, launched a new insuretech product to automate claims and easy access to insurance products for truckers and those in haulage businesses in Nigeria.
He is a graduate of Human Physiology from LAUTECH, has a degree in Business Development and Entrepreneurship from E.D.C of The Lagos Business School, Business Growth and Intl Business Expansion from Harvard Business School Online and an alumni of Founder Institute (a U.S.A Silicon Valley Based Institute that helps tech founders scale their startup and turn their startup to global businesses). He has a certification in Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of things. And he is a member of the C.I.L.T (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) Nigeria.
He is married to Doyinsade FolaBadejo Creative Director Adalyn Apparels a female fashion brand based in Lagos and blessed with a strong, agile, and upward mobile son.
Amanda Hufford
Founder, Context Design Studio
Amanda Hufford
Founder, Context Design Studio
Amanda is a built environment educator, researcher, and practitioner driven by her cultural curiosity and observation of local and wider contexts in which our places and spaces are situated. After completing bachelor degrees in environmental design and arts she continued to earn a masters of architecture from Savannah College of Art and Design and a masters of research with distinction from University of Lincoln (UK). Her international experience includes the USA, New Zealand, Italy, and the UK. Before assuming full time roles in higher education Amanda worked with the award winning NZ based architecrtural firm Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects which influenced her approach to working outside of her immediate cultural context.
Leading the internationalised postgraduate course in architecture and urban studies at the University of Lincoln provided the opportunity to gain further knowledge around the relationship between people, place, and how design (particularly placemaking) can create and support healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Her approach [to design] is context driven and led by respect for local culture, climate, material, and community.
As an extension of this built environment design studio and along with her interest in social enterprise she launched her consultancy Context Design Studio with the aim to offer design thinking and to facilitate participatory initiatives to clients and organizations who wish to develop projects which provide inclusivity and social impact in their communities. Her mission is to provide a framework through which a holistic and context driven approach to sustainability can be achieved supporting communities socially, economically, and environmentally.
Prof Justice Emuoyibofarhe
Professor of Computer Science
Prof Justice Emuoyibofarhe
Professor of Computer Science
Emuoyibofarhe O. Justice is a Professor of Computer Science and the immediate past Dean of the faculty of computing and Informatics and the current Director Software Engineering Institute at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and a Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society. His research interest is in the application of Mobile Computing, Wireless Communication computational intelligence and Software Engineering to e-Health and Telemedicine applications for quality health care service delivery in developing country context.
He had his Bachelor of Technology [B.Tech (Hons)] Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, 1997, and a Masters of Technology (M.Tech) in Applied Mathematics with specialization in Artificial Neural Networks from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in 2000. He received his Ph.D in 2004 from the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He specialized in computational Intelligence (Neuro-fuzzy computing/ Computational Optimization). He had a one year post-doctoral Research fellowship at the Huawei-Telkom Centre of Excellence for Mobile e-Services, Department of Computer Science, University of Zululand, Republic of South Africa in 2006. He is a member of the Society of Telemedicine and e-Health in Nigeria, where he also served as the second vice president of the society between 2012 and 2015. He is also a member of the Computer Professional (Registration Council of) Nigeria (CPN). He is a member of the (IEEE) Computational Intelligence Society.
He joined the services the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in September 1998 as a graduate Assistant,. He was the acting Head of Computer Science and Engineering Department in 2012 and became the substantive Head of the same department between 2013 and 2015 upon becoming a professor. In 2012 he served in the capacity of the Acting Director of LAUTECH ICT Center. He was the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, between 2009 and 2012. Since 2006 till date he has been actively conducting reseach and teaching the application of mobile computing and wirelss communication to quality healthcare service provisioning and delivery, medical informatics, e-health and telemedicine, soft computing and artificial intelligence a research area where he has supervised and produced several post graduate students both at the Doctoral (10) and Masters (18) level.
He has over 80 published articles in both reputable journals and peer reviewed conference proceedings locally and internationally. He has attended and presented papers at several international conferences and workshops in Africa, Europe (France, Germany, Luxemburg, Belgium), Israel and the United States. Since 2010, he has been a regular visiting researcher to the Hasso Plattner Institut, Potsdam, Germany where he has been involved in collaborative research projects on e-Health and Telemedicine for Africa.
He is the Head of the Mobile and e-Computing Research group and organizer/conference chair of the International conference on Mobile e-Services. He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Ozichi Emuoyibofarhe of the Computer and Information Technology Department, BOWEN University. The marriage is blessed with Pheobe, Precious and Progress.
Gabriel Okeowo
Country Director, BudgIT
Gabriel Okeowo
Country Director, BudgIT
Gabriel Okeowo is the Country Director of BudgIT Foundation, Nigeria – a civic organization that uses creative technology to simplify public information, stimulating a community of active citizens and enabling their right to demand accountability, institutional reforms, efficient service delivery and an equitable society.
Gabriel is a social development professional with over 15 years of progressive experience in the NGO sector. Gabriel’s background is in behavioural science and an advanced degree in Project Development and Implementation. He also possesses skills and Certification in Data Processing and Management Information systems (DPMIS).
Gabriel’s experience cut across social integration, human development, community development, health promotion, organizational development, and promotion of public sector transparency and accountability. Gabriel has led a number of development projects, with international organizations, nationally and across African countries with funding support from Global Fund, World Bank, EU, Dutch Government, and other international foundations.
Currently, at BudgIT, Gabriel is responsible for the overall organizational strategy and for managing various departments/project teams in the organization, interfacing with donors, raising funds for projects, reviewing organizational plans and budgets, and overseeing brand visibility strategy.
Prof. Julius Kola Oloke
Vice Chancellor, Computer Science, Precious Cornerstone University
Prof. Julius Kola Oloke
Vice Chancellor, Computer Science, Precious Cornerstone University
Professor Oloke was born in 17th December 1958. He obtained a PhD in Microbiology from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1989. He became a Professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in 1999.
Between 1993 and 1994 he did some genetic engineering work on an unusual isolate of Bacillus thurigiensis at the Biology Department University of Waterloo; Ontario Canada. As a result of this preliminary work, the organism was deposited at the American Culture Collection Centre (NRRL) as Bacillus thurigiensis oloke and filed for American Patent with ascension number WO/1997/041235.
The research group of Professor Oloke successfully constructed a Computerized Bioreactor and Computerized Temporary Immersion Bioreactor which are very vital in microbial fermentation and plant tissue culture. The Bioreactors were adjudged one of the ten outstanding research work at the First ever NUC Research Fair in Abuja. This feat contributed to fetching Ladoke Akintola University of Technology the First position among all the States Universities of Nigeria for three consecutive years. This research discovery has since been acquired by the National Biotechnology Development Agency; Abuja; Nigeria.
In a quest to find a long-lasting solution to immuno-compromised conditions, Professor Oloke formulated an immune modulating agent known as Trinity Immuno-booster (Trino IB). It was given a NAFDAC number in 2007 and has been successfully used for the management of different immuno-compromised conditions both in Nigeria and some other countries. As a result of this feat Professor Oloke was conferred with National Productivity Order of Merit Award by the Federal Government of Nigeria in August 2012.
In Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; he has served in different Administrative Posts like Head, Department of Pure and Applied Biology; Director, Academic Planning and Chairman, Pre-Degree Science Program.
Professor Oloke has served as a member of Governing Councils for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and at The Nigerian Baptist Theology Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
He has graduated more than twenty Doctoral students some of which have become Professors.
Professor Oloke who has served as a member of NUC Accreditation Panels to three Universities and had been a Visiting Professor to University of Lagos and Osun State University.
Among his international travels, in May 2014, Professor Oloke was specially invited to All Saints University College of Medicine in St Vincent and Grenadines as a Foundation Dean for the Faculty of Science. During his stay in All Saints University he played a major role in the accreditation excise of the University and assisted the University in setting up a Research Committee.
He has been the Chairman LAUTECH Christian Community since 1991 till date. He was the Ogbomoso Baptist Conference Representative at National Executive of Nigerian Baptist Convention for eight years.
In August 2018 Professor J K Oloke was appointed as the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University Ibadan. He has been able to bring on board his wealth of experience to build a university with strong entrepreneurship drive empowering students to be employer of labor. The first set of students graduated in a Convocation Ceremony that was held in November 2022.
At the advent of COVID-19, Professor Oloke led other scientists to develop two COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines are at the stage of animal trials.
Professor Oloke is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He is also a Certified Behavioral Coach by Precision Nutrition.
He is married with children.
Olorunfemi Omotayo
Head of Training and Learning, Teachers Academy Africa
Remi Odunsi
Chief Executive Officer, Eridan Group
Remi Odunsi
Chief Executive Officer, Eridan Group
Remi Odunsi is an accomplished management executive, dedicated social impact advocate, and prolific entrepreneur with a wealth of experience spanning more than 30 years across various industries including Banking, Insurance, Automobile, Real Estate, and FMCG. She is widely recognized for her remarkable ability to secure high-value deals and her expertise in internal control, sales and marketing, product development, operations, and strategic planning. Her proficiency as an administrator is exceptional, complemented by her versatility and forward-thinking approach in anticipating market trends and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. As the co-founder and CEO of Eridan Group, she also holds non-executive management roles in prominent companies both locally and internationally, including Executive Coach Builders, Karrabo, and ShopTopUp MFB.
Remi's extensive educational background includes a Bsc (Hons) in Management and Accounting from the University of Ile Ife in 1991, followed by an MBA in Information and Communication Technology from EDHEC Business School in France. She is a qualified member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) in the UK. Additionally, she has completed prestigious executive education programs at the Lagos Business School, MIT Sloane, and Harvard Business School.
Beyond her corporate endeavors, Remi Odunsi is a valuable contributor to her community. She served as a member of the Land Use and Allocation Committee in Lagos State and currently holds the position of President at Jesus Ministries, Nigeria. She is also the Founder of Comfort Stream Global Care Foundation and Threefold Impact Development Foundation. In summary, Remi Odunsi is a highly accomplished professional and serial entrepreneur, leveraging her expertise to excel in financial services, automobile, and FMCG industries while actively contributing to social causes and community development.
Anu Agboola
COO, Loft Africa
Anu Agboola
COO, Loft Africa
Experienced C-Level executive with a passion for emerging markets and economies, with over 2 decades of multi-sectoral experience across E-Commerce, Distribution,E-Commerce Logistics (Fulfillment Operations), FMCG, Food, Conglomerates, Manufacturing, Retail, Supply-Chain Management, Logistics, Transport, Techlogistics, Telecommunications, and Healthcare industries,with end-to-end Supply Chain management skills in fulfillment operations, project and process management,human resource management,business process re-engineering, competitive bench-marking, transport management, operations, management, financial management,marketing management,market research and forecasting.
Accomplishments include :
*Improved customer confidence and business growth in Logistics and Services, across the verticals: Agro commodities,FMCG, Chemicals and Reefers, plus Lead Logistics projects via logistics solutions and problem-solving,leading to the award of Maersk's Star Awards within my first 5 months in Maersk.
*Increasing the fleet size of LORI (Nigeria) from 1000 trucks,by over 700% and utilising these trucks to do 3 triangular moves,a month,in less than a year,via Lori's transport technology,processes and systems,resulting in growth in Lori's market share.
*Setting-up and optimisation of 3PL fulfilment partners for Jumia and Konga in 5 years,for expanding the e-commerce brands.
*Growth of the lifestyle brand(Markham),a part of The Foschini Group, TFG (Pty)SA in West Africa,via expanding the offline retail, distribution and customer-base.
*Growing the AVAYA brand in the IT hardware industry, to a 15% market share in the industry.
*Expansion of the Meyer PLC's market of transport products(paints and consumables),leading to a 25% growth in market share, in the Nigerian market(Lagos region).
*Implementation of Project 2010 for Big Treat PLC,in her bid to be the market leader in Nigeria's QSR industry.
Aanuoluwapo has managed projects in the retail,healthcare,distribution,lifestyle, consumer goods,QSR and manufacturing industries,with focus on expansion,integration,process re-engineering, retail operations,change management and product development.
My objective is to offer services and products that make for informed decision-making for indigenous and foreign investors to guarantee the desired ROI,ROE,market share and customer base,within the desired time-frame.
Ayoola Ojo
Value Innovator, Tenposs Limited
Ayoola Ojo
Value Innovator, Tenposs Limited
Ojo Ayoola is a polymath with a diverse skill set spanning industrial and creative design, entrepreneurship, and a passion for innovative storytelling. His educational background includes a
degree in Food Science from Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH), and completion of the FATE Foundation Aspiring Entrepreneur Program (AEP) Class 46. Currently, He is currently pursuing an
MBA program at Coventry University in Coventry, UK, and recently completed an EDC-OXFAM led program at Lagos Business School.
Charmaine Smith
Co-Founder, Infundo
Charmaine Smith
Co-Founder, Infundo
Charmaine Smith started her career in education. Subsequent to her formal teaching and education experience Charmaine has been involved since 2006 in effecting development impact projects in South African rural and peri-urban communities and in Uganda; Tanzania; Kenya and Tanzania. Charmaine has worked in strategic areas of impact as well as working on the ground in communities. This has allowed her to grow her skill sets in both operational and strategic areas of development.
Charmaine co-founded Infundo Consulting in 2007; to provide a vehicle for larger long-term work in development. Infundo’s Building Sustainable Communities framework combines business strategy outcomes with community development impact and is backed by 15 years of proven performance results in tangible documented outcomes.
Through Infundo and the various board roles Charmaine has worked extensively with corporate sponsors and donors; stakeholders; Boards & Committees; Executive teams; Government structures; Community forums; School Management teams; School Governing bodies; NGO’s; CBO’s and other relevant bodies in the pursuit of creating sustainable communities with social justice and sustainable economies at the heart of her work.
Charmaine has shared her passion for social justice at speaking engagements in business and development forums in SA and Ghana. She also served as conference chair for the 7th Annual Board Secretaries & General Counsels conference in March 2022.
She was acknowledged for her work by Finweek in 2015 – on their list of “Women to Watch”.
RELEVANT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE:
- Director Infundo Consulting (Pty) Ltd (2007 - )
- Chairperson READ Educational Trust (November 2017 - )
- Board member of Nation Builder (Mergon Integrate) (January 2018 - )
- Member of Mergon Allocations Board (2018 – Nov 2022 )
- Trustee Muthobi Trust (2020 –)
- Director Muthobi Partners (2022 - )
- Non Exec Director King Price Insurance (May 2019 - ) and King Price Financial Services
- Chair Risk Committee King Price (May 2019 - )
- Chair Social And Ethics Committee (August 2021 - )
Charmaine is married to Peter; they share 5 children and 4 grandchildren
Adeyemi Aderinto
Founder, SQI College of ICT
Adeyemi Aderinto
Founder, SQI College of ICT
Adeyemi C. Aderinto is a seasoned ICT consultant and technology skills trainer with more than 18 years of combined experience and expertise in different modern technology knowledge areas including Software Engineering, Systems Architecture, Database Design and Administration, People, Operation, Project and Product Management and more.
From his interest to help transform businesses from an entity troubled by technical operational challenges, into a highly effective body with the most optimized delivery of services that satisfy their clients - he founded Edozzier; an A.I-powered Entity Resource Management System, currently used by many schools and corporate organizations across Nigeria. The software is one of the finest pieces available globally and a model of good practice.
Mr Aderinto Adeyemi also has a vision to make Africa a pool of technology talents one mind at a time, this made him establish SQI Academy in 2008. SQI academy, a subdivision of SQI ICT Consultants was established as a training institute to multiply the in-demand technical abilities of more people to build world-class technology solutions for local and global markets, and to supply technology talents to companies locally and globally. By 2022, SQI College of ICT has trained 10000+ people who are placed in top companies globally and some others who founded their technology companies.
In 2021 SQI Academy became a government-accredited institution of learning that offer academic certificates.
Under these franchises, through a sustained commitment to promoting a culture of mentoring and learner empowerment for both students and staff, to create an environment where everyone can thrive, Adeyemi has directly mentored 1000+ students in over 13 years, some of whom are heads of different technology companies globally including Microsoft, Google, Andela, MTN, Top commercial banks Software Engineering team and more. In 2017 Adeyemi was also conferred with an Honorary Doctorate degree from the Christian International Bible College.
Mr Adeyemi Aderinto is a recipient of the 2019 and 2020 - No 1. Ogbomoso Community Developer Award - from Arewa Ajilete Lifter Awards. Mr Adeyemi Aderinto is a recipient of the 2021 DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP AWARD from the Centre for Leadership and Good Governance International in conjunction with UNESCO for creating a platform for educational development and exemplary leadership qualities.
He is a recipient of the 2021 OYO STATE 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONALITIES AWARD under the TECHNOLOGY category, amongst several other recognition of his outstanding efforts.
He is a technology consultant and provider to the largest Theological Seminary in West Africa - The Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary Ogbomoso.
He is a technology consultant and provider to the Bowen Univerisity Teaching Hospital.
Adeyemi is the President of SQI ICT Consultants Limited and the Founder of Edozzier
Dr. Oladipo Elijah Kolawole (PhD)
Founder, Helix Biogen Institute
Dr. Oladipo Elijah Kolawole (PhD)
Founder, Helix Biogen Institute
Dr. Oladipo Elijah Kolawole is an International Fellow of the Indian Council of Medical Research /AU-STRC with a PhD in Medical Virology and Immunology from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. Presently, he holds a faculty position (HOD) at the Department of Microbiology, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Microsoft Word, Molecular Biology, Cell Culture, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Strong business development professional who graduated from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
His primary research focuses on infectious diseases caused by RNA viruses, molecular epidemiology/surveillance, diagnosis, pathogenesis, molecular immunology, viral immunology and oncology, viral computational biology, antiviral resistance, and antibiotics resistance. Also into interspecies transmission dynamics of emerging infectious diseases particularly those caused by RNA viruses. His research is directed towards uncovering how host immune pressure and transmission affect the genetic diversity of RNA viruses with the application of molecular biology, bioinformatics, and immunoinformatics.
He received a research grant from CDC through IRR during his Ph. D. studies. He has won various awards and grants to attend international conferences from bodies such as African Union, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, International Society for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, TWAS SAREP, UNESCO, Wellcome, Institute of Endemic Diseases Sudan, African Academy of Science, PATH, Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS) and Kenya Society For Immunology (KSI), African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research [APCDR], by International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology [ICGEB], National Institute of General Medical Science U.S., National Institutes of Health [NIH], H3ABioNet, Nigerian Bioinformatics, and Genomics Network, Centre for Genomics Research and Innovation, MacArthur Foundation, EDCTP, UKaid from the British people, Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust, Wellcome Centre Molecular Parasitology, iDeAL and Pwani University.
He is the Founder of the fast-growing genomic institute "Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso { known as “Helix Biogen Consult”}. He is the team leader for the COVID-19 candidate vaccine that is currently on WHO draft landscape for all COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Uche Aniche
Convener, Startup South
Uche Aniche
Convener, Startup South
Uche Aniche is a tech and business innovation leader, an Angel Investor and an emerging Africa-focused Fund Manager with over two decades of experience in business communication, process design, Startup & Innovation Management, Product development and Community Leadership.
He's arguably the foremost advocate for Startup/Entrepreneurship Ecosystem development in Nigeria with a special focus on the South-South/South-East through #StartupSouth has helped founders raise $Millions across Nigeria. He is the CEO of Havilah & Hills Innovative Systems Limited, Convener, #StartupSouth - a Startup & Innovation Community/Project inspiring the next generation of high-scale founders in Nigeria’s South-South/South-East regions. He is also a Director at SSE Angel Network, Communications Director at Imo Economic Summit Group and General Partner at Rebel Seed Capital.
Yemisi Isidi
Co-Owner, Cirkle Lab
Yemisi Isidi
Co-Owner, Cirkle Lab
Yemisi Isidi has contributed tangibly to the growth of the Digital Economy in the North Central, particularly in Kwara State where she yearly organises the Ilorin Digital Summit and launched Cirkle Labs which is focused on enabling more youth access to decent jobs and growing their businesses using digital tools.
Also, Yemisi has worked as a facilitator, mentor, advisor, trainer, and coach on various incubators, accelerators, and training programs across Africa, assisting over 2000 entrepreneurs (70% women and youth) in creating over 935 jobs, securing funding, increasing monthly revenue by over 75 million Naira, improving their business structure, establishing global businesses, leveraging digital tools and platforms, and appearing on various local and international media platforms.
She has had a distinguished career in Nigeria and the UK, working with governmental, corporate, and NGOs in various sectors. She is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper with Abuja Hub where she is the education and entrepreneurship lead.
At Triift Africa, where she is co-founder, she provides access to capital for businesses especially women-owned businesses and a vast range of support that enables the start and growth of businesses in Africa.
Dr. Jinmisayo Awokola
Director of Business Development, Unitellas Edge Cloud Services Limited
Dr. Jinmisayo Awokola
Director of Business Development, Unitellas Edge Cloud Services LimitedDr. Jinmisayo A. Awokola is an Assistant Professor of Computing with about 15 years of experience both in the academia and industry. He has been a part of several projects within the FINTECH, EdTECH and HealthTech spaces to mention but a few. He currently serves as the Director of Business, Unitellas Edge Cloud Services – a Cloud infrastructure company at the forefront of championing data sovereignty and domestication across Africa with the notable 1Government Cloud project of the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the Galaxy Backbone as a flagship. He is a Digital Transformation and Digital Literacy Consultant and enthusiast, with over a decade long active involvement in several notable Digital Literacy advocacy projects within Nigeria and across Africa. He is also an alumni of the prestigious Lagos Business School, an academic member of the FINTECH Association of Nigeria, a full Member of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) as well as the Society for Telemedicine and e-Health in Nigeria. While undertaking his PhD research, he was a visiting doctoral research fellow at the Internet Technologies and Systems Chair of the Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam. Dr. Awokola is happily married with children.
Prof Agbaje Lateef
Professor of Nano Technology, LAUTECH
Prof Agbaje Lateef
Professor of Nano Technology, LAUTECH
Prof. Agbaje Lateef is a Professor of Microbiology at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria. He is the Head of LAUTECH Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO+) (www.lautechnanotech.com), a multidisciplinary research group founded in 2014. He has published widely in Microbiology, Biotechnology and Nanobiotechnology culminating in more than 160 research articles; about 80 of which are in nanobiotechnology. In early 2021, he rallied scientists from seven countries in four continents to produce the pioneering textbook ‘Microbial Nanobiotechnology: Principles and Applications’ which was published by Springer-Nature Pte Ltd. (Singapore).
Prof. Lateef is the Editor-in-Chief of a specialized journal on nanotechnology, Nano Plus: Science and Technology of Nanomaterials (https://stnanojournal.org/), which is indexed in CrossRef, and also member of Editorial Board of Discover Biotechnology (Springer). His exploits have led to winning of grants and development of bioproducts such as neosugar, biocatalysts, nano-textile, citric acid, nano-paint, nano-pesticides and nano-fertilizers among others that are awaiting commercialization. His research group has publicized nanotechnology R&D through organization of annual workshops/conferences since 2017 and release of more than 50 news items on nanotechnology in several national and international electronic and print media. His citation on Google Scholar is >5800 with h-index of 49. He has been rated among top 2% scientists in the World (2020-2023) in joint studies by Elsevier B.V and Stanford University, USA. He has also received Vice-Chancellor’s commendation award and commendation letter from the Governing Council of LAUTECH
Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed
Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State
Emeka Okoye
Founder, Open Data NG
Emeka Okoye
Founder, Open Data NG
Emeka is a Senior Knowledge Engineer with Cymantiks Limited, a company that makes Government, Organizations and Cities smarter using Semantic Technologies and Computational Linguistics, for Modeling, Knowledge Representation, and Ontology Engineering, en-route to exploiting the opportunities in their Data Assets, Science Investments for Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics to simulate human decision-making and high-level cognitive tasks that can be used to solve complex problems and achieve their desired Digital Transformation objectives.
In the last 25 years, Emeka has been at the forefront of technology and innovation in Nigeria from cofounding the earliest startup (ngex.com) to building cognitive solutions (Knowledge Graph on Disease Incidences, Nigerian Law Reports & Data, African Films) to building Smart Agents, Software Autonomous Systems and Rules as Codes (RaC) using Semantic AI and Blockchain technology.
Emeka is able to understand and explain technologies from deep diving under the hood to the value proposition level. He believes that Linked Data, Blockchain and AI will change and improve the way we live and work, and he is passionate about designing and building systems that will make this happen, and teaching others to do this as well.
He has been listed among the top 20 most influential Technology people in Africa (2013) by South Africa IT News to name a few.
He groks at the intersection of Digital Societies, Fintech, Economic Development, Public Health, Urbanization, Behavioral Sciences, Open Data and Semantic AI on Twitter (@EmekaOkoye).
Tommy Michael
CEO, L'Orbe
Tommy Michael
CEO, L'Orbe
Michael Light Tommy is a creative explorer at the nexus of human experience, visual creativity, and technology. In partnership with his wife, Oto, Michael co-founded L’Orbe Creative Excellence Initiative, a nonprofit which drives human flourishing in underserved communities by facilitating creative expression, enterprise and excellence. He is also the co-founder and Creative Director of Asterism Communications, a design and communications brand.
With over 7 years of experience as a visual designer, MichaEL has executed several high-impact design projects for individuals and corporate brands, local and international. Some of these include Honeywell Group Limited, Co-creation Hub Nigeria, Primlak’s Sympli, KTN-UK Aid, Dole App. MichaEL is also responsible for Minister Dunsin Oyekan’s most recent album cover designs. These albums have had combined cross-platform streams of more than 20 million.
Michael’s multiple streams of creativity have seen him featured on notable national and international platforms. In 2016, he was featured on CNN Africa as one of the most outstanding illustrators to have participated in Inktober 2016. My Salvation Story, a storytelling blog created by MichaEL was also featured on YNaija, etc.
In addition to being on a boundless exploration of the influence of visual creativity on people, places and culture, MichaEL is committed to seeing the rise of more high-impact creatives from underserved communities who create with a culture of excellence and with a focus on human flourishing.
Oluwaseyi Gbadebo
Creative Director, BZL Crew & Konkéré Designs
Oluwaseyi Gbadebo
Creative Director, BZL Crew & Konkéré Designs
For over a decade, Oluwaseyi Gbadebo has been a noteworthy leader in the creative space. A versatile artist, muralist, instructor, and creative entrepreneur, He founded numerous creative companies, some of which include; House of Bezalel, BZL CREW
(Nigeria's top leading Mural agency), and Konkere Designs (an afro urban concrete design brand).
Gbadebo has been featured in numerous art exhibitions, at home and abroad, and has been honoured for his contributions to the art industry.
He holds a B.Tech Degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and he currently resides with his wife in Oyo state.
Tayo Sobowale
Digitalising the Sporting Experience in Ogbomoso for Global Relevance
Jesudamilare “JD” Adesegun-David
Co-Founder, Ennovate Lab
Jesudamilare “JD” Adesegun-David
Co-Founder, Ennovate Lab
Jesudamilare "JD" Adesegun-David is a Community Transformation Strategist. Ennovate Lab, a community he co-leads, is an Innovation Hub and a Startup Foundry committed to building resilient innovation ecosystems in underserved university communities in Africa.
A graduate of Agronomy in 2011 and a Teach with Africa Fellow (South Africa) in 2015, he has a knack for bridging the seeming divide between diverse disciplines. In 2019, he was recognized by YNaija in its New Establishment List for his work in underserved communities and he has been featured in other local and global media.
As an ecosystem builder, he has resourced and mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs and tech talents in conjunction with local and global organizations including AfriLabs, Eridan Group, StudentBuild, GDG, Startup Grind, Hult Foundation, GIZ, Atos, and Impact Hub among others.
In 2021, he became a Branches Worldwide Leader and a We Will Lead Africa Fellow and in 2022, he became a Butterfly Works-certified Design Thinking Mentor.
In his quest to ensure his work consistently leads to human flourishing and virtuous culture creation, he recently completed the Praxis Academy course on Redemptive Business, a program by Praxis Labs, New York, USA.
Event Speakers
Taiwo Olaonipekun
Founder, Farm Fixers
Taiwo Olaonipekun
Founder, Farm Fixers
Taiwo Olaonipekun stands as the visionary force behind Farmfixers, an esteemed agri-tech enterprise founded in 2014. His mission has been to lead the charge in revolutionising farming practices through the innovative concept of absentee farming and meticulous farm management.
Under Taiwo's astute guidance, Farmfixers has effectively overseen the management of over 400 acres of farmland. This initiative has not only yielded remarkable agricultural success but has also provided a platform for local farmers to showcase their industrious and creative farming endeavours.
Since taking the helm in 2018, Taiwo has steadfastly committed Farmfixers to empowering rural farmers and youth by providing essential farm inputs and modern farming training. Furthermore, he has leveraged his profound understanding of agricultural trends to establish lucrative and strategic marketing channels for farm produce, tapping into the current agricultural landscape.
Beyond the fields, Taiwo's commitment extends to improving the lives of local farmers. He ensures their financial well-being by consistently and punctually disbursing wages. He also conducts regular training sessions to equip them with the latest agricultural techniques, promoting increased productivity and profitability. His team's direct engagement with rural communities has brought to light the harsh reality of hunger and poverty, motivating him to expedite efforts to eradicate poverty and pave the way for prosperity.
Taiwo Olaonipekun's dedication is unwavering in expanding Farmfixers' outreach to local farmers, youth, widows, and their families, all with the overarching goal of enhancing food security and eradicating hunger in Nigeria. His leadership and management prowess have consistently delivered substantial returns to investors, solidifying Farmfixers' reputation on a global scale.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Taiwo is an ardent believer and a passionate lover of God who seeks the pleasure of his maker. He is happily married to Oluwabusayomi Olaonipekun and he is blessed with a lovely son.
Abiola Dabiri
Ass. Vice President Corporate Secretariat, Africa Finance Corporation
Abiola Dabiri
Ass. Vice President Corporate Secretariat, Africa Finance Corporation
Abiola R. Dabiri is an experienced corporate lawyer and governance professional, with over a decade of experience in the legal and financial industry. She obtained her LLB from Lagos State University in 2005 and went on to obtain a Master of Law in Commercial and Corporate Law from the University of London in 2014. She has also obtained several postgraduate diplomas and certificates in Corporate Governance, AML, Corporate and Securities Law, Banking and Finance Law from various institutions. She is currently concluding a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oxford as well as being trained under the University of Oxford’s Women’s Leadership Development program. She is also a certified member of the Chief of Staff Association.
Abiola currently works as the Associate Vice President, Corporate Secretariat at the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
Bisi Oni
Executive Director / COO, FundQuest Financial Services Limited
Bisi Oni
Executive Director / COO, FundQuest Financial Services Limited
Bisi is a seasoned economist who holds both his first Degree and master’s degree in economics from the University of Lagos. He is a Council Member and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (ACS) Nigeria. He is also an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (ACIB) Nigeria, and a fellow of the London-based Leadership for Environment and Development where he has been involved in developing initiatives in the areas of business and investment sustainability.
Career wise, Bisi has notably held several managerial and leadership positions in the finance sector. He was a Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FBN Securities Limited (the stockbrokerage business of First Bank of Nigeria Plc), and prior to this, he was the Head, Funds Asset Management of FBN Capital Limited, with responsibilities for FBN Heritage Fund and principal investment.
Bisi has an extensive experience in the provision of investment advisory, strategy, personal finance, economic research, stock brokerage and portfolio management.
An articulate system thinker, who combines rich understanding of economics with investment, Bisi has featured at several C-level corporate events speaking on a broad range of topics across corporate restructuring, equity investing, strategy formulation and corporate motivation.
Presently, Bisi serves as the Executive Director and COO of FundQuest Financial Services Limited, a financial institution which seeks to provide innovative funding and financing solutions across modern Africa.
Prof Justice Emuoyibofarhe
Professor of Computer Science
Prof Justice Emuoyibofarhe
Professor of Computer Science
Emuoyibofarhe O. Justice is a Professor of Computer Science and the immediate past Dean of the faculty of computing and Informatics and the current Director Software Engineering Institute at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso and a Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society. His research interest is in the application of Mobile Computing, Wireless Communication computational intelligence and Software Engineering to e-Health and Telemedicine applications for quality health care service delivery in developing country context.
He had his Bachelor of Technology [B.Tech (Hons)] Degree in Mathematics and Computer Science, from the Federal University of Technology, Minna, 1997, and a Masters of Technology (M.Tech) in Applied Mathematics with specialization in Artificial Neural Networks from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in 2000. He received his Ph.D in 2004 from the Federal University of Technology, Minna. He specialized in computational Intelligence (Neuro-fuzzy computing/ Computational Optimization). He had a one year post-doctoral Research fellowship at the Huawei-Telkom Centre of Excellence for Mobile e-Services, Department of Computer Science, University of Zululand, Republic of South Africa in 2006. He is a member of the Society of Telemedicine and e-Health in Nigeria, where he also served as the second vice president of the society between 2012 and 2015. He is also a member of the Computer Professional (Registration Council of) Nigeria (CPN). He is a member of the (IEEE) Computational Intelligence Society.
He joined the services the Department of Computer Science and Engineering of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso in September 1998 as a graduate Assistant,. He was the acting Head of Computer Science and Engineering Department in 2012 and became the substantive Head of the same department between 2013 and 2015 upon becoming a professor. In 2012 he served in the capacity of the Acting Director of LAUTECH ICT Center. He was the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, between 2009 and 2012. Since 2006 till date he has been actively conducting reseach and teaching the application of mobile computing and wirelss communication to quality healthcare service provisioning and delivery, medical informatics, e-health and telemedicine, soft computing and artificial intelligence a research area where he has supervised and produced several post graduate students both at the Doctoral (10) and Masters (18) level.
He has over 80 published articles in both reputable journals and peer reviewed conference proceedings locally and internationally. He has attended and presented papers at several international conferences and workshops in Africa, Europe (France, Germany, Luxemburg, Belgium), Israel and the United States. Since 2010, he has been a regular visiting researcher to the Hasso Plattner Institut, Potsdam, Germany where he has been involved in collaborative research projects on e-Health and Telemedicine for Africa.
He is the Head of the Mobile and e-Computing Research group and organizer/conference chair of the International conference on Mobile e-Services. He is married to Dr. (Mrs.) Ozichi Emuoyibofarhe of the Computer and Information Technology Department, BOWEN University. The marriage is blessed with Pheobe, Precious and Progress.
Gabriel Okeowo
Country Director, BudgIT
Gabriel Okeowo
Country Director, BudgIT
Gabriel Okeowo is the Country Director of BudgIT Foundation, Nigeria – a civic organization that uses creative technology to simplify public information, stimulating a community of active citizens and enabling their right to demand accountability, institutional reforms, efficient service delivery and an equitable society.
Gabriel is a social development professional with over 15 years of progressive experience in the NGO sector. Gabriel’s background is in behavioural science and an advanced degree in Project Development and Implementation. He also possesses skills and Certification in Data Processing and Management Information systems (DPMIS).
Gabriel’s experience cut across social integration, human development, community development, health promotion, organizational development, and promotion of public sector transparency and accountability. Gabriel has led a number of development projects, with international organizations, nationally and across African countries with funding support from Global Fund, World Bank, EU, Dutch Government, and other international foundations.
Currently, at BudgIT, Gabriel is responsible for the overall organizational strategy and for managing various departments/project teams in the organization, interfacing with donors, raising funds for projects, reviewing organizational plans and budgets, and overseeing brand visibility strategy.
Kunle Adegoke
CEO, Archiscope Limited
Kunle Adegoke
CEO, Archiscope Limited
Mr Kunle Adegoke, an Architect by profession with over 36 years in Building and Real Estate Development.
He started his profession with Tropics Consult in Ibadan as a Project Architect between 1987 to 1989.
He later moved to Lagos where he joined Logbon Estate and Properties, Eko Court, Victoria Island where he was the Resident
Architect from 1989 to 2001.
He is now the Managing Director of Archiscope Limited, a company he started 23 years ago.
He has been involved in the Design, Construction and Project Management of various projects in different parts of the country.
He is also a Director of Innovations Facility Services Limited with the head office at Plot 318, Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Arturo Machado
Research and Development Director, ST Engineering Hackney (High Tech Manufacturing)
Arturo Machado
Research and Development Director, ST Engineering Hackney (High Tech Manufacturing)
Arturo Machado is a professional engineer in the United States of America where he currently works as Director of Research and Development for STE Engineering (a multinational company based out of Singapore). He also works as a business Mentor with Branches International, a Non-for-Profit organization that provides consulting and business mentoring to entrepreneurs in 20+ countries around the globe.
Mr. Machado holds Bachelor, Masters, and PhD degrees in Mechanical Engineering. He has successfully worked in the professional field in the areas of Product Development, Innovation, Research and Development, Project Management in the Automotive, Transportation and Materials industries in the United States of America for the last 35 years.
Arturo was born and raised in Mexico but moved to the United States of America in 2000, where he currently resides and is a citizen of. Arturo has 5 beautiful daughters (ages 21 to 31) and currently lives in the State of South Carolina. He is a member of the Morningstar Church and Morningstar Fellowship of Ministries.
Mr. Machado has pursued the Lord Jesus Christ since his early life when he invited Jesus to be His Lord and Savior at the age of 13. The Lord Jesus Christ is the main passion and pursuit in Arturo’s life.
Arturo also holds a bachelor’s in biblical studies and has been able to work as a lay servant in roles such as Youth Pastor, Worship Leader, Men’s Ministry, Bible School Teacher, Elder and Associate Pastor.
Arturo is passionate about mentoring young professionals and has spent some time traveling internationally both in Ministry and the Business world in places like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, India, China, Italy, Austria, Germany, and Canada. He is fluent in 4 languages.
Prof. Julius Kola Oloke
Vice Chancellor, Computer Science, Precious Cornerstone University
Prof. Julius Kola Oloke
Vice Chancellor, Computer Science, Precious Cornerstone University
Professor Oloke was born in 17th December 1958. He obtained a PhD in Microbiology from Obafemi Awolowo University in 1989. He became a Professor of Microbiology and Biotechnology at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in 1999.
Between 1993 and 1994 he did some genetic engineering work on an unusual isolate of Bacillus thurigiensis at the Biology Department University of Waterloo; Ontario Canada. As a result of this preliminary work, the organism was deposited at the American Culture Collection Centre (NRRL) as Bacillus thurigiensis oloke and filed for American Patent with ascension number WO/1997/041235.
The research group of Professor Oloke successfully constructed a Computerized Bioreactor and Computerized Temporary Immersion Bioreactor which are very vital in microbial fermentation and plant tissue culture. The Bioreactors were adjudged one of the ten outstanding research work at the First ever NUC Research Fair in Abuja. This feat contributed to fetching Ladoke Akintola University of Technology the First position among all the States Universities of Nigeria for three consecutive years. This research discovery has since been acquired by the National Biotechnology Development Agency; Abuja; Nigeria.
In a quest to find a long-lasting solution to immuno-compromised conditions, Professor Oloke formulated an immune modulating agent known as Trinity Immuno-booster (Trino IB). It was given a NAFDAC number in 2007 and has been successfully used for the management of different immuno-compromised conditions both in Nigeria and some other countries. As a result of this feat Professor Oloke was conferred with National Productivity Order of Merit Award by the Federal Government of Nigeria in August 2012.
In Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso; he has served in different Administrative Posts like Head, Department of Pure and Applied Biology; Director, Academic Planning and Chairman, Pre-Degree Science Program.
Professor Oloke has served as a member of Governing Councils for Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and at The Nigerian Baptist Theology Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria
He has graduated more than twenty Doctoral students some of which have become Professors.
Professor Oloke who has served as a member of NUC Accreditation Panels to three Universities and had been a Visiting Professor to University of Lagos and Osun State University.
Among his international travels, in May 2014, Professor Oloke was specially invited to All Saints University College of Medicine in St Vincent and Grenadines as a Foundation Dean for the Faculty of Science. During his stay in All Saints University he played a major role in the accreditation excise of the University and assisted the University in setting up a Research Committee.
He has been the Chairman LAUTECH Christian Community since 1991 till date. He was the Ogbomoso Baptist Conference Representative at National Executive of Nigerian Baptist Convention for eight years.
In August 2018 Professor J K Oloke was appointed as the Pioneer Vice Chancellor of Precious Cornerstone University Ibadan. He has been able to bring on board his wealth of experience to build a university with strong entrepreneurship drive empowering students to be employer of labor. The first set of students graduated in a Convocation Ceremony that was held in November 2022.
At the advent of COVID-19, Professor Oloke led other scientists to develop two COVID-19 vaccines. The vaccines are at the stage of animal trials.
Professor Oloke is a Certified Health and Wellness Coach by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He is also a Certified Behavioral Coach by Precision Nutrition.
He is married with children.
Amanda Hufford
Founder, Context Design Studio
Amanda Hufford
Founder, Context Design Studio
Amanda is a built environment educator, researcher, and practitioner driven by her cultural curiosity and observation of local and wider contexts in which our places and spaces are situated. After completing bachelor degrees in environmental design and arts she continued to earn a masters of architecture from Savannah College of Art and Design and a masters of research with distinction from University of Lincoln (UK). Her international experience includes the USA, New Zealand, Italy, and the UK. Before assuming full time roles in higher education Amanda worked with the award winning NZ based architecrtural firm Herriot Melhuish O’Neill Architects which influenced her approach to working outside of her immediate cultural context.
Leading the internationalised postgraduate course in architecture and urban studies at the University of Lincoln provided the opportunity to gain further knowledge around the relationship between people, place, and how design (particularly placemaking) can create and support healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities. Her approach [to design] is context driven and led by respect for local culture, climate, material, and community.
As an extension of this built environment design studio and along with her interest in social enterprise she launched her consultancy Context Design Studio with the aim to offer design thinking and to facilitate participatory initiatives to clients and organizations who wish to develop projects which provide inclusivity and social impact in their communities. Her mission is to provide a framework through which a holistic and context driven approach to sustainability can be achieved supporting communities socially, economically, and environmentally.
Olorunfemi Omotayo
Head of Training and Learning, Teachers Academy Africa
Remi Odunsi
Chief Executive Officer, Eridan Group
Remi Odunsi
Chief Executive Officer, Eridan Group
Remi Odunsi is an accomplished management executive, dedicated social impact advocate, and prolific entrepreneur with a wealth of experience spanning more than 30 years across various industries including Banking, Insurance, Automobile, Real Estate, and FMCG. She is widely recognized for her remarkable ability to secure high-value deals and her expertise in internal control, sales and marketing, product development, operations, and strategic planning. Her proficiency as an administrator is exceptional, complemented by her versatility and forward-thinking approach in anticipating market trends and capitalizing on emerging opportunities. As the co-founder and CEO of Eridan Group, she also holds non-executive management roles in prominent companies both locally and internationally, including Executive Coach Builders, Karrabo, and ShopTopUp MFB.
Remi's extensive educational background includes a Bsc (Hons) in Management and Accounting from the University of Ile Ife in 1991, followed by an MBA in Information and Communication Technology from EDHEC Business School in France. She is a qualified member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA) in the UK. Additionally, she has completed prestigious executive education programs at the Lagos Business School, MIT Sloane, and Harvard Business School.
Beyond her corporate endeavors, Remi Odunsi is a valuable contributor to her community. She served as a member of the Land Use and Allocation Committee in Lagos State and currently holds the position of President at Jesus Ministries, Nigeria. She is also the Founder of Comfort Stream Global Care Foundation and Threefold Impact Development Foundation. In summary, Remi Odunsi is a highly accomplished professional and serial entrepreneur, leveraging her expertise to excel in financial services, automobile, and FMCG industries while actively contributing to social causes and community development.
Anu Agboola
COO, Loft Africa
Anu Agboola
COO, Loft Africa
Experienced C-Level executive with a passion for emerging markets and economies, with over 2 decades of multi-sectoral experience across E-Commerce, Distribution,E-Commerce Logistics (Fulfillment Operations), FMCG, Food, Conglomerates, Manufacturing, Retail, Supply-Chain Management, Logistics, Transport, Techlogistics, Telecommunications, and Healthcare industries,with end-to-end Supply Chain management skills in fulfillment operations, project and process management,human resource management,business process re-engineering, competitive bench-marking, transport management, operations, management, financial management,marketing management,market research and forecasting.
Accomplishments include :
*Improved customer confidence and business growth in Logistics and Services, across the verticals: Agro commodities,FMCG, Chemicals and Reefers, plus Lead Logistics projects via logistics solutions and problem-solving,leading to the award of Maersk's Star Awards within my first 5 months in Maersk.
*Increasing the fleet size of LORI (Nigeria) from 1000 trucks,by over 700% and utilising these trucks to do 3 triangular moves,a month,in less than a year,via Lori's transport technology,processes and systems,resulting in growth in Lori's market share.
*Setting-up and optimisation of 3PL fulfilment partners for Jumia and Konga in 5 years,for expanding the e-commerce brands.
*Growth of the lifestyle brand(Markham),a part of The Foschini Group, TFG (Pty)SA in West Africa,via expanding the offline retail, distribution and customer-base.
*Growing the AVAYA brand in the IT hardware industry, to a 15% market share in the industry.
*Expansion of the Meyer PLC's market of transport products(paints and consumables),leading to a 25% growth in market share, in the Nigerian market(Lagos region).
*Implementation of Project 2010 for Big Treat PLC,in her bid to be the market leader in Nigeria's QSR industry.
Aanuoluwapo has managed projects in the retail,healthcare,distribution,lifestyle, consumer goods,QSR and manufacturing industries,with focus on expansion,integration,process re-engineering, retail operations,change management and product development.
My objective is to offer services and products that make for informed decision-making for indigenous and foreign investors to guarantee the desired ROI,ROE,market share and customer base,within the desired time-frame.
Ayoola Ojo
Value Innovator, Tenposs Limited
Ayoola Ojo
Value Innovator, Tenposs Limited
Ojo Ayoola is a polymath with a diverse skill set spanning industrial and creative design, entrepreneurship, and a passion for innovative storytelling. His educational background includes a
degree in Food Science from Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomoso (LAUTECH), and completion of the FATE Foundation Aspiring Entrepreneur Program (AEP) Class 46. Currently, He is currently pursuing an
MBA program at Coventry University in Coventry, UK, and recently completed an EDC-OXFAM led program at Lagos Business School.
Charmaine Smith
Co-Founder, Infundo
Charmaine Smith
Co-Founder, Infundo
Charmaine Smith started her career in education. Subsequent to her formal teaching and education experience Charmaine has been involved since 2006 in effecting development impact projects in South African rural and peri-urban communities and in Uganda; Tanzania; Kenya and Tanzania. Charmaine has worked in strategic areas of impact as well as working on the ground in communities. This has allowed her to grow her skill sets in both operational and strategic areas of development.
Charmaine co-founded Infundo Consulting in 2007; to provide a vehicle for larger long-term work in development. Infundo’s Building Sustainable Communities framework combines business strategy outcomes with community development impact and is backed by 15 years of proven performance results in tangible documented outcomes.
Through Infundo and the various board roles Charmaine has worked extensively with corporate sponsors and donors; stakeholders; Boards & Committees; Executive teams; Government structures; Community forums; School Management teams; School Governing bodies; NGO’s; CBO’s and other relevant bodies in the pursuit of creating sustainable communities with social justice and sustainable economies at the heart of her work.
Charmaine has shared her passion for social justice at speaking engagements in business and development forums in SA and Ghana. She also served as conference chair for the 7th Annual Board Secretaries & General Counsels conference in March 2022.
She was acknowledged for her work by Finweek in 2015 – on their list of “Women to Watch”.
RELEVANT LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE:
- Director Infundo Consulting (Pty) Ltd (2007 - )
- Chairperson READ Educational Trust (November 2017 - )
- Board member of Nation Builder (Mergon Integrate) (January 2018 - )
- Member of Mergon Allocations Board (2018 – Nov 2022 )
- Trustee Muthobi Trust (2020 –)
- Director Muthobi Partners (2022 - )
- Non Exec Director King Price Insurance (May 2019 - ) and King Price Financial Services
- Chair Risk Committee King Price (May 2019 - )
- Chair Social And Ethics Committee (August 2021 - )
Charmaine is married to Peter; they share 5 children and 4 grandchildren
Stephen Fola-Badejo
Founder/CEO, LogiTrak
Stephen Fola-Badejo
Founder/CEO, LogiTrak
Stephen FolaBadejo is a Tech Entrepreneur, he is the Founder and CEO of The Removalist Logistics (a relocation company) and LogiTrak Africa (a full E-logistics company connecting vetted and trusted truckers to B2B, B2C and B2G businesses that needs to move their cargo and freight across Nigeria and Africa), both companies has its HQ based in Lagos Nigeria with partners across Africa and Europe. Both companies came into existence by divine, first in 2015 and second in 2020 during the hit of the pandemics.
Since founding these companies, they have gone ahead to serve and still serving major multinationals and local brands across Nigeria and Africa.
He has won several local and international awards and has spoken on several local and international platforms on logistics and transportation. In 2021 alongside other African Entrepreneurs at ‘The Going Global Summit 2021’ organized by INNOPOWER, JP MORGAN CHASE AND CO AND ELEVEN FIFTY ACADEMY in INDIANNA U.S.A he won the African Innovator on the rise in Logistics/Tech sector.
He also won the Grand Nigeria Business Awards in the logistics and transportation category in year 2022
Recently, LogiTrak made it to the regional finals of the GLOBAL STARTUP AWARDS AFRICA in the Logisticstech/Mobility category.
He has been featured on Business Incorporated on Channels TV, BBC Africa, Startup Lagos, and by several blogs, podcasts and business magazines with articles on entrepreneurship and logistics in Africa, UK and US (Business Africa Online, Founders Podcast UK, Foundamental USA etc.), He also recently spoke at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Yearly Conference in Rwanda and at the 4th edition of The Lagos Transport Fest where the governor and other delegates were in attendace. He is an Ambassador of NYAGGI (National Youth Advocacy for good Governance Initiative), and an Ambassador of AfCFTA (The African Continental Free Trade Area), with active engagement on Africa Trade. He believes the AfCFTA will bring freedom to African trade if African can leverage on technology as a tool.
Recently his company LogiTrak Africa, launched a new insuretech product to automate claims and easy access to insurance products for truckers and those in haulage businesses in Nigeria.
He is a graduate of Human Physiology from LAUTECH, has a degree in Business Development and Entrepreneurship from E.D.C of The Lagos Business School, Business Growth and Intl Business Expansion from Harvard Business School Online and an alumni of Founder Institute (a U.S.A Silicon Valley Based Institute that helps tech founders scale their startup and turn their startup to global businesses). He has a certification in Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of things. And he is a member of the C.I.L.T (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) Nigeria.
He is married to Doyinsade FolaBadejo Creative Director Adalyn Apparels a female fashion brand based in Lagos and blessed with a strong, agile, and upward mobile son.
Dr. Oladipo Elijah Kolawole (PhD)
Founder, Helix Biogen Institute
Dr. Oladipo Elijah Kolawole (PhD)
Founder, Helix Biogen Institute
Dr. Oladipo Elijah Kolawole is an International Fellow of the Indian Council of Medical Research /AU-STRC with a PhD in Medical Virology and Immunology from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. Presently, he holds a faculty position (HOD) at the Department of Microbiology, Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria. Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. Skilled in Nonprofit Organizations, Microsoft Word, Molecular Biology, Cell Culture, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Strong business development professional who graduated from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
His primary research focuses on infectious diseases caused by RNA viruses, molecular epidemiology/surveillance, diagnosis, pathogenesis, molecular immunology, viral immunology and oncology, viral computational biology, antiviral resistance, and antibiotics resistance. Also into interspecies transmission dynamics of emerging infectious diseases particularly those caused by RNA viruses. His research is directed towards uncovering how host immune pressure and transmission affect the genetic diversity of RNA viruses with the application of molecular biology, bioinformatics, and immunoinformatics.
He received a research grant from CDC through IRR during his Ph. D. studies. He has won various awards and grants to attend international conferences from bodies such as African Union, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, International Society for Influenza and Respiratory Viruses, TWAS SAREP, UNESCO, Wellcome, Institute of Endemic Diseases Sudan, African Academy of Science, PATH, Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS), Federation of African Immunological Societies (FAIS) and Kenya Society For Immunology (KSI), African Partnership for Chronic Disease Research [APCDR], by International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology [ICGEB], National Institute of General Medical Science U.S., National Institutes of Health [NIH], H3ABioNet, Nigerian Bioinformatics, and Genomics Network, Centre for Genomics Research and Innovation, MacArthur Foundation, EDCTP, UKaid from the British people, Medical Research Council, University of Glasgow, KEMRI/Wellcome Trust, Wellcome Centre Molecular Parasitology, iDeAL and Pwani University.
He is the Founder of the fast-growing genomic institute "Helix Biogen Institute, Ogbomoso { known as “Helix Biogen Consult”}. He is the team leader for the COVID-19 candidate vaccine that is currently on WHO draft landscape for all COVID-19 vaccine candidates.
Uche Aniche
Convener, Startup South
Uche Aniche
Convener, Startup South
Uche Aniche is a tech and business innovation leader, an Angel Investor and an emerging Africa-focused Fund Manager with over two decades of experience in business communication, process design, Startup & Innovation Management, Product development and Community Leadership.
He's arguably the foremost advocate for Startup/Entrepreneurship Ecosystem development in Nigeria with a special focus on the South-South/South-East through #StartupSouth has helped founders raise $Millions across Nigeria. He is the CEO of Havilah & Hills Innovative Systems Limited, Convener, #StartupSouth - a Startup & Innovation Community/Project inspiring the next generation of high-scale founders in Nigeria’s South-South/South-East regions. He is also a Director at SSE Angel Network, Communications Director at Imo Economic Summit Group and General Partner at Rebel Seed Capital.
Yemisi Isidi
Co-Owner, Cirkle Lab
Yemisi Isidi
Co-Owner, Cirkle Lab
Yemisi Isidi has contributed tangibly to the growth of the Digital Economy in the North Central, particularly in Kwara State where she yearly organises the Ilorin Digital Summit and launched Cirkle Labs which is focused on enabling more youth access to decent jobs and growing their businesses using digital tools.
Also, Yemisi has worked as a facilitator, mentor, advisor, trainer, and coach on various incubators, accelerators, and training programs across Africa, assisting over 2000 entrepreneurs (70% women and youth) in creating over 935 jobs, securing funding, increasing monthly revenue by over 75 million Naira, improving their business structure, establishing global businesses, leveraging digital tools and platforms, and appearing on various local and international media platforms.
She has had a distinguished career in Nigeria and the UK, working with governmental, corporate, and NGOs in various sectors. She is also a World Economic Forum Global Shaper with Abuja Hub where she is the education and entrepreneurship lead.
At Triift Africa, where she is co-founder, she provides access to capital for businesses especially women-owned businesses and a vast range of support that enables the start and growth of businesses in Africa.
Dr. Jinmisayo Awokola
Director of Business Development, Unitellas Edge Cloud Services Limited
Dr. Jinmisayo Awokola
Director of Business Development, Unitellas Edge Cloud Services LimitedDr. Jinmisayo A. Awokola is an Assistant Professor of Computing with about 15 years of experience both in the academia and industry. He has been a part of several projects within the FINTECH, EdTECH and HealthTech spaces to mention but a few. He currently serves as the Director of Business, Unitellas Edge Cloud Services – a Cloud infrastructure company at the forefront of championing data sovereignty and domestication across Africa with the notable 1Government Cloud project of the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the Galaxy Backbone as a flagship. He is a Digital Transformation and Digital Literacy Consultant and enthusiast, with over a decade long active involvement in several notable Digital Literacy advocacy projects within Nigeria and across Africa. He is also an alumni of the prestigious Lagos Business School, an academic member of the FINTECH Association of Nigeria, a full Member of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) as well as the Society for Telemedicine and e-Health in Nigeria. While undertaking his PhD research, he was a visiting doctoral research fellow at the Internet Technologies and Systems Chair of the Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam. Dr. Awokola is happily married with children.
Prof Agbaje Lateef
Professor of Nano Technology, LAUTECH
Prof Agbaje Lateef
Professor of Nano Technology, LAUTECH
Prof. Agbaje Lateef is a Professor of Microbiology at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Nigeria. He is the Head of LAUTECH Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO+) (www.lautechnanotech.com), a multidisciplinary research group founded in 2014. He has published widely in Microbiology, Biotechnology and Nanobiotechnology culminating in more than 160 research articles; about 80 of which are in nanobiotechnology. In early 2021, he rallied scientists from seven countries in four continents to produce the pioneering textbook ‘Microbial Nanobiotechnology: Principles and Applications’ which was published by Springer-Nature Pte Ltd. (Singapore).
Prof. Lateef is the Editor-in-Chief of a specialized journal on nanotechnology, Nano Plus: Science and Technology of Nanomaterials (https://stnanojournal.org/), which is indexed in CrossRef, and also member of Editorial Board of Discover Biotechnology (Springer). His exploits have led to winning of grants and development of bioproducts such as neosugar, biocatalysts, nano-textile, citric acid, nano-paint, nano-pesticides and nano-fertilizers among others that are awaiting commercialization. His research group has publicized nanotechnology R&D through organization of annual workshops/conferences since 2017 and release of more than 50 news items on nanotechnology in several national and international electronic and print media. His citation on Google Scholar is >5800 with h-index of 49. He has been rated among top 2% scientists in the World (2020-2023) in joint studies by Elsevier B.V and Stanford University, USA. He has also received Vice-Chancellor’s commendation award and commendation letter from the Governing Council of LAUTECH
Dr. Taofeek Abdul-Hameed
Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State
Emeka Okoye
Founder, Open Data NG
Emeka Okoye
Founder, Open Data NG
Emeka is a Senior Knowledge Engineer with Cymantiks Limited, a company that makes Government, Organizations and Cities smarter using Semantic Technologies and Computational Linguistics, for Modeling, Knowledge Representation, and Ontology Engineering, en-route to exploiting the opportunities in their Data Assets, Science Investments for Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics to simulate human decision-making and high-level cognitive tasks that can be used to solve complex problems and achieve their desired Digital Transformation objectives.
In the last 25 years, Emeka has been at the forefront of technology and innovation in Nigeria from cofounding the earliest startup (ngex.com) to building cognitive solutions (Knowledge Graph on Disease Incidences, Nigerian Law Reports & Data, African Films) to building Smart Agents, Software Autonomous Systems and Rules as Codes (RaC) using Semantic AI and Blockchain technology.
Emeka is able to understand and explain technologies from deep diving under the hood to the value proposition level. He believes that Linked Data, Blockchain and AI will change and improve the way we live and work, and he is passionate about designing and building systems that will make this happen, and teaching others to do this as well.
He has been listed among the top 20 most influential Technology people in Africa (2013) by South Africa IT News to name a few.
He groks at the intersection of Digital Societies, Fintech, Economic Development, Public Health, Urbanization, Behavioral Sciences, Open Data and Semantic AI on Twitter (@EmekaOkoye).
Tommy Michael
CEO, L'Orbe
Tommy Michael
CEO, L'Orbe
Michael Light Tommy is a creative explorer at the nexus of human experience, visual creativity, and technology. In partnership with his wife, Oto, Michael co-founded L’Orbe Creative Excellence Initiative, a nonprofit which drives human flourishing in underserved communities by facilitating creative expression, enterprise and excellence. He is also the co-founder and Creative Director of Asterism Communications, a design and communications brand.
With over 7 years of experience as a visual designer, MichaEL has executed several high-impact design projects for individuals and corporate brands, local and international. Some of these include Honeywell Group Limited, Co-creation Hub Nigeria, Primlak’s Sympli, KTN-UK Aid, Dole App. MichaEL is also responsible for Minister Dunsin Oyekan’s most recent album cover designs. These albums have had combined cross-platform streams of more than 20 million.
Michael’s multiple streams of creativity have seen him featured on notable national and international platforms. In 2016, he was featured on CNN Africa as one of the most outstanding illustrators to have participated in Inktober 2016. My Salvation Story, a storytelling blog created by MichaEL was also featured on YNaija, etc.
In addition to being on a boundless exploration of the influence of visual creativity on people, places and culture, MichaEL is committed to seeing the rise of more high-impact creatives from underserved communities who create with a culture of excellence and with a focus on human flourishing.
Oluwaseyi Gbadebo
Creative Director, BZL Crew & Konkéré Designs
Oluwaseyi Gbadebo
Creative Director, BZL Crew & Konkéré Designs
For over a decade, Oluwaseyi Gbadebo has been a noteworthy leader in the creative space. A versatile artist, muralist, instructor, and creative entrepreneur, He founded numerous creative companies, some of which include; House of Bezalel, BZL CREW
(Nigeria's top leading Mural agency), and Konkere Designs (an afro urban concrete design brand).
Gbadebo has been featured in numerous art exhibitions, at home and abroad, and has been honoured for his contributions to the art industry.
He holds a B.Tech Degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and he currently resides with his wife in Oyo state.
Tayo Sobowale
Digitalising the Sporting Experience in Ogbomoso for Global Relevance
Jesudamilare “JD” Adesegun-David
Co-Founder, Ennovate Lab
Jesudamilare “JD” Adesegun-David
Co-Founder, Ennovate Lab
Jesudamilare "JD" Adesegun-David is a Community Transformation Strategist. Ennovate Lab, a community he co-leads, is an Innovation Hub and a Startup Foundry committed to building resilient innovation ecosystems in underserved university communities in Africa.
A graduate of Agronomy in 2011 and a Teach with Africa Fellow (South Africa) in 2015, he has a knack for bridging the seeming divide between diverse disciplines. In 2019, he was recognized by YNaija in its New Establishment List for his work in underserved communities and he has been featured in other local and global media.
As an ecosystem builder, he has resourced and mentored hundreds of entrepreneurs and tech talents in conjunction with local and global organizations including AfriLabs, Eridan Group, StudentBuild, GDG, Startup Grind, Hult Foundation, GIZ, Atos, and Impact Hub among others.
In 2021, he became a Branches Worldwide Leader and a We Will Lead Africa Fellow and in 2022, he became a Butterfly Works-certified Design Thinking Mentor.
In his quest to ensure his work consistently leads to human flourishing and virtuous culture creation, he recently completed the Praxis Academy course on Redemptive Business, a program by Praxis Labs, New York, USA.
Emeka Okoye
Founder, Open Data NG
Emeka Okoye
Founder, Open Data NG
Emeka is a Senior Knowledge Engineer with Cymantiks Limited, a company that makes Government, Organizations and Cities smarter using Semantic Technologies and Computational Linguistics, for Modeling, Knowledge Representation, and Ontology Engineering, en-route to exploiting the opportunities in their Data Assets, Science Investments for Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics to simulate human decision-making and high-level cognitive tasks that can be used to solve complex problems and achieve their desired Digital Transformation objectives.
In the last 25 years, Emeka has been at the forefront of technology and innovation in Nigeria from cofounding the earliest startup (ngex.com) to building cognitive solutions (Knowledge Graph on Disease Incidences, Nigerian Law Reports & Data, African Films) to building Smart Agents, Software Autonomous Systems and Rules as Codes (RaC) using Semantic AI and Blockchain technology.
Emeka is able to understand and explain technologies from deep diving under the hood to the value proposition level. He believes that Linked Data, Blockchain and AI will change and improve the way we live and work, and he is passionate about designing and building systems that will make this happen, and teaching others to do this as well.
He has been listed among the top 20 most influential Technology people in Africa (2013) by South Africa IT News to name a few.
He groks at the intersection of Digital Societies, Fintech, Economic Development, Public Health, Urbanization, Behavioral Sciences, Open Data and Semantic AI on Twitter (@EmekaOkoye).
Tommy Michael
CEO, L'Orbe
Tommy Michael
CEO, L'Orbe
Michael Light Tommy is a creative explorer at the nexus of human experience, visual creativity, and technology. In partnership with his wife, Oto, Michael co-founded L’Orbe Creative Excellence Initiative, a nonprofit which drives human flourishing in underserved communities by facilitating creative expression, enterprise and excellence. He is also the co-founder and Creative Director of Asterism Communications, a design and communications brand.
With over 7 years of experience as a visual designer, MichaEL has executed several high-impact design projects for individuals and corporate brands, local and international. Some of these include Honeywell Group Limited, Co-creation Hub Nigeria, Primlak’s Sympli, KTN-UK Aid, Dole App. MichaEL is also responsible for Minister Dunsin Oyekan’s most recent album cover designs. These albums have had combined cross-platform streams of more than 20 million.
Michael’s multiple streams of creativity have seen him featured on notable national and international platforms. In 2016, he was featured on CNN Africa as one of the most outstanding illustrators to have participated in Inktober 2016. My Salvation Story, a storytelling blog created by MichaEL was also featured on YNaija, etc.
In addition to being on a boundless exploration of the influence of visual creativity on people, places and culture, MichaEL is committed to seeing the rise of more high-impact creatives from underserved communities who create with a culture of excellence and with a focus on human flourishing.
Oluwaseyi Gbadebo
Creative Director, BZL Crew & Konkéré Designs
Oluwaseyi Gbadebo
Creative Director, BZL Crew & Konkéré Designs
For over a decade, Oluwaseyi Gbadebo has been a noteworthy leader in the creative space. A versatile artist, muralist, instructor, and creative entrepreneur, He founded numerous creative companies, some of which include; House of Bezalel, BZL CREW
(Nigeria's top leading Mural agency), and Konkere Designs (an afro urban concrete design brand).
Gbadebo has been featured in numerous art exhibitions, at home and abroad, and has been honoured for his contributions to the art industry.
He holds a B.Tech Degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and he currently resides with his wife in Oyo state.
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