Speakers

Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR, CON, is a distinguished Nigerian business leader, philanthropist and the driving force behind BUA Group, one of Africa's largest diversified conglomerates. He has more than three decades of experience in building enterprises that strengthen Nigeria's industrial base.

Over nearly four decades, he has led large-scale domestic manufacturing, building local production strength in critical sectors such as cement, sugar refining and food production.

Mr. Rabiu is a leading voice in pan-African economic development and regional economic integration. He is a committed advocate for building strong local industrial ecosystems that support long-term continental growth and independence.

In institutional philanthropy, he formed the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa), an annual $100 million social development fund targeted at transforming healthcare, education and infrastructure across the continent.

Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, is one of Africa's leading institutional investors, economic philosophers and philanthropists. He is the Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Transcorp Group, and the former long-serving Group Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), where he guided its growth into a pan-African institution serving customers across multiple countries. He also serves as Founder and Chairman of Heirs Energies, and will assume the role of Chairman at Seplat Energy in January 2027.

As the pioneer of "Africapitalism," Elumelu advocates for private-sector led long-term investment as the foundation for Africa's economic transformation. Through the Tony Elumelu Foundation, he has empowered thousands of African entrepreneurs with direct funding, mentorship and market access, driving job creation and enterprise growth across the continent.

Named by TIME as one of the world's 100 Most Influential People, Elumelu is a regular voice at major global forums, including the World Economic Forum and United Nations convenings, and holds Nigeria's national honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR).

Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina is a globally acclaimed development economist, reformer and visionary leader with nearly four decades of international experience in advancing African economies and agricultural innovation. Widely known as "Africa's Optimist-in-Chief," he is the former President of the African Development Bank Group, where he served two terms from 2015 to 2025. He previously served as Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Dr. Adesina is Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of the Global Africa Investment Summit. He also chairs Botswana's Diamonds for Development Fund, a joint initiative of the Government of Botswana and De Beers Group that supports economic diversification.

A highly sought-after global speaker, he is celebrated for his purposeful, results-oriented message on moving Africa's paradigm from aid to investment, unlocking the continent's multi-trillion-dollar asset base, and building competitive industrial value chains that empower young people. He is the 2017 World Food Prize Laureate.

Hon. Moremi Ojudu is a political communications strategist and community development advocate. She serves as Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Community Engagement for the South-West region, an appointment made under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Her work focuses on citizen inclusion, socio-economic empowerment and sustainable community development across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo states.

She brings more than a decade of experience in public relations, political strategy and media. Before her present appointment, she led information management networks, designed legislative engagement strategies and directed community-focused social intervention campaigns.

Moremi is the driving force behind initiatives such as community dialogues, as well as regional healthcare and clean water programmes. Her approach combines data analytics, stakeholder mapping and frontline civic engagement, and reflects her commitment to purposeful leadership and public accountability.

Khalil Suleiman Halilu is a Nigerian technology entrepreneur and public servant. He serves as Executive Vice Chairman and CEO of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), an appointment made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in September 2023.

At NASENI, he is guiding the agency toward a product-driven model built on his Creation, Collaboration and Commercialization blueprint, which brings market-ready indigenous technologies to the public and builds international investment partnerships.

Before entering public service, he founded The CANs Technology Hub and ShapShap Technologies and served on the boards of several firms. He holds a B.Sc. and an M.Sc. in International Business from the University of Hertfordshire, completed executive education at Harvard, and is a Distinguished Fellow of the Nigerian Institution of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE).

Funke Akindele is an award-winning Nigerian filmmaker and creative entrepreneur whose career spans nearly three decades. She rose to prominence as a television actress and has since become one of Africa's most commercially successful and influential figures in film and media.

Recognised for her business acumen and creative vision, she was named one of the Most Influential Women in International Film by The Hollywood Reporter. She holds the record for multiple highest-grossing Nigerian films of all time, including the multi-billion Naira box office successes A Tribe Called Judah and Behind The Scenes.

Funke holds a law degree from the University of Lagos and serves as a National Goodwill Ambassador for UNAIDS.

A passionate advocate for youth development and human potential, she supports the next generation of creative talent through the Jenifa Foundation and directly funds international cinematic education for rising industry talent.

Adedoja Allen is an award-winning corporate strategist and business transformation leader, recognised as the first female CEO of an electronic media company in Nigeria. As MD/CEO of Cardinal Broadcasting Limited, operators of City 105.1FM, she earned her reputation as a turn-around specialist, transforming the station from a struggling operation into a top-tier, highly profitable urban lifestyle brand.

She holds a Mathematics degree from the University of Ibadan, an M.Sc. in Business & IT from Aston University, UK, and an MBA from the Lagos Business School, a combination that has shaped a career built on financial precision and entrepreneurial agility. She developed her early expertise with the BBC and across leading domestic financial institutions before moving into media management.

A committed advocate for capacity building, Adedoja founded the City Media Academy to train future broadcasters and established She Leads, a free leadership masterclass equipping women with the corporate skills to thrive.

Damilola Feyide is an economist and institution builder who brings the discipline of corporate strategy to philanthropy and education. As Lead of SME Development and Strategy at ProvidusBank, she has built an executive career on structure, governance and measurable delivery.

In 2020, she founded Let It Shine Academy (LISA), which began as a mobile arts outreach and has grown into a fully registered academy and Lagos's first completely free residential secondary school. Under her execution-led leadership, LISA now educates hundreds of students from diverse backgrounds, including young people who have moved on from juvenile correctional facilities. The academy is supported by partnerships with leading financial institutions and global organisations, including the Mastercard Foundation.

Damilola speaks with authority on mission-driven leadership, sustainable corporate social responsibility, and the practical mechanics of turning grassroots purpose into lasting national institutions.

Dr. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji is a leading authority on Artificial Intelligence for Development, public policy and EdTech innovation. As Founder/CEO of Rise Networks, she has positioned the organisation at the forefront of AI-driven solutions for Africa's workforce and education landscape, while contributing to the UNDP's Reference Group and serving as a Swiss Cognitive Global AI Ambassador.

She holds a Master's degree from Harvard and a Ph.D. from the Nigerian Defence Academy, with research focused on artificial intelligence and security. Under her leadership, Rise Networks has pioneered career guidance chatbots and produced MAKEMATION, Africa's first AI-driven feature film, cementing her reputation as a pioneer at the intersection of technology, policy and creative innovation.

Titilayo Oshodi is an administrative executive and public policy leader advancing Lagos State's transition toward a sustainable, circular economy, with close to three decades of leadership experience.

Her career spans leadership roles in sales, marketing and corporate administration, before entering public service, coordinating operations for the Sanwo-Olu gubernatorial campaign.

She currently serves as Special Adviser on Climate Change & Circular Economy to the Governor of Lagos State, offering insight on scaling circular economy models and building pathways for youth and MSMEs.

Titilayo holds an OND from Lagos State Polytechnic and a BSc from Olabisi Onabanjo University, with certifications from the Metropolitan School of Business and Management, UK, and the Harvard Kennedy School, US. She is a member of the Society for Corporate Ethics & Compliance (SSCE), USA, the Centre for Management Research & Development, Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management, Nigeria, and the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria.

Meet Our Co-Compere:

Mojibade Sosanya is an accomplished event compere, television presenter, moderator and social impact advocate, known for bringing structure, poise and high-energy intelligence to every stage she anchors.

She began her career in corporate banking before transitioning fully into media and public presentation, a shift that earned her the moniker "The Banker with a Mic." Her academic background, a bachelor's degree from Covenant University and an M.Sc. from Pan-Atlantic University, has further shaped her reputation as "The Lady MC with an MSc."

Mojibade has hosted landmark events for prominent institutions including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNIDO and AFREXIM Bank, moderating corporate panel discussions and anchoring high-profile galas with equal command.

Beyond the stage, she is a sought-after model and the founder of the SHELL Community and Project Unifeed, initiatives dedicated to empowering women and strengthening community impact. Her presence consistently transforms standard programmes into memorable, high-calibre experiences.

Meet Our Co-Compere:

A Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Lagos, Oscar pivoted into media and communications, earning an M.Sc. in Media Enterprise from Pan-Atlantic University, a path that has shaped his uniquely analytical approach within the creative industry.

He honed his broadcasting craft at legacy institutions including UNILAG FM, Inspiration FM, BBC Media Action, and City FM 105.1, where he served as Head of Programmes. In 2016, he founded The MC Company (TMCC), a pioneering academy and resource hub for masters of ceremonies, built around the mission to "Speak Clearly, Lead Boldly." The academy has since trained over 2,000 professionals and multinational teams.

Oscar currently steers Rapid Broadcasting Network, where he continues to drive innovative, future-forward storytelling across Africa.