Speakers

Last year's Speakers

Bright ‘UK’ Ukwenga

Bright ‘UK’ Ukwenga is a leadership strategist focused on one central idea: empowered and whole leadership builds strong institutions.

He works with executives, founders, and public leaders to strengthen the personal and structural foundations required for credible governance and sustainable growth. 

 

His advisory and facilitation work addresses enduring leadership questions around inclusion, institutional resilience, responsible influence, and the role of secure, self-aware leaders in driving high performance without losing their humanity.

Bright is the Principal Consultant at SixthSense Leadership and the CEO of ScribeTribe Africa, a digital media and publishing company amplifying thought leadership across the continent. 

 

He also convenes platforms such as the Lead the Future Conference and the Business Leaders Roundtable, fostering cross-sector dialogue on leadership and enterprise development.

An author of two books on leadership and wealth creation, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants Nigeria, a Certified Management Consultant, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Directors Nigeria.

Shuaheeb Olabode Agoro

Shuaheeb Olabode Agoro is the current Head of Service for Lagos State, appointed in September 2024.

He has a robust legal background, having earned a Bachelor of Law and an LL.M in Petroleum Law and Policy with distinction in the UK. 

 

Called to the Nigerian Bar in 1996, he later became a Solicitor in England and Wales.

His career spans significant roles in both the private and public sectors, including positions as an Energy Lawyer and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State. 

As Director of the Lands Bureau and later as Permanent Secretary, Agoro led impactful initiatives such as the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Project and the Aumentum Project, which digitized land title application processes.

 

Agoro’s leadership has been pivotal in advancing the digitization and automation of land services in Lagos State, greatly improving efficiency and accessibility.

 

His contributions reflect a strong commitment to enhancing governance and infrastructure in the state.

Olaniyi Yusuf

Olaniyi Yusuf currently serves as the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Nigeria’s foremost private sector-led think tank and policy advocacy group.


He is a respected transformation manager with over three decades of experience advising C-level executives across private and public sectors on navigating strategic change and digital transformation.

Niyi is the Managing Partner and Lead, Social Sector practice at Verraki Partners, a proudly African business solutions company partnering with enterprises and governments to accelerate the development and transformation of Africa.


Prior his assumption of this role in April 2019, he was the Country Managing Director of Accenture Nigeria from 2010 to 2019. In 1995, he joined the Management Consulting Division of Arthur Andersen four years after starting his career at Joint Komputer Kompany, an indigenous computer company.

Odunayo Sanya

Odunayo Sanya’s work experience spans the Education, Financial Services, Telecommunications and Development sectors in Nigeria.

She currently serves as the Executive Director MTN Nigeria Foundation where she drives the alignment between strategy, the SDGs and National Priorities through various social development programs.

An alumna of the Lagos Business School (SMP 27) and the IMD (Switzerland), she has also attended executive trainings at the Harvard Business School and Cornell University. She holds a first degree in Political Science from the University of Abuja and an M.B.A. in Leadership & Sustainability from the University of Cumbria.

She is a certified Coach, Speaker, and Trainer and has presented papers at the IIR Telecoms Loyalty & Churn conferences in Berlin (Germany) and Nice (France). She is a DDI (Development Dimensions

International) certified Facilitator and a DISC certified Trainer.

Niyi Adesanya

Niyi Adesanya is a trusted advisor to CEOs, C-suite Executives, and seasoned professionals across various sectors helping them navigate their business reengineering process.

He is the CEO of FifthGear Plus, a Consulting, Recruiting, and Publishing firm with clients including at least one of the top three organisations in major sectors of the economy.

As an unrivaled and renowned Performance Strategist and speaker with strong business acumen, his business and life coaching platform has helped business owners across various sectors cut through the complexities of today’s rapidly changing business environment using his innovative MACE procedure template that he developed from his years of leadership and management practice.

An offshoot of these engagements with the business owners has yielded between 63% – 313% increase in their bottom line.

He was awarded Nigeria’s Foremost Performance Strategist (Middle East Africa Business Award), Leadership Coach of the Year by Top 10 Magazine, and awarded the African Prize for Leadership Excellence.

Emmanuel Asika

Emmanuel Asika is the Country Head for Nigeria at HP Inc., leading strategic initiatives and operations across the region.

With about two decades of multinational experience in telecommunications and IT, he drives digital transformation and business growth across Africa. His leadership focuses on advancing sustainability initiatives addressing digital inequality, diversity, inclusion, and better opportunities for the underprivileged.

An alumnus of Harvard Business School and holder of an MBA from Warwick Business School, Emmanuel is also passionate about mentoring and nurturing talent in the tech space. His commitment to digital advocacy has earned him numerous accolades, and he continues to push boundaries to ensure technology positively impacts lives across Africa.

 

Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani

Rolake Akinkugbe-Filani is an award-winning C-level executive with a distinguished career in energy, infrastructure, and financial services. As GM & Group Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Development at Zenith Bank Plc, she manages relationships with institutional investors and drives the bank’s geographic expansion across Africa and global markets. 

A sought-after analyst, Rolake appears on media platforms like CNBC, Bloomberg, and CNN, providing expert insights on African energy, finance, and markets. She also anchors BusinessWeek on Arise News and covered key themes at the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos. 

Previously, she was Chief Commercial Officer at Mixta Africa and Senior Advisor to IFU, Denmark’s Investment Fund. Her roles at FBNQuest Merchant Bank and Ecobank saw her raise capital and lead energy research across 33 African markets. 

A TRIUM MBA graduate, Rolake serves on global boards, including Save the Children International, and has received numerous accolades, including recognition as a Young Economic Leader in Africa

Sinari Bolade Daranijo

Sinari Bolade Daranijo is the CEO of Sinbol Group, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s trajectory for over three decades.

At Sinbol Group, Sinari oversees a diverse portfolio of SME entrepreneurial ventures and investments, ranging from Sinbol Nigeria Ltd to Elcomserve Ltd, Afriwood Cosmetics, Quick SOS Ltd, Leapsoft Ltd, Sinbol Consulting, DigiJobs, G-Flakes, and QuickMeals Ltd. Through Sinbol Consulting, he offers trade consultancy services, providing import and export solutions, customized trade professional training, and compliance program drafting and implementation to industry clients.

In addition to his role at Sinbol Group, Sinari holds esteemed positions on the boards of several reputable organizations including the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund, where his valuable insights and expertise contribute to the advancement of employment initiatives and entrepreneurship development in Lagos State, and Focus Africa, a prominent export and exchange promotion project and platform

Victor Gbenga Afolabi

Victor Gbenga Afolabi is a visionary business leader and serial entrepreneur. Over the past two decades, he has demonstrated unmatched expertise as a venture builder, tech enthusiast, and business angel, consistently driving exceptional growth in both revenue and overall performance.

 

With deep knowledge of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, Victor founded the Eko Innovation Centre and currently serves as its Chief Executive Officer. The Centre provides pre-acceleration, acceleration, and incubation services to early-stage businesses, tackling poverty, underdevelopment, unemployment, and underemployment by leveraging the power of youth entrepreneurship and innovation. Under his leadership, Eko Innovation Centre has supported over 2,000 startup teams, resulting in the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. 

 

Victor holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, a Master’s degree in Managerial Psychology from the University of Ibadan, an MBA from Alliance Business School at Manchester University, United Kingdom. He is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School and currently a Doctoral Student at the Hult International Business School, UK.

Dr. Ogho Okiti

Dr. Ogho Okiti is a distinguished economist and influential voice on business and economic development in Africa. As CEO of ThinkBusiness Africa, a business intelligence platform, he provides data-driven solutions and insights that support business and economic advancement. With a career marked by high-impact roles, including his recent tenure as Managing Director of BusinessDay Media Ltd., Dr. Okiti has driven strategic transformation in editorial quality, digital media, and thought leadership.

Dr. Okiti’s career includes notable contributions to Nigeria’s economic environment, such as his role in coordinating Nigeria’s World Economic Forum on Africa in 2014. A seasoned public policy strategist, he has served in the Nigerian Presidency and has authored over 200 publications on economics, fiscal policy, and social development. Dr. Okiti holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Manchester and has a deep background in policy advisory and analysis.

Dr. Okiti mentors emerging leaders, sharing his expertise in economic strategy, business innovation, and leadership in the public and private sectors. His insights empower leaders to understand and navigate complex economic environments.

Eric Uwaoma

Eric Uwaoma is a high-performing business director with extensive experience in telecom corporate and enterprise sales management. With a deep understanding of Nigeria’s fast-growing telecom market, Eric specializes in enterprise solutions, sales strategy, and business process re-engineering. His expertise spans marketing, channel development, and new market expansion.

Eric brings his wealth of experience from top telecom brands, where he pioneered enterprise solution departments at MTN Nigeria and Etisalat Nigeria, and served as Business Lead for Enterprise Mobility and Fixed Services at Globacom, overseeing the B2B Go-to-market strategy of the Enterprise unit. As the Director of Enterprise Segment at Etisalat, he guided strategic initiatives that established the company as a preferred provider for corporate and SME markets. His efforts led to exponential growth, building the unit into a multi-billion-naira business within just four years.

With an extensive network of key influencers and a proven track record in driving organizational growth, Eric mentors leaders in navigating complex markets, enhancing performance, and implementing effective processes. His mentorship offers invaluable insights for leaders seeking to excel in dynamic, high-stakes environments.

Dr. (Mrs.) Olubummo Mojisola

Dr. (Mrs.) Olubummo Mojisola is a seasoned Human Capital and People Experience executive with nearly two decades of experience across diverse industries, including financial services, NGOs, marketing communication, consulting, and healthcare. Renowned for her expertise in “glocalizing” HR best practices, she aligns strategic HR initiatives with overarching business objectives, fostering growth and profitability.

Her academic background includes a degree in Mass Communication, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management, and a Master’s in Industrial and Labour Relations. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), the Chartered Institute of Management of Nigeria, and the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, with certification in Six Sigma.

Throughout her career, Dr. Mojisola has held key HR leadership roles at companies like AIICO Insurance, Mutual Alliance Investment, and FINCA International, and most recently as CHRO at Lagoon Hospitals. Her focus on leveraging technology-driven HR strategies and future-proofing organizations has made her a pivotal figure in optimizing business operations and organizational success.

Sunday Olorunsheyi

Sunday Olorunsheyi is a distinguished Nigerian business leader with over 20 years of experience building successful ventures across various sectors. As Co-founder of Pertinence Group and CEO of Globarel Group, he is a seasoned entrepreneur, business consultant, and global keynote speaker.

Sunday’s expertise spans management strategy, business growth, product development, marketing, and investment risk assessment. He contributes to over a dozen companies, including Pertinence Properties, HostNowNow, and PettySave, and is well-versed in the African business environment.

A strong proponent of continuous learning, Sunday holds advanced degrees in Business and Public Administration, alongside a Ph.D. in Business Administration. His mentorship platform supports aspiring leaders globally, while his philanthropic Olorunsheyi Foundation addresses poverty, education, and healthcare challenges in Africa. His life and career embody impactful leadership and dedication to empowering future leaders and communities.

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