Mr. David Adejo Andrew, a consummate professional with a passion for delivering results, was born on 21st October 1964 in Apapa, Lagos, Lagos State where he completed his Primary and Secondary Education at Army Children School 3, Apapa and Gaskiya College, Ijora-Badiya respectively.

He possesses a Second Class (Honours) Upper Division Degree in Botany from the University of Jos as well as an M.Sc Crop Science from the University of Maiduguri. He completed his mandatory one-year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Muhammadu Kobo Senior Secondary School, Lapai, Niger State.

Mr. Andrew gained employment in the Federal Civil Service of Nigeria in 1988 and was posted to the Federal Department of Forestry Field Office, Maiduguri, Borno State where he learnt the rudiments of the forestry profession. 

In his over thirty-three years of working as a civil servant, Mr Andrew had worked in different agencies of government and international development partners including serving as Special Assistant – Infrastructure and Energy – in the administration of late President Umaru Musa Yar Adua, and Programme Analyst, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He worked as the National Coordinator of the World Bank Assisted Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO), his vast experience in Community Driven Development ensured the adoption of a Community-Based Targeting System and Host Community Based Identification Scheme being used for providing support to the poor and vulnerable in all parts of Nigeria and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East.

He rose to the position of Federal Permanent Secretary in 2019 and was first deployed to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation as Permanent Secretary, Political and Economic Affairs Office, where he facilitated the process that led to the development of the National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy, National Policy on Inclusive Volunteerism for Nigeria, National Chemical and Biological Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, amongst others.

Professor Agbor is a Distinguished Professor of African and Commonwealth Literature and the elected Commissioner (2017-2022) Department for Education, Science and Technology and Innovation (ESTI) of the African Union (AU) and former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, of Research and External Cooperation with the Business World (DVC-RCB) at the University of Bamenda, Cameroon.

She is currently the AU Global Consultant at Policy Renaissance and the Board Chair, at Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), Nairobi, Kenya. She has served as the Inspector of Academic Affairs No.1 at the Ministry of Higher Education Cameroon with strategic responsibility for the evaluation and monitoring of Higher Education Institutions in Cameroon.

Sir Joseph Ari holds a degree in Law (LL B (Hons.), a Masters’s Degree in Law LLM, and Masters’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA). His working career spans a period of over two decades, covering different spheres of disciplines and human endeavour.

Sir Ari started broadcasting from scratch at the Plateau Broadcasting Corporation as a News Reporter/Presenter; had a stint with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Lagos as a Newscaster. He moved to the Nigerian Television Authority as a News Editor/Caster. He worked at the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria,(NICON) as the Public Relations Manager, North. He was the Director of Press and Public Affairs to two Governors of Plateau State before his appointment as the Sole Administrator and later General Manager of the Plateau Publishing Company, (PPC) Jos. He is the DG/CEO, of the Industrial Training Fund, Nigeria.

Born 1965 in Munich. After studying electrical engineering and information technology at the Technical University of Munich and completing various internships at Rohde & Schwarz, Peter Riedel joined the company in June 1991 and first served as a development engineer in the Test and Measurement Division. From July 1997 to November 2005, he headed a lab, where he was in charge of the development of wireless communications T&M systems. During this time he started developing the cooperation with Rohde & Schwarz Singapore.

In July 2010, Peter Riedel took over leadership of the Radiomonitoring and Radiolocation Division and became one of the Executive Vice Presidents of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG as well as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rohde & Schwarz Asia in Singapore. He has been President and COO of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG since July 2014.

Peter Okebukola is a Distinguished Professor of science and computer education at Lagos State University, Nigeria. He had his higher education at the University of Ibadan where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in 1973 followed by Master’s and PhD degrees in Science Education at the same university.

He had specialised science and technology training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), and Harvard University, both in Cambridge, USA. He is a Fellow of the Science Association of Nigeria (SAN), Fellow and President of the Nigerian Association for Environmental Education and Fellow and past President of the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN). He was Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (2001-2006). He has been awarded a number of honorary D.Sc degrees. He is the recipient of the National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic- OFR.

Born in October 1957 at Makarfi in Kaduna State, Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed (MFR) attended the Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Makarfi between 1966 and 1971; School for Arabic Studies, Kano (1972-1976); Bayero University, Kano (1977-1980 and 1981-1983); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1986-1991) and the University of Nottingham, England, (1989-1990). He holds, among other qualifications, a B.A., two MAs, and a PhD in different aspects of English Studies.

Professor Rasheed returned to teaching at Bayero University, Kano. With his return to the University, he served as Head of the Department of English and French (1999-2000), rose through the ranks and became the Vice-Chancellor (2010-2015). Professor Rasheed also served in several committees and boards as Chairman/Member including the Senate, Committee of Deans and Directors, University/Community Relations Committee, University Admissions Committee, etc.

Professor Olusola Oyewole is the Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities, Accra, Ghana. He was the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, from 2012 to 2017. He has served as a Senior Expert (Quality Assurance, Mobility and Scholarships) at the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology of the African Union Commission in Ethiopia, Addis-Ababa, from 2009 to 2010.

He is currently a member of the Advisory Group of the OECD Programme on Innovation, Higher Education and Research for Development, and the Tuning Africa Quality Assurance program. His major interests include internationalisation, Quality Assurance, Science, Technology and Innovation, Globalization, Higher Education Policy, etc.

Paul Olomolaiye is a Professor of Construction Engineering and Management and currently Pro Vice-Chancellor for Equalities and Civic Engagement at UWE-Bristol. He Chairs the Cabot Learning Federation – a Multi-Academy Trust of 21 Schools in and around Bristol and is a Non-Executive Director of Avon and Wiltshire NHS Mental Health Trust. He holds a PhD from Loughborough University in Civil Engineering and has widely published over 200 journal and conference publications and has authorship of 2 major books on Construction Productivity and Stakeholder Management. He is passionate about the experiences of the more than 3000 staff and 30000 students at UWE-Bristol and the collective responsibility as a Civic University in the region and beyond. He is happily married with 3 grown-up children and active in the community in various charitable activities and organisations.

Dr Saliu was the Director of Academic Planning (DAP) at the National Universities Commission (NUC), a position he held since August 2019 and doubles as Supervising Director Accreditation. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry (1987), a Master of Science in Biochemistry (1990) and a Doctorate in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He is a member of the African Union-European Union Partnership initiative, Harmonisation of African Higher Education Quality Assurance and Accreditation (HAQAA) Technical Working Group (TWG). He is a member of the Governing Councils of Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma, Nigeria and Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Nigeria as well as the Governing Board of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

Professor Pervaiz K Ahmed is a Distinguished Research Professor at Sunway University. He is a management scholar exploring innovation and strategic dynamics of change. His outlook on management is coloured by moral responsibility, particularly ethics of care and sustainability.

He has extensive experience working with and advising blue chip companies and public sector organizations, such as Unilever, Ford, AT&T, NCR, British Telecommunications, and the NHS in Europe. He has also been involved with corporate clients in Asia, as well as government agencies such as the Singapore National Productivity Council. In recent times Pervaiz has been involved with the Islamic Development Bank as well as the Government of Dubai’s Public Sector Innovation and Improvement Initiative and also served on projects commissioned by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Ministry of International Trade (MITI) and APEC Secretariat.

Aderemi Atayero is a professor of Communication Engineering. He served as the 5th Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Ota. He is recognised for contemporary multidisciplinary academic research with a special focus on wireless/mobile communications. Engineer Atayero is a Fellow of various professional associations, as well as a COREN Registered Engineer. He is on the editorial board of several international scientific and engineering Journals. Atayero is a WACREN Ambassador for Nigeria and a member of the TETFund Research and Development Standing Committee (RDSC).

Mr Zachariah John Piwuna is the third child of Nde John Piwuna Goson, a native of Kanke Local Government of Plateau State. He attended Primary and Secondary Schools all on the Plateau before he proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic to read Agricultural Engineering. His quest for knowledge and Skills then made him to further obtain Post Graduate Diploma and MBA with option on Technology from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, Bauchi State. Mr. Z. J. Piwuna also has a Post Graduate Diploma and Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Environmental Resource Management from the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and Nassarawa State University, Keffi, Nassarawa State respectively.

In addition to educational qualifications, Piwuna has Certificate in Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2012) as an Auditor, and a Certified Trainer of the International Labour Organization-Start and Improve Your Business (ILO-SIYB). He is a member of several Professional bodies amongst which he is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Training and Development (NITAD) and the Chartered Institute of Human Capital Development of Nigeria (CIHCDN).

Currently, Mr Z. J. Piwuna is the Director of the Research and Curriculum Development Department in the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). Before his promotion to the position of Director of Training, he worked as Area Manager of the Uyo, Bauchi, Port-Harcourt and Isolo Area Offices of the Fund. He has also manned the Management and Leadership Development Division of the Fund, including heading the Consultancy Services Division of the same Fund. Mr Zachariah John Piwuna is an accomplished Trainer, an astute Consultant, a Manager of Human and Material Resources and a pragmatic leader of excellence. He is married and blessed with beautiful children.

Urum Kalu Eke, a graduate of Political Science, University of Lagos, is a seasoned banker with over 30 years of work experience in the financial services industry. Before his appointment as Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings Plc in 2016, he served as the Executive Director, Public Sector South for First Bank of Nigeria Plc. He was on the Board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and served as the Chairman of the Externally Managed Investments Committee.

He is a fellow of reputable professional institutes such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria; the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria; the Institute of Directors and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, alluding to his illustrious experience and capacity in corporate governance.

Professor Awodun joined Crown-Hill University in October 2019, upon completion of his tenure at the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, where he served as Executive Chairman (2015-2019). He is the Director of the Centre for Enterprise and Human Capital Development at the University. He was the pioneer Dean of the School of Business and Governance at Kwara State University (2013–2015), and pioneer Director of KWASU Centre for Entrepreneurship (2009–2013), the first entrepreneurship centre established in any Nigerian public university. He is a consultant to many states in Nigeria on revenue management and director of several business organisations. He is the Founder of Fifty-fifty Institute Limited, an organization set up ‘to break new grounds in enterprise and job creation’, and MAWO Foundation, a ‘widows and orphans’ foundation.

Professor Ndy Ekere is a Professor of Manufacturing Engineering and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. Prior to joining Liverpool John Moores University in August 2021, he served as Professor and Dean, Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton. He graduated with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nigeria, received an MSc in Flexible Manufacturing and Robotics from Loughborough University and a PhD in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Manchester (UMIST). Professor Ekere has published over 170 papers, successfully supervised sixteen PhDs and mentored seven Postdocs.

Debra Hinds joined Arden University in May 2021 as Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor Partnerships, part of the Centre for Global Development, whose aim is to further internationalise Arden University. Prior to joining Arden, Debra spent 16 years as a leading academic, initially leading a law faculty delivering franchised and validated programmes before becoming the key lead in law for BPP University’s seven partner centres in four different countries. 

Subsequently, she became a law lecturer and Academic Leader in law, with specialist subjects including the English Legal System, Company Law, and EU Law, and continues to teach EU law some 23 years later. In addition to law, Debra studied and graduated with an MBA in 2015, which enabled her to move from a leading role in academia to one in international partnership business development. 

Bamidele Adebisi is a Professor in Intelligent Infrastructure Systems, and Director of Smart Infrastructure and Industry Research Group at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He received a master’s degree in Advanced Mobile Communication Engineering and Ph.D. in Communication Systems both from Lancaster University, UK. Before that, he obtained B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. 

He has been part of multi-partner, multi-country, multi-million-pound projects as an Investigator funded by the EPSRC, Innovate UK, DFID, BEIS, etc. He has a strong record of accomplishment in attracting industrial-related grants through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP). One such project received the UK Best KTP Project of the Year Awards in September 2020. Bamidele is a Fellow of IET, a Senior member of IEEE, a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Chartered Engineer.

Dr Emmanuel Abraham is the Chairman of the governing board at Topfaith Schools.

William Barnabas Qurix – Professor William Barnabas Qurix is an accomplished academic and University administrator, with over 30 years of teaching and research experience. He holds a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D in Architecture which he obtained in 1987 and 1997 respectively from Ahmadu Bello University. In 2001, he obtained an M.A. degree in Law and Diplomacy from the University of Jos. 

He served as Chairman, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority. Between 2010 – 2011 he served as Honourable Commissioner of Works and Transport, and in 2012 – 2017; he was Vice – Chancellor, Kaduna State University. during which the University witnessed unquantifiable growth and development. He is currently the Vice-Chancellor Bingham University Karu. 

Abel Idowu Olayinka – Professor Olayinka recently completed his tenure as the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He had previously served the institution as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and Dean of the Postgraduate School. He is a great believer in strengthening the relationship between government, the private sector and academia. 

He has served on the Council of Association of Commonwealth Universities and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). He was the Founding President of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA). He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

Professor Sagagi specializes in Entrepreneurship and Global Economics. He obtained his degrees from Bayero University and Kano (BUK), Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto; conducted graduate research on Global Economics at Brandies University, Boston and received entrepreneurship training at the International Training Centre, Turin, Italy. He’s a Fulbright Fellow who helped manage/coordinate many international projects supported by the several international organisations, including World Bank, IFAD, British Council, Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation, among others. He’s currently a professor at Dangote Business School and Inclusive Economic Growth Adviser to FSSP/Global Affairs Canada.

Experienced in entrepreneurship & innovation on the continent of Africa, Shiela has a wealth of praxis knowledge in new venture launch, business acceleration, and Impact Investing. She has designed and executed multiple entrepreneurship & innovation support programs and impacted entrepreneurs across Africa through her previous role at the University of Cape Town. She is currently Head of Ecosystem Development for Ayoba.

Oka Obono is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He has spent the past 20 years working on population, methodology, culture, communication, health and policy issues at the University of Calabar (1990-1998), University of Ibadan (1998-date), Brown University (2000-2003) and Bowen University (2005). He is Guest Faculty at Nigeria’s elite National Defence College, Abuja (2007- date). He has supervised four PhDs and over 45 MScs to completion and is the author of more than 35 peer-reviewed scholarly publications and above 50 technical reports and monographs. His research activities span past and current roles as Independent Scientist and Temporary Adviser to the World Health Organization (1996-date); Chief Evaluator of 40 civil society organizations in Nigeria; Coordinator of Dakar-based network of governance monitors in 12 West African countries (2006), etc.

Ukandu Ukandu is the Group Head (Services & Conglomerates), Corporate Banking, First Bank of Nigeria Limited. Previously, he worked with Citibank Nigeria for 8years rising to the position of a Vice President (Corporate Banking) responsible for leading a team of senior managers overseeing the fast-moving consumer goods, automobiles, cement, distribution, Japanese and Chinese and general corporate sectors of the Nigerian economy. He has a background in Economics and finance spanning corporate banking, investment banking, credit risk, business development and relationship management. He holds a BSc. and MSc. In Economics from the University of Calabar and currently completing his MBA from the China-Europe International Business School (CEIBS).

Professor Agbor holds a PhD in Biochemistry with over 20 years of research experience in Phyto- biochemistry. He is the Director of the Centre for Research on Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicines, Cameroon. He also Heads the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostic Innovation (ANDI) Centre of Excellence on Traditional Medicine Research. 

Dr Agbor is a Fellow of the Cameroon Academy of Sciences, a Member African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC), Vice President of the Cameroon Biosciences Society, a Senior Fulbright Alumnus, Visiting Professor at Catholic University of Central Africa Yaoundé-Cameroon, Madonna University Elele-Nigeria. He is an Academic Editor of PLOS ONE Journal and an Editorial board member Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Journal.

Ezinne Chidi Anosike is the Head, of Human Capital Business Partnering for Personal and Business Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Nigeria. She is a versatile, intuitive Human Resource Professional with about 17 years of work experience of which twelve years have been in Human Resource Management which spreads across HR specialized roles; Learning & Development, Talent Resourcing, Management & Development, Leadership Development / Team Building & Training.

A member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management Nigeria as well as the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development, United Kingdom. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Lagos, Nigeria and a Master’s in Human Resource Management from the University of Wolverhampton West Midlands, United Kingdom.

Ronald David Kayanja, a Ugandan national, is the Director of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) for Nigeria. Based in Abuja, UNIC is the field office of the United Nations Department of Global Communications responsible for the communication, information and advocacy work of the United Nations. He has been Director of the Centre since 2015. Mr Kayanja first worked for the United Nations in 1996 and has had responsibilities in various entities of the organization, including working with the United Nations Peacekeeping operation in Timor-Leste, where he served as a Governance Advisor working specifically on media and civil society. He went on to work with UNESCO as Advisor for Communication and Information in West Africa based initially in Accra and subsequently in Abuja. He has also worked with several international organizations.

Dr Joseph Onyango, PhD, is the Associate Dean of Research at Strathmore University Business School, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya. Besides teaching and training, he is a practising researcher and management consultant. His specialization spans across management science in the disciplines of; Strategic Management, Human Resource Management, Change Management and Organizational Behaviour. 

He has over 15 years of experience in industry practice. Before joining academia, he worked with the two leading global professional firms, PwC and KPMG. He led multi-complex projects Across Africa in over 25 countries in various industries and sectors. He is currently leading several research and development initiatives across Africa.

Daniel Amoako Antwi is the Executive Director of the Africa Skills Hub, a development and social enterprise-oriented organization based in Ghana that works with public, private and the third sector across Africa to create economic opportunities for Africa’s youth and women. Experienced tri-sector leader and development professional in youth development, Daniel has consulted for several pan-African multilateral development organisations including UNDP Africa, UN Women Africa, Mastercard Foundation, Smart Africa Secretariat, and Global Citizen Africa on human capital development and policymaking. 

A Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeeper, and a Fellow of the UNDP Africa Youth Connekt Programme, Daniel is recognized by EdTech Tours Global in 2019 as one of ten Changemakers transforming education and employability in Africa.

Ida Nganga leads the award-winning Regional Consortium (of Experts) for Development who use technology and engineering as an enabler for achieving the SDGs (RCD Africa); and is the Regional Representative, Anglophone Countries at UNESCO Emerging Technologies for Development, Steering Committee, Bordeaux, France. Ida is very active in the innovation ecosystem. 

She sits on a number of advisory boards such as: Global President, Startup Innovation at the Global Council for International Trade; ATU’s Africa Innovation Challenge, GPF’s Leap Innovation HUBS to name a few and has trained, mentored and judged in innovation competitions across the world including the $1 million HULT Prize. She is on the advisory committees for Government – AFRINIC; Digital Innovation Framework – International Telecommunication Union (ITU); New Africa Strategy – ICANN; and Online Safety & Security – Communications Authority of Kenya.

Stephen Oluwatobi has over a decade experience in business, entrepreneurship education, mentoring, research and community development, with proofs of excellence, profitability and growth. He earned his PhD in Innovation Economics. Stephen is a member of the Digital Economy Policy Commission group of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), where he contributes to visioning of the future and its implementation as well as the development and formulation of national policies that affect the economy. He founded the Edustart Global Foundation to cultivate High-Growth Entrepreneurs to make multibillion-dollar businesses in Africa.