Meet Our Speakers

This year's speakers are some of the most influential leaders across Africa, renowned for their ability to inspire and drive meaningful change.

16

Speakers

32

Topics

Daniel Awe

Group Head, Africa Fintech Foundry

Daniel Awe spearheads AFF’s idea to venture creation strategy, building digitally led, sustainable platforms that redefine the future of finance and technology across the continent. He is a seasoned fintech expert who drives digital transformation and innovation in Africa’s financial ecosystem.

Keynote Digital Banking Financial Inclusion

Jumoke Fajemirokun

Partner, ENR Advisory

Jumoke Fajemirokun is a Partner at ENR Advisory, an energy and natural resources-focused law firm based in Lagos, Nigeria. Jumoke has advised several local and foreign investors on the acquisition of interests in various exploration and mining projects in Nigeria.

Governance Energy Sustainability

Christian Idiodi

Partner, SVPG

Christian has been a product leader for over 15 years, building teams and developing enterprise and consumer products that have shaped companies such as CareerBuilder and Merrill Corporation as well as clients such as Microsoft, Starbucks, and Squarespace.

Innovation Technology Leadership

Roshni Raveendhran

Assistant Professor of Business Administration

She is also a Faculty Fellow affiliated with the Batten Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Roshni received her Ph.D. in business administration (management) from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California.

Leadership Pyschology Technology

Helio Cumbi

Director, Exxon Mobil Corporation

Helio is the Director of Africa and International Finance Institutions at Exxon Mobil Corporation. He provides strategic advice to all business lines engaging in Africa including Low Carbon Solutions, Upstream and Products Solutions.

Oil & Gas Emerging Markets Low Carbon Energy

Teniola Tayo

Trade & Investment Advisor

Teniola has led and contributed to policy research initiatives for partners across Africa, Europe, and the US, including the Nigerian government's Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Africa Policy Research Institute.

Trade & Investment Supply Chain Sustainability

Christian Duffus

Founder, Fonbank

Christian (“Chris”) Duffus is an entrepreneur and fintech expert, currently serving as the founder and CEO of Fonbnk, a global onramp to Web3 that uses prepaid airtime as a medium of exchange to target mobile-first, cash-based economies.

Cross-border Trade Crypto Digital Payments

Manoj Sinha

CEO & Founder, Husk Power Systems

Manoj Sinha is CEO and co-founder of Husk Power Systems, which operates 200 minigrids across Asia and Africa, and reached profitability in India and Nigeria.

Global Cleantech Rural Electrification AI Power Systems

Adetayo Adesanya

Founder, Lola Vision Systems

Adetayo is the founder of Lola Vision Systems, an AI/ML high performance computing systems provider. Tayo is also a former All-American and Big Ten Champion student-athlete, he brings the same competitive spirit, discipline, and drive to the IoT and Semiconductor industry.

Innovation Artificial Intelligence Semiconductors

Niyi Sodipe

Head of Product, JazzUp AI

Niyi Sodipe is a product leader specializing in New Product Introduction (NPI) and digital commerce. His expertise spans enterprise eCommerce, SaaS, and AI-driven products, where he has developed solutions designed to enhance customer engagement and maximize revenue.

Digital Growth Strategy

Ishaq Bolarinwa

Founder, Anfani Entrepreneur

Ishaq Bolarinwa is an accomplished entrepreneur with over a decade of extensive engineering, technical, and project management expertise in the energy and consumer goods industries.

Renewable Energy Energy Brokerage SubSaharan Africa

Randolph Rodrigues

Corporate Development & Venture, Bose Corporation

Randolph previously held roles with Odeko, a technology start-up in New York City, and corporate development with The Hershey Company and Microsoft Corporation.

Corporate Development Venture Investing Capital Investments

Yoseph Ayele

Managing Partner, LAVA

Yoseph leads LAVA, a venture fund investing in Web3 and fintech startups building Africa's financial and trust infrastructures. He also runs magma, a founder program coordinating exceptional entrepreneurs who are building Africa's onchain economy.

Decentralized Finance Venture Investing Cross-Border Trade

Tolani Alli

Executive Digital Storyteller

Tolani is a visionary force in the world of visual storytelling. Her work has been featured by CNN, the United Nations, BBC News, World Press, and The Guardian (UK).

Storytelling Creative Advisory Digital Media

Kingsley Ndoh

Founder & CEO, Hurone AI

Kingsley is driving innovation at the intersection of oncology, technology, and research. He has played a pivotal role in shaping U.S. healthcare AI policies through his contributions to the U.S. President’s Cancer Panel.

GenAI & Healthcare Health Financing

Melissa C. Thomas-Hunt

Vice Dean and Senior Associate Dean, UVA Darden School of Business

MTH is the John D. Forbes Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School of Business and Professor of Public Policy at the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy.

Executive Leadership Diversity Institutional Management

Schedule

Panel 1

Africa's Digital Economy

Panel 2

Cross-Border Trade

Panel 3

Energy & Sustainability

APRIL 11

2025 DABO Conference

Get Free Tickets Registration is free

10:00 - 10:30 am

Opening remarks

Anu & Chinelo

Welcome Remarks:

Melissa Thomas- Hunt

10:30 am - 11:30 am

Panel 1 - Africa's Digital Economy

Exploring innovations in fintech, health-tech, e-commerce, and digital infrastructure. How is technology driving financial inclusion, improving healthcare, and unlocking new business opportunities?

Speakers:

Christian Idiodi, Yakhara Sembene, Adetayo Adesanya, Bili Sule

11:40 am - 12:40 pm

Panel 2 - Energy & Sustainability

Unpacking Africa’s renewable energy transition—solar, wind, and hydro. How is clean energy driving economic growth and sustainability across industries?

Speakers:

Helio Cumbi, Jumoke Fajemirokun, Bolarinwa Ishaq, Manoj Sinha

12:50 pm - 1:35 pm

Keynote Address

Speaker:

To be announced

2:00 pm - 2:25 pm

Fireside Chat - Through the Lens of Innovation.

This fireside chat will highlight the power of storytelling in shaping narratives, driving innovation, and influencing Africa’s digital and economic transformation.

Speaker:

Tolani Alli

2:25 pm - 3:35 pm

Panel 3 - Cross-Border Trade.

Examining how digital platforms, mobile money, and blockchain are revolutionizing trade within Africa. How can technology streamline logistics and connect SMEs to global markets?

Speakers:

Christian Duffus, Niyi Sodipe

3:25 pm - 3:30 pm

Closing Remarks

Speakers:

Joyce Agbozo

About Conference

Africa's Digital Economy

Energy & Sustainability

Cross-Border Trade

Meet Our Speakers

16

32

Daniel Awe

Jumoke Fajemirokun

Christian Idiodi

Roshni Raveendhran

Helio Cumbi

Teniola Tayo

Christian Duffus

Manoj Sinha

Adetayo Adesanya

Niyi Sodipe

Ishaq Bolarinwa

Randolph Rodrigues

Yoseph Ayele

Tolani Alli

Kingsley Ndoh

Melissa C. Thomas-Hunt

Schedule

Panel 1

Africa's Digital Economy

Panel 2

Cross-Border Trade

Panel 3

Energy & Sustainability

APRIL 11

2025 DABO Conference

Opening remarks

Panel 1 - Africa's Digital Economy

Panel 2 - Energy & Sustainability

Keynote Address

Fireside Chat - Through the Lens of Innovation.

Panel 3 - Cross-Border Trade.

Closing Remarks

Sponsors

Internal Sponsors

External Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunities