Kemi Ajumobi 
It is another edition of IWA and it’s our joy to let you know this is our 60th edition. Coincidentally, it falls on the edition where we get to announce the speakers for our annual conference. Most importantly, it is our 15th edition of the conference. We had an exciting time last year as we were honoured to have the immediate past President of Ethiopia, H.E Sahle-Work Zewde as our keynote speaker. It was filled with awe-packed moments.
This year, we are honoured to have another distinguished woman who was the first female Prime Minister of Togo, whose tenure ended in 2025. She is H.E Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé, and she is our keynote speaker for 2026. She will be physically present in Nigeria and is looking forward to the 10th to be with us.
The theme for this year says: ‘Resilience: Catalyst for Indisputable Outcomes’ and we cannot wait to hear the stories of our speakers on the theme.
Meet the speakers of IWA Conference 2026:
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
H.E. VICTOIRE TOMEGAH-DOGBÉ
Former Prime Minister, Togo
H.E Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé is a distinguished Togolese stateswoman whose career reflects a steadfast commitment to development, social justice, and inclusion. Appointed in September 2020 as the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of Togo, she has left an indelible mark on the nation’s political history through a leadership style that is pragmatic, disciplined, and deeply humane.
She holds a Master’s degree in Economic and Commercial Sciences, with a specialisation in Business Management from the University of Benin–Lomé; a Master’s degree in Governance and Development from Jones International University, New York; and a diploma in Financial Management obtained in Denmark. Over the course of her career, she has distinguished herself through a combination of technical expertise, strategic acumen, and an unwavering commitment to delivering results.
Before entering public service, she held senior positions in the private sector, including at the Togolese Plastics Industry (ITP) and Shell Togo, where she developed a strong foundation in managerial discipline. She subsequently joined the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), undertaking restructuring missions in several African countries and serving as Deputy Resident Representative in Congo-Brazzaville, Burkina Faso, and Benin.
Called to serve the State in 2008, she was entrusted with the Ministry for Grassroots Development, initially as Deputy Minister, and later as the full Minister in charge of this newly established department.
Her mandate was clear: to promote grassroots development, reduce social inequalities, and enhance inclusion. To this end, she initiated and led significant programmes on community mobilisation, the institutionalisation of grassroots development committees, and the strengthening of local group and community capacities.
She also championed the establishment of a favourable legal framework for the development of the crafts sector, launched the Economic Activities Support Project for community groups, and created key institutions such as the National Volunteer Agency of Togo (ANVT) and the National Grassroots Development Support Agency (ANADEB). One of her flagship initiatives, the National Fund for Inclusive Finance (FNFI), which she designed and led, has become a cornerstone in empowering women economically through financial education and access to microcredit. This period marked a defining phase in her public service journey and reinforced her deep belief that development cannot be decreed; it must be co-built with and for the people, with a particular emphasis on women, youth, and the most vulnerable.
In parallel to her ministerial duties, she held the strategic role of Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic from 2009 to 2020, becoming the first woman to assume this responsibility. In this capacity, she coordinated key reforms and strategic priorities, notably the development of the National Development Plan (PND), and contributed to shaping a governance model focused on results and national transformation.
Appointed Prime Minister on 28 September 2020, she oversaw, under the leadership of the Head of State, the diligent implementation of the Government Roadmap 2020–2025. Her tenure was characterised by strategic coordination rooted in consultation, performance, and accountability. Regular government retreats and the significantly improved execution rate of public investment programmes stand as testimony to her governance approach.
She led the national response to the COVID-19 pandemic and supervised the implementation of several landmark projects and reforms, such as Universal Health Insurance, the Emergency Programme for the Rehabilitation of Basic Social Services (PURS), and the Social Cohesion Project for the Northern Gulf of Guinea Regions (COSO).
Her unwavering commitment to the empowerment of women, particularly Togolese women, forms a central pillar of her public service. She devotes special attention to the promotion of women’s leadership, access to economic opportunities, and the recognition of the potential of young women. It is in this spirit that she initiated the Programme d’Excellence pour les Femmes Africaines (PEFA), a major pan-African initiative offering high-level support to high-potential young women from diverse backgrounds. This pioneering programme combines intensive training, mentoring, coaching, and networking to strengthen participants’ capacities in leadership, project management, and civic engagement. By fostering the emergence of a new generation of women leaders, PEFA is a natural extension of her work on the ground and reflects her inclusive vision of development, driven by the talents and energies of the African continent.
On the methodological front, she instituted an innovative public management approach based on inclusive analysis, co-construction of public policy, best practice consolidation, a strong territorial presence, and sustained regulatory activity.
Her leadership also helped enhance Togo’s international standing, notably through the country’s accession to the Commonwealth and the signing of a strategic cooperation framework with its Secretariat. She also coordinated relations with high-level partners such as the OECD, as part of the Economic Transformation Policy Review.
Alongside her official duties, Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé maintains a strong humanitarian commitment. As founder of the Dzidula Foundation, she actively supports the empowerment of women and the development of vulnerable communities. Through practical initiatives – including microcredit, mentoring, and training – over 10,000 women have been able to transform their lives. With discretion and determination, she continues to expand the Foundation’s outreach to other regions, empowering communities to create their own wealth. Her inclusive and socially just approach reflects her innate desire to offer everyone a fair chance and to help build a more equitable society.
In recognition of her distinguished service to the Nation and her unwavering dedication to the Togolese people, Mrs Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé was awarded the rank of Commander of the Order of Mono – one of the Republic’s highest honours – in 2014. She has also received several prestigious international awards, including the SenatsClub Prize in Bonn (2021) and the SignsAward (2022).
Married and a mother of four daughters, Mrs Victoire Tomégah-Dogbé is fluent in French and English, in addition to her native Ewe.
H.E Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development
Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim fsi is an international expert and thought leader in security, conflict resolution, humanitarian and disaster management, development and migration governance. She is driven by a passion to tackle critical and legacy issues impacting women, children, and vulnerable populations, and has dedicated her career to promoting inclusive development, stability, and social equity. Between 2019 and 2023, she served as a member of the Nasarawa State Investment and Economic Advisory Council, where she showcased her policy acumen and strategic insight, contributing significantly to the state’s development agenda while supporting efforts that delivered over $1 billion in investments.
Serving as Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Partnerships to the Minister of State for Education in 2020, she championed the Alternate School Programme, which earned the commendation of the highest policy decision making body in Nigeria – the Federal Executive Council, and continues to be a strategic initiative for reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. In December 2020, Hon Imaan’s exceptional leadership was recognised as she assumed the role of Director-General of The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
In recognition of her reform expertise, and commitment to national security and stability, she was appointed in August 2023, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the Ministry of Police Affairs (State), making her the First Female Minister of Police Affairs.
She is a fellow of Nigeria Security Institute, a Certified Personnel Management Professional, and a Certified SAP HCM Consultant, amongst other certifications. Imaan is a visiting lecturer at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership, and Development Studies in the University of Abuja, where she teaches postgraduate students about global migration governance and national security.
She also serves as a visiting lecturer at the University of Rome in Italy, contributing her expertise and insights to an international academic audience. Imaan holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Abuja, and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s of Art in Management (MA), both from Webster University, St Louis, Missouri(London Campus).
She is presently engaged in pursuing a Doctoral degree in Security and Strategic Studies at the prestigious Nigeria Defence Academy. With numerous awards locally and internationally under her belt in recognition of her dedication to impactful change,
As the Minister of Women Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, she is working tirelessly to create a future where every woman, child, and marginalised person in Nigeria can thrive with purpose, equality, and opportunity.
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN)
President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, FCIArb, is a Partner at ALP NG & Co. (Africa Law Practice NG & Company), where she serves as Co-Head of the firm’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. A distinguished barrister, alternative dispute resolution practitioner, and public policy professional, she has over two decades of experience advising and representing private individuals, corporate entities, and government institutions in complex commercial disputes before trial and appellate courts in Nigeria, as well as in domestic and international arbitral proceedings.
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and an Accredited CeDR Mediator, Oyinkansola is widely respected for her expertise in litigation, arbitration, mediation, regulatory compliance, justice sector reform, and public policy. Her practice is characterised by a strong commitment to dispute resolution as a tool for preserving commercial relationships and advancing access to justice.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002 after obtaining her LL.B (Hons) degree from the University of Lagos, where she had earlier earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in English, she commenced her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP. In 2007, she was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to the Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, working in the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore, SAN.
In that capacity, she contributed to significant justice sector initiatives, legislative reforms, and institutional strengthening programmes aimed at improving access to justice and protecting the rights of vulnerable citizens. Among the notable access to justice interventions undertaken during this period were the relocation of the Office of the Public Defender to a purpose-built and more accessible facility and the introduction of more humane transportation arrangements for inmates attending court proceedings.
In 2011, she was appointed General Counsel to the Governor of Lagos State, a position she held until 2015. During her eight years in public service, she advised on major policy initiatives, public-private partnerships, arbitration legislation, compliance matters, consumer protection issues, innovative home ownership initiatives and justice sector reforms.
She also served as a vital liaison between the Lagos State Government and the Nigerian Bar Association, facilitating sustained collaboration and support for numerous NBA activities, including branch law weeks and the 2011 Annual General Conference hosted in Lagos.
In 2017, she became a founding partner of Africa Law Practice NG & Company, which has since evolved into one of Nigeria’s leading commercial law firms with affiliations across Africa. As Co-Head of its Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice, she continues to provide strategic counsel on high-value disputes and complex legal matters across multiple sectors.
Oyinkansola is a member of the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), the African Arbitration Association, ArbitralWomen, the International Bar Association (IBA), the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and a Life Member of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA). She also serves on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA).
HON. JOSHUA AUDU GANA
Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Power, Federal House of Representative
HON. Joshua Audu Gana was past General Manager with Stirling Trust Company Limited, where he honourably resigned his Executive Management position to run for public service in the National Assembly, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and was successful at the Party Primaries in May, 2022 as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party to the General Elections held on February 25th, 2023.
Joshua was the former MD/CEO of Supertek Nigeria Limited. Supertek is a private company with Federal Government of Nigeria’s power generation licenses to generate 1000 Megawatts (MW) Independent Power Plant in Akwete, Abia State, Nigeria and 500 Megawatts (MW) Independent Power Plant (IPP) at Ajaokuta, Kogi State, Nigeria to produce electricity for the Nigerian economy.
He has successfully led Supertek through the successful acquisition of a sugar manufacturing company, “SUNTI SUGAR COMPANY IN LIQUIDATION” by the Bureau for Public Enterprises and transforming it to a huge sugarcane plantation processing facility at SUNTI, Niger State and sugar-refinery project at Apapa, Lagos State in partnership with the Flourmills of Nigeria PLC as ‘Golden Sugar Company Limited’, under the Sugar Development Master-Plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria amongst other uses.
Since 2014, Joshua Gana serves in the Holding Company of E-Barclays Holding Limited as Director, using his experience and training as a Management Consultant to enrich and engage international best practices with good governance principles and integrity.
Gana’s over 20 years’ experience in private sector is rich and vast in corporate governance and leadership, private sector entrepreneurship, operations management, team leadership, policy formulation and administration, time management, vendor relationships, conflict resolution, counseling, coaching, motivation, consulting, business administration and management, financial and risk management, operating leases and logistics, amongst others.
He holds a B.Sc degree in Business Administration, an MBA from the University of Abuja, Nigeria; and a Master of Science (M.Sc), Business Administration from Nasarawa State University. Furthermore, he has a Masters degree in Theology (M.TH) from Trinity College, Dover, Delaware, USA. In 2023 he was honoured by the El Roi London University with an Honourary Doctorate Degree in Sport Management. He is a chartered professional manager and an innovative entrepreneur.
Gana began his career in Stock Broking, moved to the Information and Communications Technology sector, and later found his passion in Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution, Water Processing Production and Mechanized Agricultural Farming (Agribusiness).
In September (2022), became a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC) Nigeria, obtaining his Management Consultant (CMC) and Certified Management Specialist (CMS) with Distinction in Time Management from London‟s Graduate School, United Kingdom
Ronke Sokefun
Chairman, Comercio Partners
Ronke Sokefun, a Partner with the law firm TEMPLARS, is a distinguished legal practitioner and boardroom leader with close to four decades of experience spanning corporate law, governance, public policy, financial services, and strategic leadership.
She began her legal career at Ighodalo & Associates before joining Aluko & Oyebode, where she rose to the position of Partner. In 2002, she joined Ocean & Oil Services Limited as Head, Management Services and was subsequently appointed Group Chief Legal Officer of Oando Plc in 2007.
In 2011, she transitioned into public service with the Ogun State Government, serving first as Special Adviser/Director-General, Bureau of Lands & Survey, and later as Commissioner for Agriculture as well as Commissioner for Urban & Physical Planning. In these roles, she provided strategic leadership and oversaw the effective implementation of key government policies and developmental initiatives between 2011 and 2018.
Sokefun was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation in December 2018, becoming the first female to hold the position in the Corporation’s history. She served in that capacity until December 2022.
She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria and currently serves as Chairman of its Women’s Group. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria.
Sokefun is the Founder of the M.R.S. Foundation, a non-profit organisation focused on impactful social intervention initiatives.
She obtained her LL.B degree in 1987 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988. She has attended several executive education programmes at globally renowned institutions including Harvard Business School, Kellogg School of Management, Cambridge Judge Business School, INSEAD and the Lagos Business School. She also holds an ESG Certification (GCB.D) from the Competent Boards Institute, Canada.
Ronke Sokefun serves on the boards of several organisations and currently chairs the Governance, People & Nominations Committee of the board of a foremost indigenous integrated energy company. She also chairs the board of a foremost Nigerian investment banking and financial services firm.
She is widely respected for her governance expertise, institutional leadership, and ability to build sustainable, high-performing organisations. In December 2025, she received the Olutoyin Olakunrin Woman Director of the Year Award by the Chartered Institute of Directors in recognition of her leadership role and mentoring activities.
Kolapo Joseph
Group Managing Director of Transgrid Enerco Limited
Kolapo Joseph is an astute investment banker and financial services expert with over two (2) decades of experience. He holds a degree in Finance from the University of Maryland, College Park, U.S.A., and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Kolapo started his career at Vetiva Capital Management, one of Nigeria’s leading independent investment banks, where he joined as a pioneer staff member and rose to become Deputy Head of the Investment Banking Division. He was the pioneer Head of the Capital Markets and Advisory Unit when the company won several investment banking industry awards.
In 2011, Kolapo joined United Capital Plc, formerly UBA Capital Plc. In his role as Director and Head, Project and Infrastructure Finance, he successfully built the Project and Infrastructure Division into one of the leading (top three) energy and infrastructure teams in Nigeria, raising over US$10 billion for clients in West and Central Africa.
Kolapo Joseph is the Group Managing Director of Transgrid Enerco Limited, which recently acquired a 60% equity stake in Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc.
Owing to his experience and achievements over the last 20 years, Kolapo Joseph sits on the boards of the following companies:
- Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc
- Transgrid Enerco Limited
- Strom Infrastructure Investment C Management Limited, as a Director
- CEC Africa Investments, as a Director
- Emerging Africa Capital Advisory, as a Director
- Nigerian Electricity Supply Corporation Limited, Jos (the oldest indigenous integrated utility power company in Nigeria), as a Director
- Coronation Infrastructure Fund (member, Advisory Board)
- Treasures Microfinance Bank, as a Director
- Hill Station Hospitality, as Board Chairman
- Celebrations Limited, as Board Chairman
Kolapo continues to work to tackle two major issues that can drive Africa’s success story — infrastructure and finance.
Fiona Ahimie
President/Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).
MD/CEO, First Securities Brokers Limited.
Fiona Nyako Ahmed Ahimie, FCS, is the 14th president and first female chairman of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, since over 30 years of the institute’s existence. She is an accomplished finance, real estate and sustainability professional with over a decade of top management experience spanning accounting, corporate finance, asset and portfolio management, securities analysis and trading, investment analysis and business development. She is widely respected for her strategic leadership, strong institutional relationships, and remarkable contributions to the Nigerian financial services industry.
She has worked on mergers and acquisitions, business restructuring and capital raising initiatives, while also serving on boards and board committees in various capacities including Chairman of Audit, Enterprise Risk Management, Compliance, Governance & Nomination, and Investment & Strategy Committees across different sectors including banking, private equity, real estate, market infrastructure, logistics and not-for-profit organisations.
Fiona Ahimie currently serves as the Managing Director of First Securities Brokers Limited (formerly FBNQuest Securities Limited), a subsidiary of First HoldCo and a Trading License Holder of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), where she is responsible for driving organisational strategy, process automation, investment portfolio management, business development, planning and change management. Under her leadership, the organisation has strengthened its market position and offerings, enhanced operational efficiency and expanded deal flow and its client base. In her role, she has led in closing major landmark transactions in the Nigerian Capital market.
Prior to her current role, Fiona served as Head, Equities Brokerage at First Securities Brokers between 2016 and 2018, where she successfully built a vibrant equities desk, managed international and domestic institutional deal flows and helped position the firm as a top-performing brokerage house on the Nigerian Exchange.
Earlier in her career, she served as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of African Alliance Stockbrokers Limited, a Pan African investment management firm between 2015 and 2016, where she oversaw general management of the Lagos office, improved service delivery, expanded institutional client base and grew trading market share.
She also served as Head, Sales Trading and Equity Sales at FBN Capital between 2014 and 2015, where she played a key role in expanding deal flows between international and local investors in the Nigerian capital market, while managing institutional client relationships.
Also, she previously worked as Deputy Head, Sales Trading at Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers between 2010 and 2013, where she built strong relationships with foreign institutional investors and contributed to portfolio growth and investment strategy execution.
Her earlier professional experience includes roles as Senior Analyst and Deputy Head, Asset Management Department at Lead Capital between 2008 and 2010, and Financial Control Officer/ Treasury Manager/Investment Manager at Axial Ventures Limited between 2006 and 2008, where she developed practical experience in financial accounting and expertise in investment analysis, treasury management, portfolio management and financial advisory services.
Fiona Nyako Ahmed Ahimie was born into the Abba Ahmed’s family of Wudil Local Government Area of Kano State. A mother, mentor, confidant, wife and leader, Fiona has forged an inspiring path in the Nigerian financial services industry through resilience, determination.
She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Lagos State University. She further obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University. In her quest for continuous learning and professional development, she also attended the Pan African Executive MBA module at IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain.
She has also received executive training from prestigious global institutions including MIT Sloan School of Management, USA, IESE Business School, Spain and INSEAD Business School, France, among others.
Fiona is currently a Doctoral Degree Student at Afe Babalola Business School, further demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and leadership development.
Fiona Ahimie is happily married to Ojekhoa Ahimie and the marriage is blessed with Four lovely children. She is a devoted wife, mother and mentor who balances professional excellence with family life.
HRH Khadijat Abdulkadir
Economic Diplomacy Adviser to Belgium Kingdom.
Founder, INGRYD Group
Khadijat Abdulkadir is a philanthropist, tech evangelist and the Founder of INGRYD Group, a visionary leader dedicated to empowering African youths through technology. As a trained software engineer and serial tech entrepreneur, she is the driving force behind INGRYD Academy, which is a specialised technology training and placement organisation that has trained over 4,000 individuals yearly to date. She previously served as the Senior Special Assistant on ICT to the Inspector Generals of Police, where she significantly advanced Cybersecurity and ICT trainings for the NPF and led the digitisation of the Nigerian Police Cooperative and Microfinance Bank.
Her transformative work included deploying the Nigerian Police Cooperative platform while working as the Chief technology officer of Africa Prudential Plc, a digital solution serving over 387,000 police officers to date. She also led the launch of the Nigerian Police Digital Bank under IGP Adamu, which provides automated banking services to all police officers across Nigeria.
Khadijat’s entrepreneurial journey includes founding Xerde Technology among other fintechs like Tudo app. Her extensive career spans tech roles at global organisations in the United States such as Microsoft, Accenture, and Apside Belgium. She also founded Digital African Woman, a Belgium based social enterprise co-financed by the EU which was recently launched in Nigeria.
In the last 10 years DAW has empowered 6,000 African and European migrant entrepreneurs to Start and scale businesses in various sectors. In her personal time, Khadijat enjoys reading, playing with her kids, and developing future AI models to advance the education sector.
TUNDE MABAWONKU
Executive Director, Finance and Digital Business, Wema Bank Plc
Tunde Mabawonku is the Executive Director in charge of Finance and Digital Business at Wema Bank Plc with over 25 years of working experience spanning Digital and Retail banking, Financial, strategy management, Culture transformation, Change management, Tax & cost management, Investor relations, Corporate sustainability, Human capital management, Business performance, Credit/risk, and Customer experience.
Prior to his appointment as an Executive Director, he was the Chief Finance and Strategy Officer in charge of the Finance and Corporate Services Division. Tunde started his career at Chartered Bank from where he moved to Prudent Bank where he headed the performance management and cost control unit and was eventually elevated to become the deputy head of the financial control and strategy department. He headed several other departments including Human Capital Management, Performance Management, and Financial Advisory Services in the then Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank).
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria, (ACITN), an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants Nigeria (ICAN), and an Alumni of Harvard Business School GMP.
Tunde Mabawonku holds a master’s in finance (MiF) from London Business School, London, and a BSc. in Economics from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria.
Ini Abimbola, DBA
Member, Governing Council of Wigwe University
Dr Ini Abimbola has spent more than twenty-five years across the public and private sectors advising institutions on governance, strategy, public policy execution, and sustainability, including fifteen years in development sector programme management and results-based monitoring and evaluation.
She founded ThistlePraxis Consulting in 2010 and led it as Chief Executive for nine years before stepping down in 2020. She served until 2023 as the United Nations Technical Expert on Women’s Political Leadership, supporting the Office of the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.
She teaches international corporate social responsibility management on the MBA programme at the University of Applied Sciences in Austria, is Vice President and a founding trustee of the Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria, holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Rome Business School, sits on the Governing Council of Wigwe University and works from Lagos and is an author of foir outstanding books.
Gillian Darko
Group Vice President of Strategy, Yellow Card
An accomplished Executive Director, Board Member, and C-suite leader, with a strong track record of building high-performance growth engines and delivering transformative commercial strategies across fintech, blockchain, and financial services.
Currently serving as Group Vice President of Strategy at Yellow Card and a member of the executive team, following prior roles as Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy, she leads the company’s growth agenda across 20+ markets. Her remit spans revenue strategy, strategic partnerships, GTM, market expansion, and the development of innovative commercial models that unlock scalable, multi-market growth. She has played a key role in structuring and executing high-value partnerships across stablecoin issuers, blockchain ecosystems, telcos, banks, and global payment networks, positioning the business at the center of the digital asset economy in emerging markets.
She has been featured in leading media including ELLE Afrique, which profiled her in its Impact section as a Woman of Influence in Business & Entrepreneurship, as well as Forbes Africa, Business and Financial Times Ghana, CNBC Africa in conversation with Fifi Peters, and other reputable African media outlets. She is also a featured speaker on global stages, including the Forbes Leading Women’s Summit, GITEX Africa, Token2049 Singapore, the Qatar Africa Business Forum, the Africa Prosperity Dialogues, and the Forward Africa Leaders Symposium during UN General Assembly week.
Her leadership has earned multiple industry recognitions, including Fintech Personality of the Year (Female) at the 2026 Ghana Fintech Awards. She was also named an Outstanding Woman in Tech (West Africa) nominee in 2021, appointed an Ambassador for Women in Payments Africa in 2024, and in 2026 was appointed to the Steering Committee of the Africa Financial Industry Summit (AFIS).
Her career spans senior strategy, transformation, and general management roles at leading global institutions, including ICE Futures Europe and PwC (with client engagements across Goldman Sachs, HSBC, RBS, Citigroup, and UBS). She served as Vice President of Strategy at J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and at JUMO as General Manager, Market Operations, where she concurrently took on the remit of Chief Executive Officer of JUMO Ghana.
She brings board-level and executive experience across Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Zambia, with deep expertise in scaling businesses across frontier and emerging markets, structuring cross-border partnerships, and delivering measurable commercial outcomes in high-growth environments.
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli
Co-Founder Wealth4Impact & Sahel Consulting
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli was the former President/CEO of the ONE Campaign, a global advocacy organisation that fights for equity and justice, and the investments to ensure economic opportunities and healthy lives in Africa.
Nwuneli serves on the Boards of the Rockefeller Foundation, Chanel Foundation, Stanbic IBTC Group, the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum, and the Bridgespan Group. She previously served on the Boards of Nestle Nigeria Plc., Nigerian Breweries Plc. (Heineken), Godrej Consumer Products India, AGRA, the World Vegetable Center, Helios Fairfax Africa Holdings Canada, Cornerstone Insurance Plc., the African Philanthropy Forum and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) Switzerland. She also served on the global sustainability Boards of Royal Dutch DSM and Shell, and the global advisory Board for USAID.
Nwuneli started her career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, working in Chicago, New York, and Johannesburg. She returned to Nigeria in 2000 to serve as the pioneer executive director of FATE Foundation, supporting young entrepreneurs to start and scale their businesses. In 2002, she established LEAP Africa to inspire, empower, and equip a new cadre of principled, disciplined, and dynamic young leaders in Africa. In the same year, she established NIA to support female university students in Nigeria to achieve their highest potential.
Between 2008 and 2024, Ndidi focused exclusively on transforming the African agriculture and nutrition landscape. Through her work as the co-founder and Chair of Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition, she partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Dutch Government, GIZ, USAID, ECOWAS, Syngenta, and a range of private and public sector organisations to implement ecosystem solutions in the African agriculture and food landscapes. She is a co-founder of AACE Foods, which produces a range of packaged spices, seasonings, and cereals for local and international markets.
A recipient of several awards, Ndidi Nwuneli is the author of ‘Social Innovation in Africa: A Practical Guide for Scaling Impact’ and ‘Food Entrepreneurs in Africa: Scaling Resilient Agriculture Businesses’ both published by Routledge. She is also the author of “Working for God in the Marketplace,” and contributed a chapter to “For the World’s Profit: How Business can Support Sustainable Development,” published by the Brookings Institute in 2025.
She bagged her PhD from the University of Cape Town and holds an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree with honours from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She was a Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Centre for Business & Government at the Harvard Kennedy School, a visiting Scholar at Max Bell School of Public Policy at McGill University, an Aspen Institute New Voices Fellow, and an Eisenhower Fellow. Ndidi is a dual citizen of the United States and Nigeria.
Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue
Managing Director, Africa at Global Citizen
Ifeoma Chuks-Adizue is a seasoned executive, board director and growth strategist with over 20 years of experience building and transforming leading brands across Africa. She brings deep expertise spanning brand management, commercial strategy, sales and market expansion, with a strong track record of delivering sustained, profitable growth.
She currently serves as Managing Director, Africa at Global Citizen, an international advocacy organization focused on ending extreme poverty, where she leads strategic partnerships, resource mobilization and large-scale impact initiatives across the continent.
Prior to this, Ifeoma was Executive Director, Commercial at CAP Plc (makers of Dulux Paint), where she delivered exceptional business performance—quadrupling revenue and tripling profit within four years, while strengthening market leadership and expanding the company’s footprint.
Ifeoma began her career at Procter & Gamble Nigeria and went on to hold senior leadership roles at Cadbury Nigeria (Mondelez) where she led brand and commercial transformations that drove significant growth.
She has also served on the Board of CAP Plc, a publicly listed company, and previously as a Board Member of the Nigerian subsidiary of FINCA Microfinance Bank, an international microfinance institution focused on expanding financial inclusion and providing responsible financial services to underserved individuals and small businesses.
Ifeoma holds a degree in Economics from the University of Jos, where she graduated top of her class.
Beyond her corporate and board roles, she is deeply committed to leadership development and purpose-driven impact. She is the Founding President of the Uncommon Woman Movement (UWM), a global platform equipping career women to discover and live out their purpose while excelling in their careers and personal lives. She is also the Founder and Lead Coach at PrimaWorks Leadership Consults, where she supports organisations and leaders to unlock performance and drive transformational results.
She is the author of books – The Uncommon Woman and Made for MORE, and is widely recognized for her contributions to leadership development and women’s advancement across Africa.
Ifeoma is passionate about building leaders and institutions that deliver both economic value and lasting societal impact. She is married with three children.
BANKOLE WILLIAMS
Founder & Principal Consultant at LYD Consulting
Bankole Williams is a Consultant par excellence and a Peak Performance Coach who has a proven record of helping organisations develop their human capacity to get great work done in less time so they can surpass the annual financial targets of their employers. He is a 2022 official member of the Forbes Coaching Council. He is a 2024 recipient of the Silverbird 100 most distinguished CEOs in Nigeria. He is also a recipient of the Corporate Excellence Award by the Global Entrepreneurship Festival in 2024.
He is a renowned force in Consulting; assisting no less than fourteen prominent banks in Nigeria develop and deploy solutions for long-term profitability and sustainability. His Firm, LYD Consulting in 2023 was given the award for Best in Corporate Consulting, Southwest Nigeria by the Wealth Finance Management Consulting Awards. For his exceptional work in Human Capacity Development, in 2019, he was given the Coaching Icons Award.
In 2020 and also in 2021, he was also named one of the most powerful people in Corporate Nigeria by Ynaija. Also, in 2021, he was named one of the Top Ten Leadership Coaches in Nigeria. He has also coached Top Executives of Corporates in Africa.
He is also a Social Reformer with a goal to solve the problems of unemployment and underemployment through his foundation – Live Your Dreams Africa Foundation. His Foundation is the 2024 recipient of the SERA’s prestigious “Not-For-Profit of the year”. He has received several awards and recognitions for his inspiring social work in Youth and Social Development by State Governments, including Lagos State, Cross River State and Abia State. His foundation is the 2019 recipient of the Google.org Award for Youth Empowerment in Africa.
Through his foundation, over 48,000 youth have been empowered and in 2019, his foundation created 8072 jobs in Nigeria. Bankole is presently on a mission to create 10,000 jobs across the six geo-political zones in Nigeria.
Bankole Williams is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic programming (NLP). He is a UK Certified Life & Career Coach and a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) from the International Council for Managing Consulting Institutes ICMCI). He is also a Fellow of the International Management Consultants Certification Board (FIMCB). He is also a fellow of the Association of the Small Business Consultants US (AASBC). He is also widely regarded as a Behavioral Change Expert. He is a force to be reckoned with in the field of Management Consulting with over 17 years of experience in Human Resources and consulting fields.
In his quest to understand and optimise human potential, Bankole has gained management and career experience, first at Guaranty Trust Bank, where he was an invaluable member of the Human Resources Team. While at Guaranty Trust bank, he discovered his passion for workforce activation and man power development which led to his move to the Training Department where he also facilitated trainings for staff in the bank, after which, he joined a reputable consulting firm – Visible Impact.
He is the Founder & Principal Consultant at LYD Consulting; a firm committed to delivering consulting interventions that lead to transformational change. Bankole Williams has designed, managed and facilitated several customer service and personal/workplace mastery training programs, He has also facilitated management and leadership retreats for several organizations. He is an expert at delivering training solutions on product lines such as Self Mastery, Emotional Intelligence, Executive Coaching, Change management, Business Communication, Team bonding, Superior service delivery, Leadership, Selling skills, Employability, Enterprise development etc.
His facilitation skills are no doubt prolific, as he currently provides consulting interventions for my clients like:
Banks: GTBank, Stanbic IBTC, Access Bank, First Bank, Fidelity Bank, Ecobank, Skye Bank, Union Bank, Sterling Bank, UBA, and Heritage Bank.
Oil & Gas: Shell, Oando, NLNG, Seplat, Axxella, and Aradel.
Government Institutions: Lagos State Government, AMCON, NCC, and FIRS.
Telecoms and Tech Companies: MTN, Google, Mastercard, Interswitch, Samsung, TekExperts, Venture Garden Group, Terragon, and Konga.
Others: International Republican Institute (IRI), LBS, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Geregu Power, Transcorp, Mainone and more (swipe to see)
Pearl Uzokwe
Programme Director for Africa Forward at Catalyst Now
Pearl leads Africa Forward’s economic opportunity and job creation portfolio across 38 African countries, with active implementation in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa and Rwanda. She oversees the Uplift Programme, a three year, multi country skills and job creation initiative targeting approximately 9,000 youth and women. Youth and gender equity are embedded across every programme she leads.
Working with governments, multilateral institutions, philanthropic foundations and corporate partners, she connects grassroots delivery to national, regional and continental policy priorities. She has co led advocacy and policy engagement with the African Union and the World Economic Forum to ensure African led perspectives shape regional and global economic opportunity frameworks.
She began her career as a qualified solicitor of England and Wales, working with Crown Agents UK and leading City of London law firms. At Crown Agents, she provided legal support to DFID funded development finance and health initiatives, including the Private Infrastructure Development Group and the International Finance Facility for Immunisation, a multi billion dollar mechanism supporting immunisation in some of the world’s poorest countries.
Pearl previously served as Executive Director and Board Member of Sahara Foundation, the corporate social responsibility vehicle of Sahara Group, an integrated energy and power company operating across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. She led the Foundation’s social sustainability strategy across 19 countries, managing multi million dollar annual budgets in energy access, sustainable environments, education and entrepreneurship. Flagship initiatives included the Green Life recycling and financial inclusion programme, the Sahara Impact Fund Fellowship for African social innovators and Sahara STEAMers, which delivered science and innovation education in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.
Pearl is a Board Member of the Malala Fund and Chair of its Governance Committee, providing oversight of governance, risk, policy and organisational effectiveness in support of the Fund’s mission to secure 12 years of quality education for girls worldwide. She is a member of the Private Sector Advisory Group in Nigeria and is affiliated with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.
ELOHOR VIVIAN TUNDE-SMOOTH
Chief Magistrate in Delta State Judiciary
Elohor Vivian Tunde-Smooth is a Chief Magistrate, leadership strategist and institution builder whose work spans the judiciary, leadership development and social impact. With nearly two decades of legal experience, she combines professional discipline, strategic thinking and a deep understanding of people and institutions with a passion for developing leaders and creating opportunities for lasting impact.
She serves as a Chief Magistrate in the Delta State Judiciary, where her professional journey reflects a commitment to justice, integrity, sound judgment and institutional responsibility.
Beyond the courtroom, Elohor is the Founder of Women Beyond Boundaries Foundation (WBBF), a social impact organisation advancing women’s empowerment, leadership, rights and access to opportunities. Through its initiatives, the foundation has impacted hundreds of women and children across Nigeria.
She is also the Founder of SparkUp Woman Global, a leadership and empowerment organisation focused on developing people, expanding opportunities and translating inspiration into meaningful action. Through its flagship SparkUp Woman Conference, which has convened over 800 participants across Warri and Abuja, the organisation has facilitated a post-conference mentoring programme with over 100 participants and awarded seed grants to 16 women-led businesses.
Extending her commitment to practical leadership development, Elohor established the SparkUp Executive Masterclass, an intensive learning platform equipping entrepreneurs, executives and organisational leaders with the strategies, tools and systems to build, scale and lead more effectively.
Elohor is a certified trainer through the International School of Leadership & Diplomacy, UK and has undertaken executive training in Gender and Development at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS).
Her work brings together leadership development, institutional strengthening, advocacy, capacity building and strategic execution.
Her leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that meaningful leadership goes beyond titles and inspiration. Its true measure lies in the people we develop, the institutions we strengthen and the opportunities we create for others to thrive.
Adebola Williams
Business and Marketing Executive
ICF Certified Coach
Adebola Williams is a Marketing and Communications Executive with more than 25 years of experience driving sustainable business growth across the Telecoms, FMCG, and Wines & Spirits sectors. An expert in growth strategy and innovation, she is known for building meaningful connections between consumers and brands, and has led end-to-end innovation and growth strategies for some of Nigeria’s leading brands.
Recognised among Nigeria’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Marketing, Adebola holds a law degree as well as strategy and leadership certifications from IMD Business School (Switzerland), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK), and Lagos Business School. She is an ICF Certified Coach with a strong record of building high-performing teams and influencing at executive board level.
An established industry thought leader, she has also served on local and international award juries, including the Gerety Awards (Paris) and the LAIF Awards (Nigeria).
