Adaora Oramah is the CEO and Founder of AMAKA STUDIO (AMAKA), a social publishing platform for Pan-African Gen-Z and millennial creators to amplify and monetise their stories.

AMAKA is developing Africa’s creator economy, equipping creators across Africa and the diaspora with technology to publish, share and monetise their stories through subscriptions and brand partnerships. AMAKA has worked with Nike, Wavemaker, YouTube, The Access Bank, Naomi Campbell, Ayra Starr, and Yemi Alade and is backed by Morgan Stanley’s Inclusive Ventures Lab and Equitane Ventures.

Oramah is a Nigerian-American Creative Strategist with experience in content creation, strategy and business development. Adaora has worked as a strategist at reputable media, advertising and design companies, including VICE, OkayAfrica, Omnicom’s RAPP Worldwide and Aruliden. She obtained a master’s in Strategic Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science and is a New York University alumna. 

AMAKA Studio (AMAKA)

Zoé Titus, an accomplished media professional with nearly three decades of experience in journalism and media development. As the Director of the Namibia Media Trust (NMT) in Windhoek, Namibia, Titus leads an organization that actively advocates for global media freedom, freedom of expression, and access to information. She also serves as the chairperson of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), the largest global community of media development and journalism support organisations. Under her leadership, GFMD has spearheaded the adoption by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) of principles for stronger media support, signaling a global pact for democracy powered by independent journalism & reliable information.

Melody Chironda is a seasoned journalist at allAfrica.com in Cape Town, South Africa, driven by a profound passion for climate change, environmental, and health reporting. With over a decade of experience, her commitment to accurate and in-depth coverage has significantly raised awareness of critical issues impacting Africa. Currently pursuing an Honours degree in Gender Studies at the University of Free State.

Prof. Jack Odhiambo Is Dean Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and a professor of the Philosophy of Law and Metaphysics. An associate Prof of the Philosophy at the Department of Philosophy and Religious studies.  Has interest in of research in the area of common good and the foundations of human conduct in philosophical principles.  He has taught at UoN for several years. He is also an accomplished interpreter and translator from Spanish and English and besides lecturing in Philosophy of Law and metaphysics does give Spanish language courses.

A practicing media expert with over 3 decades active broadcast years in Nigeria and the United Kingdom is the co-founder and CEO of Women Radio 91.7 FM Nigeria’s only radio station for Women. Women Radio is 100% female-centric amplifying women’s voices and mainstreaming women as drivers of gender equity, anti-corruption and accountability campaigns in Nigeria. The broadcast media trainer and UNWomen certified trainer established the First Female Academy Women Radio Centre where female journalists are trained as undercovers and investigative reporters to expose untold stories of women and girls. Recognised as one of Nigeria’s 5 most powerful women in journalism, she founded Women in Radio Development (WINRAD) a network on career development for females working in Radio. She developed training modules for Nigerian journalists on positive reportage of Women in Politics and Leadership and led the training of 95 Journalists across the 6 geopolitical zones. A United Nations ambassador for women, European Union influencer to end Violence against Women and girls in Nigeria, member Technical Working Committee on reviewed Gender & Equal Opportunity Bill of 2016, member of African Women Leaders Network and an inductee of Nigeria’s Hall of Fame.

Catherine Ndashe Phiri is a co-founder and director at Media 365, a leading strategic creative agency in Lusaka, Zambia. Since 2011, she has provided strategic direction and managed high-profile clients, while also overseeing the production of all audio-visual content. Catherine’s portfolio includes producing and directing hit reality series and launching HerStory, a female-focused discussion show. In 2020, she became the first Zambian producer to create content for Multichoice’s lifestyle channel, Honey. In 2022, she produced Zambia’s first ever teen drama series, Tikula. Catherine’s achievements extend to international platforms, having served as a vice president at MTV Networks International in London, where she oversaw the production of breakout shows and documentaries featuring global talents like Beyonce and Lupita Nyongo with a track record of producing award winning content, Catherine is a strategic thinker known for delivering high-quality work and challenging stereotypes in content creation for development. She has spoken at prestigious events like TEDxEuston and has received numerous awards, including Africa’s Most Influential Women in Business and Government (CEO Global), and an alumni of the Africa List. 

Catherine’s expertise and leadership have made her a trailblazer in Zambia’s media industry, producing over 25,000 hours of broadcast content making her one of Zambia’s leading female producers.

Costa Mwansa is a Zambian journalist who has been practicing for the last 20 years. A passionate, patriotic, and ambitious young African, Costa regards himself as a change maker determined to make a difference and impact on the global media landscape. In 2017 he founded Diamond Media, Zambia’s leading private media power house., a station he owns and runs as its Chief Visionary Officer. The station serves as a platform for African storytelling showcasing news, current affairs,lifestyle, and general entertainment content across five Sub-Saharan African countries. These include Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Botswana, and Namibia.

Costa is the current President of the Media Owners Association of Zambia, An association comprising leading private media houses in the country (Radio, TV, Print and Online). The association champions sustainable media development and sector growth. Costa is also a lawyer and media investment entrepreneur who loves fitness workouts and also does avocado farming.

A visionary leader at the forefront of online advertising. From his pioneering work at Google and DoubleClick to forging his own path with Adfrika and now Yehtu, Victor Manga has consistently championed Africa’s digital transformation.

Victor Manga Munyua is a visionary entrepreneur with an unwavering passion for Africa’s potential in the digital age. As the founder and CEO of Yehtu, he is revolutionizing African media, marketing, and publishing by creating a powerful data-driven marketplace for publishers.

Before Yehtu, Victor’s career spanned over two decades at Google, DoubleClick and Adfrika. At Google, he rose to the position of Head of Commercial Relations for Sub-Saharan Africa. He played a pivotal role in Google’s growth across the region, spearheading initiatives to support advertisers, publishers, and agencies. Victor’s expertise in online media encompasses commercialisation, business strategy, audience acquisition, and building strong partnerships.

Eliud O. Owalo is the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy in Kenya. He worked as an Economist, Management Consultant and Strategy Expert between 2001 – 2022. Until his appointment as CS, Mr. Owalo was a practicing Managing Consultant at Eliud & Associates (E&A) Management Consultants, an International Management Consultancy and Training firm. He holds a BA Degree in Economics and Business Studies from Kenyatta University, an MBA Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Nairobi and is currently a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Candidate in Strategic Management at the University of Nairobi.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Human Resource Management (FIHRM); Member of the Professional Trainers’ Association of Kenya (PTAK); and a former Director/Council Member of the Kenya School of Government (KSG). His lead consultancy assignments in both the Public and Private Sectors have focused mainly on Macro and Micro-Economics; Strategic Planning; Business Planning; Organizational Restructuring; Job Evaluation and Pay Structure Architecture; Performance Management; Management of Strategic Change; Training Needs Assessment (T.N.A.); Organizational Design/Development; Executive Search, Selection and Placement (Recruitment); Human Resource Audit; Market Research/Surveys; and Feasibility Studies.

Charles Murito is Google’s Regional Director, Government Affairs & Policy, Sub Saharan Africa. In this capacity, Charles is responsible for overseeing engagement with Governments & Regulators to promote digital transformation through progressive policy, to achieve economic growth.

Charles assumed this role after almost six years as Google’s Country Director for Kenya. Before Google, he held senior roles at MTV, Warner Bros., and Turner Broadcasting.

Charles also serves as a Board Director for Absa Bank Kenya, and previously served as a Board Director for CSQuared, a Google portfolio company. Outside of work, Charles loves art, food, and farming.

Makmid Kamara is a Sierra Leonean human rights leader, democracy advocate, and development communications practitioner, with almost 20 years’ experience working with national and international development, human rights, and grantmaking organizations in Africa and the United Kingdom. 

He is the Founder of Reform Initiatives, an organization dedicated to harvesting the dividends of democracy and contributing to the global campaign for reparatory justice. Until recently, he was the founding Director of the Africa Transitional Justice Legacy Fund (ATJLF), based in Accra, Ghana. 

At ATJLF, Kamara’s focus was on transitional justice and reparations for historical crimes. He led various collaborative efforts around reparatory justice issues and TJ mechanisms meant to repair the wrongs of the past in selected African countries. 

Prior to the ATJLF, Kamara worked at the International Secretariat of Amnesty International in London as (Ag.) Deputy Director of Global Issues and Head of the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR) Team; served as interim Country Director for Amnesty International Nigeria and as a West Africa Researcher.

Kamara has also held posts with Oxfam GB in Sierra Leone and the UK, and with Concern Worldwide in Sierra Leone. Kamara started his career as a journalist in Sierra Leone and has written several articles and reports on human rights and social justice issues for high-profile African and European publications and institutions. He is a Rotarian, a Global Atlantic Fellow, and an Obama Foundation Leader- Africa. He is based in Accra, Ghana.

Regarded as a steadfast champion of ethical journalism, Paul Ilado brings over two decades of experience to his role as Group Head of Content for Radio Africa. A born storyteller, Ilado cut his teeth in Radio Africa where he began as an intern and rose through the ranks to his current position. Holding both a communications degree and masters in strategic communication from the University of Nairobi, he applies careful analysis paired with natural Charisma.

Described as calmly authoritative yet approachable, Ilado has navigated many challenges in his illustrious career. As a result, he possesses a deft political sensibility and understands the delicate balance between fair informing and sparking productive civic dialogues.

Beyond steering Radio Africa’s diverse array of products ranging from radio, digital and newspaper (the Star), Ilado lends his expertise to bodies like Kenya’s Editors; Guild and the presidential debates team. He believes the media’s duty is holding truth to power through both watchdog reporting as well as community building.

Under Ilado’s visionary guidance, the organization continues setting the pace for multi-platform storytelling in Kenya. With his blend of editorial acumen, diplomacy and passion for people, he is sure to lead Radio Africa into an ever brighter future of inclusive, impact-driven storytelling.

David Omwoyo is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the national regulator of Kenya’s vibrant media sector. He has over 15 years’ experience in journalism, media training and management, spanning the public, private, religious and non-governmental sectors. Before joining the MCK, he was the Managing Director of Waumini Communications and Communications Director for the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops for 6 years growing an enviable countrywide media network. He also worked in academia, as Fundraising and Donor Relations Manager at Egerton University, with responsibility for institutional advancement and donor relations.

An advocate of devolution, David oversaw and coordinated the establishment of more than 18 community radios in different parts of the country to promote community dialogue for sustainable peace and rural development.

Victor Bwire is currently the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Programmes Manager in addition to be a trainer at the Media Council of Kenya and a private media and communications consultant. He is an experienced journalist, who has done several assignments including journalist mentoring, training, and development of media training modules, event workshop facilitation, training, management, paper presentations and policy paper formulation in Kenya.

He has worked in workshop facilitation, training, media relations and advocacy as a trainer and consultant for Media Council of Kenya, Deutch Welle Academy, UNDP, Nation Media Group, Standard Group, Royal Media Services, UNESCO, US Embassy in Nairobi, Media High Council of Rwanda, ARTICLE 19, IREX, International Media Support (IMS-Denmark), Journalists for Human Rights, Union for Journalists for South Sudan (UJOSS), East African Journalists in Distress Network and Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

He has consulted and facilitated trainings and workshops for journalists in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Zanzibar, Liberia, Germany, USA, and Britain among other countries.

Victor has extensive teaching experience at the University level (Have taught at the University of Nairobi, USIU, Mt Kenya University, Great Lakes University, Technical University of Kenya) and conduct several in house trainings for media houses including KBC, SG, MediaMax, NMG).

Simaloi Dajom is a media expert with two decades of experience leading strategy, people, content and operations for top media organizations, including the most consumed media station in Kenya.

She has been instrumental in the growth and transformation of 50+ media brands In Kenya & Africa. She has successfully trained, managed and mentored 700+ media personalities, journalists, editors & station managers in Kenya and across Africa

Her media training expertise cuts across audience attraction and retention strategies, winning content & talent development, media sustainability & viability strategies, digital transformation, media monetization & revenue diversification strategies in a fast changing audience, business & digital landscape, spanning community, national and international media scope.

Simaloi has been awarded the Kenya Top 40 Under 40 Women in Kenya, in honor of her impact in the media industry.  She is a sought after media & leadership trainer, consultant, mentor, author & speaker.

Journalist and Storyteller with a career spanning 17 years starting at Nation Media Group (2007 to 2012) then Radio Africa Group (2012 to 2021) and back at NMG (current).

Oliver currently serve as the Managing Editor (Audiences and Engagement) at the Nation Media Group in Nairobi, Kenya. In this role, he oversees the digital publishing and social strategy for Nation Media Group brands as well as deepens focus and data insight sharing in the Newsroom.

He previously held the position of Multimedia Editor at the broadcasting division of Nation Media Group leading the digital operations. Before this, Oliver served as Digital Editor at Radio Africa Group, where he was responsible for ensuring outstanding, timely, accurate, and compelling content on Radio Africa Group’s digital platforms.

His journalism career began as a News Journalist at Nation Media Group in 2007, where he developed news and news features, mainly in politics and current affairs, for publication in the Daily Nation, Saturday Nation, Sunday Nation, and Taifa Newspapers.

He also consults as a digital journalism trainer for the WAN-IFRA’s Women in News Digital ABC programme, which aims to equip journalists with the necessary skills for a modern

Sharmaine Koh is a communication and information specialist at the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, where she coordinates initiatives related to inclusive and human rights-based digital transformation, AI ethics and adoption, digital peacebuilding and media development in Eastern Africa. Under UNESCO’s Social Media 4 Peace project, she supports advocacy efforts to strengthen community resilience against online harmful content, particularly mis/disinformation and hate speech on digital platforms in Kenya. A social historian by training, with a focus on gender and war, she believes in the power of storytelling, free information and the media to build just, inclusive and peaceful knowledge societies.

Julie is the Chief Public Affairs and Communications Officer at the Mastercard Foundation overseeing corporate and programmatic communications as well as policy & thought leadership. She has overseen the growth and development of a team spanning Africa and Canada. Prior to her role at the Foundation, Julie had a two decade career in the fields of broadcast, print, digital media and development communications.

At the start of her career Julie pioneered investigative news television and programming. She conceptualized and launched numerous top news and current affairs shows and developed the pan-African television show, Africa Leadership Dialogues. Following the 2007 elections, Julie’s peace specials resonated with viewers. As a result of her calls for non-violent action in 2008 she was awarded the Martin Luther King Salute to Greatness. Following this pivotal period, determined to contribute towards a more informed and responsible generation, Julie established the Great Debaters Contest, a high school debate platform focused on teaching students that differences need not result in conflict and violence. Her career focus then shifted to curating impactful engagements and driving conversations focused on African leadership, growth,  and development.

Over the past decade Julie has worked with key institutions, including the World Bank Group, the African Development Bank, various UN agencies, and the World Economic Forum. Julie is part of a number of Fellowships, including the Tutu Fellowship, the Aspen Global Leadership Network/Africa Leadership Initiative and is an alumni of the Young Global Leaders under the World Economic Forum. She has received numerous awards and recognitions. 

Julie was born in Nairobi, Kenya. She attended university in the United Kingdom where she earned her LLB Law and MBA from Cardiff University’s Law and Business Schools respectively. Julie is a dedicated wife and mother and a passionate afro-optimist.

Beatrice Nyamari, is a distinguished media leader with a remarkable track record of strategic prowess and impactful contributions across diverse markets in Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and India. With over 15 years of experience, Beatrice has navigated the dynamic landscape of media with finesse, leaving an indelible mark on every endeavor she undertakes.

As the Managing Director at Smart Codes, Beatrice spearheads innovative solutions,pushing the boundaries of creative innovation, traditional advertising, PR, and digital realms. Her strategic acumen and unwavering commitment to excellence have earned her recognition as a trailblazer in the media industry. Previously, Beatrice held pivotal roles at Coca-Cola, where she led Sparkling Flavors Communications across the South East Africa Business Unit, orchestrating impactful brand campaigns and driving transformative change amidst complex challenges. Her tenure at Coca-Cola was marked by a dedication to fostering creativity and innovation, setting new standards for brand communication in the region starting out as Media Manager for 32 African Markets.

Additionally, Beatrice’s regional leadership roles at Airtel Africa and WPP Scangroup underscore her ability to provide strategic direction and support to multiple country clients, guiding them in the development and execution of communication strategies tailored to diverse audiences and markets. Beatrice’s achievements speak volumes about her ability to navigate and excel in the ever-evolving media landscape. Her visionary leadership, coupled with her profound understanding of consumer behavior and market dynamics, makes her a formidable force in the media industry.

Ken Mbuki is a data evangelist, expert and researcher in data analytics, ethics and data-driven decision making. He is agile, dedicated and passionate to transform organizations into data driven enterprises where decision makers can ride on data to make accurate predictions and data based innovations. Ken is also zealous about designing and implementing data driven products. He has 8 years of experience working in the data industry for organizations like Resolution Insurance, International Potato Center, Weare IVE (UK) and Transparency International, among others.  He currently heads Business Intelligence and Analytics at Moringa School. Outside the office, Ken is a certified drone pilot and a passionate farmer.

Comfort Mbofana is a renowned radio personality and a senior media executive in Zimbabwe. He works as the General Manager of Zimpapers, Radio Broadcasting Division- the most profitable radio consortium in the country incorporating four radio stations including  the biggest and most awarded urban radio station, Star FM.

Professor Stephen Kiama Gitahi is the 8th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi. He holds a doctorate degree in Structural Biology from the University of Bern, Switzerland under the mentorship of Professor Peter Gehr . His PhD marked a culmination of a long journey of sustained personal illumination driven by an abiding curiosity to broaden the horizons of knowledge.

 As Professor Kiama pursued his scholarly and teaching roles, leadership duties seemed to beckon at every turn. It is in delivering these tasks that he garnered broad hands-on skills, practical knowledge and fundamental proficiencies in key structural, legislative and regulatory frameworks crucial to the effective management of institutions of higher learning. In the fullness of time, he has accumulated a vast wealth of administrative experience, honed his skills in management of people and programmes for set outputs, cut his teeth in leadership and distinguished himself as a capable leader. His progressive rise in leadership roles where he has served in senior management positions at the University of Nairobi over the past 17 years speak to this fact.

In addition, he has exhibited remarkable gift in people management, eye for detail and possesses exemplary skills in financial management, networking, fundraising and resource mobilization. It is for this reason that Professor Kiama was appointed a juror for Wangari Maathai Institute Campus and University of Nairobi Tower design competitions respectively, Golden Climate Awards organized by Light Academy and the Wangari Maathai Scholarship Award.

Doctor Youssef MAZOUZ is a university professor in digital transformation, and an internationally renowned expert in digitization and cybersecurity, has participated in several information systems security projects. 

He held the position of Head of Information Systems Development within a ministry in Morocco for 10 years, while also serving as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) within a public sector administration. Additionally, he serves as Secretary General of the African Cybersecurity Center (CAC), a non- governmental organization bringing together Chief Information Officers (C10s) and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) from the African public and private sectors.

Jeff Mote is a dynamic media consultant with extensive experience in radio, television and digital media. He has produced and anchored shows for both regional and international outlets (Reuters Africa and DW Africa). Currently in media and communications consultancy, he’s leveraging his expertise to refine strategies and drive impactful communication.

He was a member of the negotiating team of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the Pretoria Peace Talks, where the Pretoria Peace Agreement was signed in November 2022. He has an LL.B. from Addis Ababa University Faculty of Law and an LL.M. from University Colleague London. He was a Senior Fellow, at Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative, Harvard University. He was Assistant Director General for Global Issues at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He served as Ambassador & Permanent Representative of Ethiopia to the United Nations Offices in Geneva and Vienna; Ambassador to Switzerland, and non-resident ambassador to Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary & Romania, and a deputy head of mission at the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels. He was the legal advisor to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was a member of the African Union Commission on International Law/2009-2014 and served in the Ethiopian Diaspora Trust Fund Advisory Council.

Rosalia Omungo is Chief Executive Officer for Kenya Editors’ Guild, the foremost professional association for editors in Kenya. She is in charge of mobilizing resources  and implementing  the institution’s strategy to deliver professionalism and excellence in journalism. These include sourcing professional development opportunities for reporters and editors, community engagement with communities as well advocating for policies that promote media freedom. She takes keen interest in leadership and strategy development. She completed the Knight Science Journalism fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2017 and has previously worked as television managing editor where she led the Health, Science and environment desk. While in the newsroom, she reported widely on climate change and biodiversity. She is a Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP) fellow, and was the inaugural Earth Journalism Scholar at University of California Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism in 2014. Her work has earned her accolades among them Commonwealth award for Environmental Reporting in Africa in 2010. She holds a masters degree in Development Communication from Daystar University, Kenya.

Ibrahim Sagna is a seasoned investor with close to three decades of global finance roles with multilateral institutions such as IMF, AFC, Afreximbank and asset managers like ECP and Millenium Global. 

Mr. Sagna is Executive Chairman of Silverbacks Holdings, a private investment firm managing assets in tech, sports, entertainment and media, primarily in Africa. He is also podcast host of IN THE VALLEY, as well as Vice-Chairman and Founding Partner of the Cape Town Tigers, the 3x South Africa basketball champion club affiliated to NBA’s Basketball Africa League (BAL).  

He is a member of the Governing Body of Global Sports Summit. His other boards involvements include FEDA, Founders Factory Africa, Utopia Capital, Beacon Media, Media54 and he serves as mentor at Tim Draper’s University in California.  

Mr. Sagna holds a Master’s Degree in Finance from Boston College, and exec degrees from Harvard Business School, London Business School, and INSEAD.

His Excellency Amb. Prof. Muhammadou M.O. Kah is the Ambassador of The Republic of the Gambia to the Swiss confederation & Permanent Representative to the UN Office at Geneva, World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organizations at Geneva, Switzerland. He served as the past Chairman of the Africa Group of Ambassadors at Geneva (April 2021- Sept. 2021) and currently is the Vice President (Africa) for the UN Human Rights Council (2022 and 2023); Vice Chairman for UNCTAD’s Commission on Science and Technology Development and a member of the Advisory Board of the UNCTAD Trade and Development Bureau (TDB) (June 2021-July 2023). Amb. Prof. Kah served as one of two Ambassadors designated as Friends of the Chair of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly and serves as one of the Vice Chairs of the General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He is a founding Board member of The International Digital Health and AI Research Collaborative (I-DAIR), Geneva, Switzerland; Council Member: DCAF-Geneva Center For Security sector Governance Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland.

Amb. Prof. Kah served as the first Gambian-born third Vice Chancellor (President/Rector) of The University of The Gambia (UTG) from 2009-2015. Prior to becoming UTG’s Vice Chancellor in 2009, he spent 4 years in Nigeria as the Founding Dean of the School of IT and Computing at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) where he doubled for a year as Interim Dean of the School of Business & Entrepreneurship and served as Interim CIO of the University.  After his tenure at AUN, he was appointed to serve as a member of the University’s Board of Trustees for eight years. He was requested to step down and return to the University to provide academic and administrative leadership for the transformation of the University as Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost and Professor of IT & Computing (2017-2020).  Amb. Prof. Kah also served as Vice Rector for Technology & Innovation; Professor and Founding Dean of the School of IT & Engineering at ADA University in Baku, Azerbaijan (2015-2017). During his tenure, he provided leadership and spear headed resource mobilization that established a funded centre of excellence at the University- the ADA Centre for Data Analytics and Research to builds capacity, competencies on Data Science, Big Data, AI, Machine Learning and other emerging technologies and a hub of collaboration and partnership with key industry players and reputable Universities.

Mamadou Biteye is currently the Executive Secretary for The African Capacity Building Foundation. He has a wealth of expertise in the development sector in Africa. An agricultural economist by training, he has over twenty-five years’ experience in strategic leadership, program development and implementation, public policy analysis, advocacy, campaigning and community participatory development. He has held various leadership positions over the years at companies such as Vice President at VISA and Managing Director at the Rockefeller Foundation.

Ziaad Suleman is the Chief Commercial Officer and an Exco Member of EOH. Prior to this role, Ziaad was a Director and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for IBM  Southern Africa, a business he served and grew over his 13-year stay. In his current role as CCO, Ziaad is responsible for the overall Go To Market proposition which  includes sales, consulting, commercial constructs, investments, solutioning and marketing. Over and above EOH, Ziaad represents South Africa as the SA Chair of 4IR on BRICS, Chair of the  ICT 4IR Public Private Growth Initiative (PPGI), ICT Lead on the Digital Work Accelerator (DWA)  Presidential Programme, Independent Non – Executive Chairperson of Qode, Non – Executive  Director of Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa and Executive Member of D1GIT NPO.

Linus Gitahi is a Kenyan businessman and executive. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Boards of Home Afrika, Diamond Trust Bank Group, AIB Capital Ltd, Oxygene Communications Limited, and Tropikal Brands (Africa) Limited. He is a member of the boards of Simba Corp, Brand Kenya Board, Property Development & Management Ltd, International Press Institute, African Media Initiative, and Allianz Insurance Co. of Kenya Ltd. He is also the founder of the Baraka Foundation. He previously served as the Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nation Media Group.

Founder and CEO of GLOBAL MEDIA AFRICA, Mostapha Mellouk has over 25-years of experience in the management of TV channels like  2M,  Al-Jazeera Children’s Channel in the Qatar Foundation, and Medi1Sat. He is an international speaker on the topic of the Media and a member of several associations and active committees in the audiovisual field in Morocco and abroad. He regularly works with national and international organizations on topics related to media, broadcasting, news and content. He was appointed as board member of AllAfrica Global Media in 2023.

Steve Gitagama is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Nation Media Group. He is also the Group Finance Director and has been a Board member since March 2008. He is also on the board of 9 other companies. Mr. Gitagama is an executive director, a director of the Group’s Subsidiary Companies and is a member of the Strategy and Investments Committee. He previously worked as a Finance Director with East African Breweries Limited and as Group Finance Director at Monitor Publications Ltd.

Mamadou is the Founder and CEO of Ubuntu Group focused on Advisory and Investment activities across industries and aimed at supporting firms in Africa to achieve scalable and sustainable growth on the continent. He is also the founder and Chairman of Africa 2.0, a not-for-profit organization gathering a community of young Leaders from Africa and the Diaspora. He has worked in infrastructure, mining, banking, agriculture and technology projects exceeding a combined value of US$ 25 billion, thus creating opportunities and hope for many people in Africa. In 2014, Mamadou was ranked as one of the top 10 most Powerful men in Africa by Forbes Magazine.

Ellington Kamba is an experienced market researcher and business unit manager, with emerging markets experience. He is a global consumer insights expert with high professional standards and extensive experience in consulting, research management and team building. He is currently a research Analyst at the United States Agency for Global Media. He has held various leadership positions over the years such as Managing Director at Research International and Senior Research Consultant at the Centre for Global Research.

Dr. Tendai Mhizha is currently leading the transformation of AllAfrica Global Media as their Senior Advisor and Summit Director. As a global management Consultant, she is a board-level leader as well as a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in Pan-African strategy, general management, marketing, branding, market research, media communications and leadership. She leads a 30-year-old Pan-African market research agency, Research Bureau International, and is the founder and Chief Inspirer of Integra Africa, offering unique TRRibe programs (Talent Retention and Return- through Internal Brand Engagement). Tendai Is also a senior lecturer  on the adjunct faculty of the Gordon Institute of Business science, GIBS, University of Pretoria in South Africa and she is an avid public speaker.

Amadou Mahtar Ba is Co-Founder & Executive Chair of AllAfrica, the largest distributor of African news and information worldwide. He sits on several boards and has participated in prestigious working groups including the UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment and the World Economic Forum Network of Global Agenda Councils. He is the recipient of many distinguished awards & recognitions including New African Magazine’s “100 most influential Africans”. Forbes listed him among the “top 10 most powerful men in Africa” and Reputation Poll International included him on its “100 Most Reputable Africans”.

Dr Vera Songwe is a Cameroonian economist and banking executive who has a long history working in leadership positions for the World Bank and International Finance Corporation. She is also the first woman to head the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa at the level of Under Secretary-General. She is currently the chairwoman of the liquidity and sustainability facility. She also serves as a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Africa Growth Initiative.

Nduka Obaigbena is the Duke of Owa Kingdom and is the founding Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of the THISDAY-ARISE Media Group. He is a regular attendee and sessions moderator for the World Economic Forum and has served as a member of the Nominating Committee of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum. He is Chairman of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) as well as Chairman of the Nigerian Press Organisation – comprising the NPAN, the National Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors where he is a fellow.

As the trailblazing CEO/CTO of DeepMedia, Rijul Gupta is a Forbes-recognized thought leader in DeepFake technology. With over seven years in AI, he has provided transformative solutions to giants like Nike and Nordstrom. A Yale graduate, Thiel Fellow finalist, patented inventor, and Forbes Next 1000 honoree, his work deftly combines innovative AI practices with a strong ethical backbone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbpjXFfmwe4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uaq0gP3EsUE

Madam Bineta Diop, is, since 2014, the Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security.

She is the founder and president of Femmes Africa Solidarité (FAS), an international NGO founded in Switzerland in 1996, that seeks to foster, strengthen and promote the leadership role of women in conflict prevention, management and resolution in Africa.

In her role as the African Union Special Envoy for Women, Peace, and Security, Ms. Diop has been deeply committed to translating policies into tangible actions. She has focused on implementing accountability mechanisms and amplifying the voices of women, as well as fostering their leadership participation in peace processes.

Ms. Diop contributed in the shaping of Africa’s gender normative frameworks, such as the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights and the African Union Convention on Human Rights. This engagement led her to set up the Gender is My Agenda Action Network (GIMAC) to promote gender equality in Africa.

Ms. Diop has led several initiatives driven by women, notably the Empowering Women in Agriculture (EWA) program, which seeks to enhance the skills of women farmers and ensure equitable access to agricultural resources. Additionally, she has championed the establishment of the Pan African Centre for Gender, Peace, and Development (PAC). This center is devoted to strengthening the capacity of women and youth in gender, peacebuilding, and development, including the development of a Master’s Degree program on Gender and Peacebuilding in collaboration with the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar and UPEACE of Costa Rica.

She co-convenes, the African Women’s Leaders Network, which comprises women elders, young women, and rural women, spanning 35 national chapters. Endorsed by the UN and AU, this movement aims to advance women’s leadership in the agendas for 2030 and 2063.

She studied International Relations and diplomacy and has received many honors and awards, including being named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine in 2011. She holds special doctoral degrees from various institutions.

Ms. Bineta Diop’s passion and leadership have made a huge impact on women’s empowerment and peacebuilding in Africa and beyond.

Patrick Quarcoo is a Ghanaian Kenya-based serial entrepreneur. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Radio Africa Group, which is an umbrella of Kenya’s leading media channels on print, digital, TV and radio. This includes KISS 100, Classic 105, Smooth FM, Radio Jambo, East FM, Gukena FM, the Star newspaper and KISS TV. Quarcoo also co-owns two radio stations in Uganda, Capital Radio and Beat FM. He started his career as a journalist when he was young and had dreams of owning his company. Quacco was awarded an international recognition award at Ghana –UK based achievement awards.

Serah Makka is the Executive Director and has over 20 years’ experience in the global development and public sectors working in Nigeria, Afghanistan, and the United States. She currently leads ONE’s advocacy work across Africa guided by a passion to contribute to building an impactful Continent.

Current campaigns she is leading on includes, incorporating Africa’s perspective in the global financial architecture reforms, increasing financing for Africa’s plan on food sovereignty by identifying financing opportunities in the global north and advocacy and deepening attention on sectors for job creation in Africa by attracting investments from development finance institutions to also catalysing growth in the sectors.  Her vast experience also includes managing a US$10 million grant Fund to develop low-income products and services (microinsurance, microloans, microsavings, micropensions) to deepen financial inclusion in Nigeria while working as Policy and Innovation Fund Manager at Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access. She also worked as the Policy and Partnerships Manager at Indigenous African philanthropy in Nigeria, where she reformed several Federal Government policies including the National Youth Service Corps.

In honor of her work in the global development and foreign policy space she has been recognised in the ‘Global Top 35 Under 35 in International Affairs’ and is an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow. Serah holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Studies from the University of North Florida and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Getachew is currently the President of the Interim Regional Government of Tigray, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, having been appointed on 23 March 2023 by the Office of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Before assuming this role, he served as a trusted advisor to the former president of the Tigray Region, Debretsion Gebremichael. Alongside his administrative responsibilities, Getachew is an executive committee member and the spokesperson for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

On 2 November 2022, Getachew played a crucial role as the Tigray representative during the signing of a significant agreement that resulted in a permanent cessation of hostilities with the Ethiopian central government, contributing to peace and stability in the region. This achievement further solidified his leadership position, culminating in his appointment as the head of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray.

Previously, Getachew held the position of Minister of Government Communications Affairs in Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s federal government of Ethiopia until 2016.

Dietmar Schantin is a digital media strategist and implementer who has helped to transform and digitise the editorial and commercial operations of media brands around the world: from the Telegraph Media Group, Handelsblatt Germany, Ringier Switzerland, the Hindustan Times, New Zealand Herald, to the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones. He is also a trusted voice on business strategy, audience and market insight, technology and organisational strategies. He founded IFMS Media LTD in 2012 and co-founded the AI Collective in 2023 after serving as Executive Director of WAN-IFRA, the global association of news publishers. At WAN-IFRA, Dietmar was as a board member responsible for the organisation’s world-wide consultancy, training and events programme geared to aid the media organisation’s integration and development of digital platforms. Based in the UK and Austria, Dietmar is a familiar face on jury panels of international digital media awards, writes regularly for industry publications and speaks at international media conferences about digital growth strategies and for the media industry.

Links to articles about him:

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/newsrooms-in-the-digital-age-are-traditional-news-sections-obsolete/

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/successful-digital-transformation-requires-commitment-decision-making-responsibility/

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/in-digital-news-operations-editors-drive-success-across-the-organisation/

https://www.ifms-ltd.com/content-strategy-sweet-spot-hits-4-key-pillars/

More articles can be found here: https://www.ifms-ltd.com/insights/

Often described as “Africa’s Optimist-in-Chief”, African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina (1960) is widely lauded for his visionary leadership and passion for Africa’s transformation. Formerly the Nigerian Agriculture Minister, Dr Adesina was first elected President of the African Development Bank Group on 28 May 2015. He was unanimously re-elected for a second five-year term on 27 August 2020. Dr Adesina graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics (First Class Honours) from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria, in 1981.  Dr Adesina holds a master’s degree (1985) and a PhD in Agricultural Economics (1988) from Purdue University, United States of America, where he won the Outstanding Ph.D. thesis award for that year. Dr Adesina won the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Social Science Fellowship in 1988, which launched him into his international career.