The Mastercard Foundation EdTech Conference 2024

• Subgroups: Ministers of Education, youth, ICT, Innovation & Digital; local government officials, and more. 
• Values: Improving quality of education, access, and equity; fostering innovation and tech adoption in education; ensuring efficient use of resources; promoting national development through education.
• Interests: Identifying and scaling proven EdTech solutions; shaping policies and regulations for EdTech; understanding EdTech's impact on learning outcomes.

• Subgroups: School administrators, professors, educators, teacher training institutions, universities, vocational training institutions.
• Values: Providing high-quality education, preparing students for the future, embracing innovative teaching methods, and ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.
• Interests: Evaluating and implementing effective EdTech solutions; upskilling educators in using technology; addressing digital access and equity challenges; collaborating with stakeholders to improve learning experiences.

• Subgroups: EdTech start-ups, established EdTech companies, online learning platforms, educational content creators, and research institutions. 
• Values: Creating impactful EdTech solutions, driving education innovation, achieving financial sustainability and growth (building sustainable businesses), expanding reach and impact, contributing to improved learning outcomes, promoting innovation and collaboration, and expanding access to education.
• Interests: Accessing funding, showcasing solutions and expertise, understanding policy and regulatory landscape, collaborating with other stakeholders, identifying new markets and opportunities, and advocating for supportive policies and regulations.

• Subgroups: Investors, venture capitalists, development partners, philanthropic foundations, tech hubs, NGOs.
• Values: Supporting social impact, fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, promoting sustainable development, achieving measurable results.
• Interests: Identifying promising EdTech ventures for investment, providing capacity building and mentorship, facilitating partnerships and collaboration, advocating for supportive policies, measuring impact, and scaling successful solutions.

• Subgroups: Students, youth leaders, EdTech users.
• Values: Receiving quality education, having access to technology to learn and contribute, shaping their own education and future, being active participants in society.
• Interests: Learning about and using effective EdTech solutions, sharing their perspectives and experiences, participating in discussions about education policy, connecting with mentors and opportunities, and advocating for their needs and aspirations.

• Subgroups: Mobile network operators, internet service providers, telecommunications companies.
• Values: Promoting digital inclusion, providing affordable access to technology, enabling EdTech solutions, contributing to social and economic development.
• Interests: Partnering with stakeholders to offer affordable data plans and devices, developing EdTech-specific products and services, understanding the EdTech landscape and opportunities, and participating in policy discussions related to digital access and infrastructure.

Professor Tahir Mamman, OON, SAN is the current Nigerian Minister of Education and the immediate past Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja-Nigeria. He previously served as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School from 2005 to 2013. Born in Michika, Adamawa-Nigeria, Tahir is a Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He is an erudite educationist, legal luminary, seasoned administrator, visionary leader and author. Professor Tahir graduated with a Bachelor of Law Degree (Second Class Upper Division) from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria in 1983. He earned both Master of Law (LLM) and PhD in Law from the University of Warwick, United Kingdom in 1987 and 1990 respectively.
Professor Tahir served at the University of Maiduguri in various capacities including Lecturer, Head of Department of Common Law, Acting Dean of Faculty of Law, and Dean of Students Affairs between 1985-2001. He also served in several standing and ad-hoc committees of Federal Government
Establishments amongst others the Bureau of Public Enterprises, National Universities Commission, and Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. In 2001, Professor Tahir was appointed as Deputy Director-General and Pioneer Head of Kano Campus of the Nigerian Law School. Based on his track record of
excellent performance, he was elevated to the position of the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School in December, 2005. His eight-year tenure witnessed massive reforms and infrastructural development, improved the welfare of staff/students, and established two campuses of the Law School in Yenagoa and Yola.
Professor Tahir Mamman is an active member of the Nigerian ruling party, the All-Progressive Congress (APC). In his desire to provide quality leadership, he contested for Adamawa State Governorship election and Adamawa North Senatorial position in 2014 and 2019 respectively. In 2020, he served as the
National Vice Chairman, North-East in the National Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) of the APC. In recognition of his contributions and philanthropic work, he was awarded a National Honour, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) and many chieftains
titles including DOKAJI of Mubi Emirate and DAN RUWATA of Adamawa.
Based on his exceptional leadership and managerial skills, Professor Tahir was appointed by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR as Honourable Minister of Education, the largest ministry in Nigeria. Under his leadership, the education sector of Nigeria is currently undergoing massive transformation in the areas of skilling education, training, data generation, edge-cutting research, and artificial intelligence amongst others. Professor Tahir is happily married with children and grandchildren.

Dr. 'Bosun Tijani is the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

An accomplished entrepreneur and business leader, Dr. Tijani is a pioneer in the African startup ecosystemand has been instrumental in driving innovation and fostering the growth of tech startups across the continent.

He is the co-founder and former CEO of Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), the leading pan-African technology
and innovation center with presence in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Namibia. Founded in 2010, CcHUB has played a pivotal role in nurturing startups through mentorship programs, funding initiatives, and access to essential resources.

Under his leadership, CcHUB became a vital catalyst for the African tech ecosystem, promoting
collaboration, knowledge sharing and the development of groundbreaking solutions to local and global
challenges. Dr. Tijani's visionary leadership, passion for technology, and commitment to fostering a thriving startup ecosystem have made him a respected figure in the African tech communities. His dedication to creating opportunities and driving innovation continues to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in
Nigeria and beyond.

Prior to CcHUB, he led the networking and coordination of leading innovation agencies across Europe as
European Innovation Manager at PERA, with the aim of standardizing the varying methodologies for
commercializing research results. He had also previously worked at the International Trade Centre, in
Geneva Switzerland overseeing the design and implementation of technical support programmes geared
towards enlightening and assisting exporters in Sub-Saharan Africa in maximising the use of information
and communication technologies for export marketing.

Dr. Tijani is an exemplary scholar who holds a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from the University of Jos, a Masters degree in Information Systems and Management from Warwick University and a Doctorate degree in Innovation and Economic Development from the University of Leicester. He is also an adjunct professor at the Wits School of Governance, South Africa.

His PhD research focussed on contributing to a better understanding of how the network perspective to innovation capacity serves as a contextually relevant framework for explaining the adoption and adaptation of innovation in developing countries and offers an alternative path to how African countries can effectively organise to strengthen their innovation ecosystems.

He was a member of the UK Advisory Committee on Digital Access Africa, a Committee member for NESG on Science and Technology and a member of the Expert Advisory Group to the European Commission on mainstreaming technology and innovation in the relationship between Europe
and Africa.

Dr. Tijani is a Desmond Tutu Fellow and fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law at the prestigious Stanford University and is happily married with three children.

Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim is the Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on Youth Development, a medical doctor, politician, and development practitioner. She is a public servant and a top advocate of the United Nations Global Goals. Recently, she served as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Kwara State on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a mandate to accelerate the attainment of the goals by 2030 in the State.

Previously, Jamila has served in various capacities as a humanitarian volunteer, including providing support to the vulnerable and internally displaced persons in the northeast region of Nigeria through the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative. 

Jamila is a dedicated women and youth advocate who believes in the emancipation of women and youth in society for the social and economic development of her community and country at large, through active participation and direct involvement in socio-political activities. She is a grassroots leader working to inspire young women and men to lead the desired change in the world, right from their local communities through mentorship.

Jamila has received honorary awards for her eminent contributions in the development space, including the Clean Nigeria Ambassador award by the Federal Government of Nigeria for her contributions in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene sector, the UN Peace Ambassador award by the International Association of World Peace Advocates, and the distinguished honorary award for her contributions to the development of Education and SDGs supported by UNESCO Nigeria, among other honors.

Her passion for horseback riding and polo is fueled by a deep conviction to challenge societal barriers against women and girls' participation in such sports. Her ultimate desire is to inspire more young girls and women to take on horse riding and to enjoy the experience of the sport for leisure and as a profession.

Prof. Peter Materu is currently the Chief Program Officer of the Mastercard Foundation. In this role, he has responsibility over the all the Foundation’s programs globally. Among others, Peter championed the rollout of the Foundation’s new operating model since 2019, which saw the Foundation set up its footprint in Africa for the first time. The goal is to enable thirty million young people, especially women, to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030. Peter currently leads a team of over two hundred staff in eight locations.

Peter joined the Mastercard Foundation over seven years ago from the World Bank where he served for seventeen years, including as Practice Manager for Education and Skills Development in Africa. During his time at the World Bank, Peter made a significant contribution to the Bank’s higher education agenda, notably the Africa Centers of Excellence and the Partnership for Applied Science, Engineering and Technology initiatives which seek to strengthen higher education institutions as hubs for socio-economic transformation in Africa. Prior to joining the World Bank, Peter served as Professor and Dean of Engineering, and as Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania. Peter holds a doctorate in electrical engineering and master’s degrees in engineering and education.

Tina has been the Mastercard Foundation Executive Director for the Education and Transitions programming platform since April 1, 2024, following a successful secondment to the role. In this role, Tina leads our Education & Transitions Programs, including the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, Higher Education, Secondary Education, the Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, and Transitions program areas. These programs enable young people to acquire the education and skills to transition into meaningful and dignified work.

Tina is an insider to the Foundation. Before her cross-functional move, Tina was the Foundation’s Chief People & Culture Officer and a driving force in our staff growth and development, embedding our people processes and building the foundations of our evolved culture.

Tina has a diverse background, with experience in both the private and development sectors gained working across multiple countries and continents. She holds MSc degrees in Organisational Psychology (University of Bristol, UK) and in Coaching and Consulting for Change (HEC, School of Management, France). In 2019, she completed a doctorate degree in Business Leadership, focusing on the collaboration between academia and practitioners.

Joseph Nsengimana is the Director at the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, based in Kigali Rwanda. 

The Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning drives the innovative use of technology to improve access to quality education, particularly for the most underserved communities.

The Centre works with a range of actors including innovation hubs, EdTech entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, educators, and learners to support the effective and impactful integration of technology in education, including the development, deployment and scale-up of promising EdTech innovations that boost learning and strengthen the education system. The Centre works with a range of actors, including innovation hubs, EdTech entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, educators, and learners, to support the effective and impactful integration of technology in education, including the development, deployment and scale-up of promising EdTech innovations that boost learning and strengthen the education system.  

Prior to joining the Mastercard Foundation, Joseph had a long career at Intel Corporation.  

His last role at Intel was Executive Director of Global Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) Policy, Strategy and External Partnerships (PSEP), responsible for helping Intel reach full representation in its US workforce in 2018 two years ahead of schedule.  

He crafted and led the implementation of Intel’s Africa public policy and corporate affairs strategy.  He led the team responsible for government affairs, education, ICT and broadband policies in Sub Saharan Africa.  He has worked closely with Ministries of Education and other stakeholders in using ICT to transform their education systems.  He was involved in the roll out of Intel Teach.  Joseph also led Intel’s participation in the Partnership to Strengthen Innovation and Practice in Secondary Education (PSIPSE).

Sophia Ashipala, Head of Education Division in the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation at the African Union Commission. She is holder of a master’s degree in public policy management and has worked in the Education Sector for 23 years serving at different positions in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in Namibia. She has served as Deputy Director for Programme Quality Assurance for 5 years and Chief Education Planner for 5 years. She has worked as School Principal for 3 years, Head of Department for Mathematics and Science for 3 years and as teacher for 6 years.

Mr. Albert Nsengiyumva is the Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA). A consummate technocrat and education policy specialist with specialty in technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Albert has extensive experience in information communication technology (ICT) research, policy development and implementation in Africa. For 18 years he served the government and people of Rwanda, where he occupied various cabinet positions including as Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of State for TVET in the Ministry of Education. 

Albert has solid grasp of government functionalities and has built a strong reputation around leveraging social capital to mobilize resources that support policy development, advocacy, and implementation. He has helped expand ADEA’s network across the world, building new relationships with various partners including multilateral development institutions, regional economic bodies, and philanthropic organizations.  

Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba is a distinguished advocate for youth empowerment and
development. She is currently serving as the African Union Chairperson's Special Envoy
on Youth and as the youngest diplomat in the Cabinet of the Chairperson. The
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat appointed
her to this esteemed position in November 2021. In this capacity, Ms. Mpemba serves
as a critical link between African youth, both on the continent and in the diaspora, and
the highest levels of policymaking within the African Union. Her mandate is to ensure
that the aspirations and needs of Africa's youth are effectively communicated and
included at the highest levels of decision-making. As the Youth Envoy, she advocates
for progressive policies and actions that augment youth participation, engagement, and
leadership. Her office translates the African Youth Charter and the AU Agenda 2063
into tangible outcomes that positively impact the lives of young Africans. Through her
leadership, her office engages with youth across Africa and the diaspora, fostering an
environment conducive to intergenerational dialogue and concrete actions for
sustainable development. As an alumna of the U.S. National Defense University and a
graduate of President Obama's Young African Leaders Initiative, she brings a wealth of
experience and knowledge to her role. Before her appointment, her career spanned
various sectors, including banking and global shaping, showcasing her versatile skill set
and deep understanding of Africa's economic and developmental challenges. The
creation of Special Envoy on Youth by the African Union underscores the institution's
recognition of youth's critical role in the continent's development. Under the stewardship
of H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat, the office of the Youth Envoy has become a beacon for
youth advocacy, offering a platform for young Africans to engage meaningfully with the
African Union and contribute to policies and decisions that directly affect their lives and
futures. As the African Union Special Envoy on Youth, Ms. Chido Cleopatra Mpemba
embodies the spirit of leadership, advocacy, and dedication to the cause of youth
development. Her work continues to inspire young Africans to aspire towards leadership
roles and actively participate in shaping the future of their continent.

Rosy Fynn is a distinguished change leader with a wealth of experience in International Development, Telecommunications, Financial Services, Consulting, and Insurance. She has over a decade’s executive-level experience in transforming organizations across Africa, the United States, and the Caribbean. Rosy is currently the Ghana and Nigeria (Acting) Country Director at the Mastercard Foundation, overseeing the delivery of the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy to enable upwards of three million young Ghanaian women and men to access dignified and fulfilling work by 2030.

Prior to joining the Mastercard Foundation, she was the Chief Executive Officer of BusyInternet. During her time at BusyInternet, Rosy was awarded the Outstanding Telecommunication CEO of the Year at the 2021 Entrepreneurs and Corporate Executive Awards.

She has held senior leadership positions in several organizations, including BusyInternet, Bharti Airtel, Surfline Communications and Millicom International Cellular (Tigo).

Rosy is passionate about unlocking the potential of African youth and women. She mentors young people across several organizations, including Sponsors for Education Opportunity (SEO) and Emerging Public Leaders. She is an advocate for women in STEM and was recognized as one of the Top 30 women in STEM by the STEM Woman Project.

Rosy holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA (honors) in Computer Science and Mathematics from Smith College, Massachusetts, USA. She is married with three children. In her spare time, Rosy runs (has completed four competitive half marathons), plays basketball, golf, and rides motorbikes.

Suraj Shah is the Lead for Strategic Partnerships, for Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning.  He is responsible for collaborations between the Mastercard Foundation and the various Governments/Ministries of Education in Africa, as well as Strategic Partnerships with education stakeholders.  His primary focus is to align with governments across Africa in bridging challenges in education with innovative EdTech solutions and support their transition towards resilient, hybrid models of learning.

Suraj has led education transformation projects with governments and stakeholders across Africa for 17 years that span policy dialogues and review, integration of technology in teaching and learning, enablement of content digitization, and large-scale deployment of ICT in schools.  He is also passionate in nurturing innovation and research among young scientists by supporting science fairs across Sub Saharan Africa.

Suraj is also a campaigner for women empowerment having led an Africa-wide initiative called She Will Connect that reached 5.3 million women, trained over 250,000 women and recorded a positive socio-economic impact on thousands.

Suraj holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Manchester.

Twitter: @SurajShah65 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/surajkrshah/

Joyce Muchena is a Certified Executive Coach and leader in gender and women empowerment and currently serves as the Head of Gender Mainstreaming at Mastercard Foundation, supporting the Education and Transitions work. Joyce’s role within the Mastercard Foundation involves providing leadership and technical guidance on the Foundation’s institutional and programmatic approach to gender mainstreaming aimed at achieving 70% reach to young women as participants in the Young Africa Works strategy. Joyce has led various strategic, gender-responsive and inclusive change initiatives for over 2 decades in both the development and humanitarian sector, with a focus on Africa. Before joining the Mastercard Foundation, Joyce was the Director for Women Empowerment and Transformative Change with CARE International, in Kenya, where she helped set-up the Women’s Voice and Leadership Programme supported under the Canadian Government’s Feminist International Aid
Policy (FIAP). Joyce believes in inclusive socio-economic development, which depends a lot on how leaders deploy power and resources entrusted to them.

Joyce holds a master’s degree in International Conflict Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Nairobi (UoN), a Diploma in Human Rights Education from (Equitas, Canada), and a Higher Diploma in Psychological Counseling. Joyce is a leadership enthusiast and has followed various executive leadership and professional courses at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, IMD Business School, Wharton University of Pennsylvania and the Strathmore Business School.

Eliud Chemweno is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in leading impactful learning and development initiatives across the private and international development sectors. Currently serving as Head Ecosystem at the Mastercard Foundation Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning, In his role, Eliud oversees the implementation and expansion of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship, supporting Tech Hubs and EdTech Fellows with EdTech-enabled solutions. Previously, Eliud held roles at the World Bank and UNDP, where he led impactful projects in international development. 

Oluwaseun is a key voice in conversations surrounding the Improvement of Teacher Quality in Africa. He currently leads at Schoolinka as the CEO, an edtech company utilizing technology to create a community of highly skilled educators for African schools. Through an online learning platform and live masterclasses led by experts, his team offers dynamic professional development opportunities to thousands of teachers and school leaders. Schoolinka also facilitates teacher placement within their partner schools. 

Drawing from two years of hands-on teaching experience in an underserved Nigerian school as part of the Teach For Nigeria Fellowship program, Oluwaseun witnessed the dire need for enhanced teaching quality. With ten years at the nexus of education and youth development, he has been actively engaged in various local and international educational initiatives. 

He boasts a string of accomplishments, including being a 2017 Teach For Nigeria fellow, 2019 Orange Corners Grantee, 2020 Peace First fellow, 2021 UNLEASH Global Talent, 2021 ALA Education Entrepreneur, 2022 Westerwelle Fellow, and 2023 Mastercard Foundation Edtech Fellow. Amidst his commitments to education, Oluwaseun treasures moments spent with his family.

Executive Director, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE)-Africa

Martha leads FAWE Africa, a pan-African NGO working in 33 countries in sub–Saharan Africa to empower girls and women through gender-responsive education. 

With over 25 years in the civil society sector, she specializes in organization management, program coordination, and gender mainstreaming. She previously served as the Senior Programme Coordinating Officer supporting FAWE programs and activities in 34 FAWE National Chapters in line with the FAWE Strategic Objectives. 

Dr. Muhwezi’s journey in FAWE began in Uganda, where she served as a Technical Advisor for nearly three years before becoming Executive Director of FAWE Uganda. With over 20 years in the civil society sector, Dr. Muhwezi is a seasoned development specialist. Her expertise spans various domains including Organization Management, Program Coordination, Gender Mainstreaming, Governance, Strategic Planning, Training, Advocacy, Budgeting, and Monitoring and Evaluation. 

She holds a master’s degree in Women Studies and a bachelor’s degree in education from Makerere University, Kampala Uganda. She has recently successfully defended her PhD thesis from the University of Nairobi where she was pursuing a PhD in Gender Studies.

In recognition of her efforts in transforming and demonstration of leadership and advocacy in the advancement of education, Martha was recently a Top 10 finalist for The Africa Education Medal 2023.

Joseph is a Programme Manager of the FUNGUO Innovation and Youth Catalyst Portfolio Lead at UNDP Tanzania. He joined UNDP in September 2021, mainly motivated by the broader development mandate that the agency has, but also the emerging focus on innovative approaches to development. 

He is an accomplished innovative development professional with close to 20 years of progressive experience in private sector development, innovation programme management, development finance and academia across Sub-Saharan Africa. Joseph is fervently dedicated to fostering innovation, unwavering in his conviction that superior outcomes can be consistently achieved through the application of unconventional and innovative approaches. His natural inclination is towards a holistic systems-thinking approach, embracing the broader perspective while simultaneously valuing the finer intricacies and details of any given challenge.

Joseph joined UNDP after the successful implementation of a 7-year Human Innovation Development Fund (HDIF) where he spent the last 3 years as its Tanzania Country Director. HDIF invested in and supported over 50 innovative projects in Health, Education and WASH, and spearheaded Innovation Week Tanzania from its inception to the major platform it has become in the Tanzanian Innovation Ecosystem. Before HDIF, Joseph spent close to 4 years at the African Management Services Company (AMSCO) in South Africa and Kenya, contributing towards enhancing managerial capacities of African SMEs. Before then he had spent 2.5 years in development financing at East African Development Bank (EADB) in Kampala, Uganda, which he had joined from a 2.5-year stint in academia at the University of Iringa (formerly known as Tumaini University – Iringa University College).

Joseph is an MBA graduate from Maastricht School of Management and Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI). He has attended numerous professional trainings including a Certificate in Policy Coherence and Systems Thinking for Sustainable Development and Certificate in Circular Economy and the 2030 Agenda, both from United Nations System Staff College. Others include a Postgraduate Certificate, Project Planning, Appraisal & Financing from the University of Bradford, a Certificate in "Strategic Enterprise Analysis" from The George Washington University and a Certificate in “Measuring Impact” from Gordon Institute of Business Sciences (GIBS), among others.

Muhammed Olawale Hakeem Amuda (PhD) is a Professor of Welding Process Analysis and Surface Modification at the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos, Nigeria. He is the Convener and Team Lead, Materials Development and Processing Research Group (MADEPREG) whose focus is to conduct developmental research into all aspects of materials development and processing. He is equally the Team Lead of the University of Lagos Polymeric Circular Economy Research Group and the UNILAG Ambubag Medical Ventilator Project. The Ventilator project which earned the Lagos State Government her first ever patent came a national second at the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation National Exhibition in 2021. Prof. Amuda was the pioneer Deputy Director (Innovation) and Head, UNILAG Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Office (IPPTO) for four years between 2017 and 2021. As the pioneer head, he built the structure of the Unit from ground zero culminating in the filing of 19 successful patents; the first of its kind in the history of the University. One of the inventions was successfully commercialized, three were prototyped and the others were at various stages of further development by the time his tenure ended. He provided the conceptual design for the multi-million Naira AGIP Innovation Centre donated by Nigeria AGIP Oil Company to University of Lagos in 2021 which saw the unit transformed into an autonomous full-fledged Innovation and Technology Management Office (ITMO), the first of its kind in any Nigerian University. He was inducted into the Lagos State Ministry of Science and Technology’s Wall of Fame for his team’s invention of a medical ventilator. Prof. Amuda has collaborated with colleagues in several multidisciplinary research undertakings resulting in a net grant portfolio of over 300 million naira cutting across materials development, equipment grant, medical device and water treatment technology including the Mastercard Foundation funded African Engineering and Technology (AFRETEC) Network managed inclusive digital transformation Grant of USD276,800 for strengthening water access and quality in partnership with two other African Universities in Rwanda and Kenya. He has consulted for several industries in the country and played active roles in programmes development in Nigeria, South Africa and Malaysia. He is the initiator of the national forum of Heads of Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Offices in the country, and also the convener of the initiative for the Promotion and Deepening of Additive Manufacturing in Nigeria (P-DAMIN). He is a member of 8 professional bodies principal among which is the Council for the Regulation of Engineering (COREN), reviewer to more than 13 Journals; and a serving member of the Governing Board of the African Network of Scientific and Technical Institutions. Prof. Amuda currently serves as the Director of the Adetokunbo Babatunde Sofoluwe Centre for Information Technology and Systems (ABS-CITS) where he coordinates the digital infrastructure of the University and drives the digital transformation initiative of the University. Within six months at the saddle, connectivity infrastructure was enhanced with the injection of over a hundred Access Points with improved service delivery. Arising from this, the Centre was honoured with a “Quality Award” at the 2023 International Customer Service week held in the University, the first in the history of the Centre since its establishment over three decades ago. He was briefly the Head, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Lagos for seven months (August 1, 2022-March 31, 2023) during which he initiated many innovative programmes including the redesignation of units and groups in the department for improved learning and resource optimisation. Prof. Amuda is equally a contextual public analysist and an incurable optimist about the Nigerian project, and this explains why he declined attractive offers abroad to return to his passion of impacting souls through knowledge and mentorship in his home country.

Dr. Yousif Asfour is an experienced executive with more than 30 years of experience in the higher education, technology, and finance sectors at organizations in the US and the Middle East. 

Dr. Asfour currently serves as Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer at the American University of Beirut where he leads the Office of Information Technology, the Talal and Madiha Zein AUB Innovation Park and AUB Online. Dr. Asfour also sits on the boards of several AUB based startups. 

Most recently, Dr. Asfour was the founding CIO at NYU Abu Dhabi, the President of the CIO Lebanon Association, and played a key leadership role in establishing TechCARE, the Lebanese National Research and Education Network (NREN), and the HPC4L, a national high performance computing center for Lebanon. 

Dr. Asfour received a B.S. and M.S. in electrical engineering from Northeastern University and a Ph.D. in cognitive and neural systems from Boston University. In addition to several publications in professional journals, Dr. Asfour also holds a patent related to fast data transfer for multi-processor systems.

Samuel joined the Foundation’s Ethiopia Office August 1, 2021, to lead the implementation of the Young Africa Works Strategy. Working closely with key strategic collaborators, Samuel focuses on supporting the team, partners, and stakeholders; engage young people and facilitate smooth and productive engagements with all stakeholders. Samuel set up the Foundation's presence, launched and implemented the Young Africa Works in Uganda strategy before he moved to Ethiopia. Samuel joined the Mastercard Foundation in 2015. Since joining, He has led and played an essential role in developing vital strategic interventions and programs, including the Foundation's Young Africa Works strategy. Samuel holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Arts in Literature. He has over 27 years of experience in education, child rights advocacy, public health, and youth employment working with public, private, and non-governmental organizations in various large and multi-year initiatives in Ethiopia, Namibia, Canada, and Uganda.

Robert Oboko is a professor of Computer Science specializing in AI for Education, currently based at the University of Nairobi. He carries out research on adaptive interfaces for learning and different techniques for modelling and scaffolding online learners. He is also involved in the areas of digital health and public health informatics, with expertise in workforce development in the areas. He has been involved in the implementation of programs for online learning for health workers  and health researchers in Kenya.

Dr. Philip Machoka is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems and the Director of e-learning at United States International University - Africa. With a strong academic background and extensive experience in educational technology, Dr. Machoka has been at the forefront of integrating innovative online learning solutions to improve educational outcomes at USIU-Africa. 

His research interests lie in technology adoption both by individuals and at the organizational level, exploring how technological advancements can be effectively embraced to improve teaching and learning. He has led numerous initiatives in Online Learning to utilize technology to create resilient and inclusive learning environments. This includes the development of 20 fully online programs at USIU-Africa.

Dr. Philip Machoka has presented at various international conferences and contributed to academic discourse, offering practical insights for improving Online Learning practices across Africa.

John Hall serves as Chief Product Technology Officer for African Leadership University where he is responsible for developing and implementing an academic product and technology strategy to support ALU's strategic transformation. John comes to ALU with 20 years of experience managing teams who design, develop, and sustain learning product and technology solutions to service the needs of individual and corporate markets.

Prior to joining ALU, John was CTO and VP of Program Delivery for Cornell University's External Education Unit, eCornell. During this time, eCornell grew from 20,000 students to over 100,000 students and expanded its professional certificate offerings from 20 to over 100 programs. John also spent three years as CEO of Ontuitive, a software and services company with locations in the US, Netherlands, and UK providing embedded training solutions to Global 1000 organizations. A resident of Rochester, NY born in Everett, WA, John holds a Master of Science degree in Cybersecurity from Albany Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Economics from Houghton College.

Keelan Whiting is the CEO and co-founder of Reflective Learning, an innovative Edtech
company based in Cape Town, South Africa. Reflective Learning addresses learning
backlogs in Mathematics and English, providing students with the tools to catch up the
foundational knowledge required access to career opportunities that would otherwise
remain out of reach.
Since 2017, Reflective Learning has reached over 250,000 students and is implemented in
over 300 schools worldwide, with a majority in Africa. Keelan is a passionate advocate
for upliftment through education and innovation, driven by the belief that the right ideas,
intentions, and collaboration can transform the African educational landscape.

Helinna Ayalew is a community builder and education advocate who currently serves as Head of Innovation Partnerships for Liquid Intelligent Technologies. Most recently, she has been co-convening the EdTech Ethiopia ecosystem, a community effort focused on entrepreneurs, policy makers, teachers, and students working in edtech. In her role at Liquid, she works with diverse stakeholders across the technology ecosystem in Africa to craft innovative products and services. She also has previous experience in pan-African broadcast and digital media. Helinna is a co-founder and former program manager for Yale Young African Scholars, an initiative of Yale University that helps provide access to higher education globally for African students. She received her MA in African Studies from Yale University, and her BA from Macalester College.

Rosemary Nduhiu provides strategic and leadership support as the Executive Director, Country Programs at the Mastercard Foundation.

Rosemary is a passionate senior leader with over 20 years of experience in strategic financial management across diverse industries in Africa and the Middle East, with a wealth of experience across the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods, Telecommunications, and Pay TV sectors.

Before joining the Mastercard Foundation, she was the Chief Financial Officer at MultiChoice Africa. She has also held senior leadership positions in several organizations, including Kenya Breweries, Airtel Africa, Dal Group, and Unilever Kenya.

Rosemary holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Accounting from the University of Bedfordshire, UK.

Rica Rwigamba has been the Country Director for the Mastercard Foundation in Ghana since July 2023.

Before this, Rica was Country Director for the Mastercard Foundation in Rwanda, where she led the country team through the re-imagined strategy process and swiftly moved towards delivering the country roadmap, leveraging portfolio-based programming that focused on entrepreneurship development across the agriculture and, tourism and hospitality sectors.

Rica also played a vital role in operationalizing the Hanga Ahazaza (Creating the Future) program, one of the first Young Africa Works programs to enter implementation.

Previously, Rica was the Head of Tourism and Conservation at the Rwanda Development Board, where she led tourism investment promotion, tourism marketing, and stakeholder coordination.

For more than ten years, she has been active across the tourism and hospitality sector as an independent consultant, a leader within non-profits, and an entrepreneur. She has served on multiple national and regional boards within the industry and has a deep network across Rwanda and the region. 

Throughout her career, Rica has demonstrated a deep understanding of young people's challenges and opportunities in Africa. At the core of it all, she is an entrepreneur who combines a passion for leadership, entrepreneurship, and social impact.

Rica holds a Bachelor of Social Sciences from Makerere University and an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University.

Head of Education Partnerships, Google DeepMind

Obum is a leader in educational innovation with over 20 years of experience. In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen awarded him an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) for his work in Computing & AI education and his efforts to champion diversity in tech. Obum currently leads education efforts at Google DeepMind, where he focuses on making AI knowledge more accessible, diversifying the AI workforce, and creating impactful learning experiences for everyone. His educational programs have helped millions of students worldwide develop the essential skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Previously, he co-founded Google's Educator Groups, now active in over 60 countries. In 2019, the Financial Times recognized him as one of the UK's top 10 most influential ethnic minority leaders in tech. Obum also serves on the Governing Council of the University of Essex and is a Trustee of UK Youth.

A seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in various sectors, Nonye possesses an MSc in Computing, IT Law & Management, BSc (Hons) in Computer Science and 15 years work experience while currently pursuing a Master of Liberal Arts degree at Harvard University, Nonye possesses a broad-spectrum of proven expertise in the development and implementation of strategies and
policies. Nonye currently works as Government Affairs Lead at Microsoft, covering Nigeria and Africa Emerging Markets. Her role entails engaging regulatory stakeholders on data protection and privacy matters. Prior to joining Microsoft, she worked in development financing, developing and implementing initiatives, schemes and programmes to address identified development finance and financial inclusion gaps in Nigeria, working very closely with local and international stakeholders. In the two years before leaving the CBN, she joined the Office of the Honourable Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development on secondment as Technical Adviser on the Sustainable Development Goals where she supported the development and implementation of socio-economic policies and programmes. She is an SDGs advocate and strongly believes that the SDGs Framework presents a pathway towards sustainable development for any country.
Her career started in the United Kingdom, where she worked in project management at Atos Origin, London Borough of Enfield and other organisations. After relocating to Nigeria, she joined the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2013, where she worked in IT information security programmes management and drove the CBN’s IT policy management effort within quality and compliance. Nonye has developed her expertise in program delivery, applying technology know-how to information and communications technology policy making and deployment as well as compliance programmes. In the past 8 years, her focus veered towards social equity, as she seeks equality, justice and fairness for all, through policy formulation and implementation.
In her quest for knowledge and continuous development, in January 2019, Nonye commenced the pursuit of a Master of Liberal Arts in Global Development Practice at the Harvard Extension School. Leveraging the Harvard University platform, she has expanded her world view into socio-economic development, where she has written papers, policy briefs and conducted extensive research in the areas of technology for development, child and youth advancement, gender equality, quality education and other pressing issues. Her work on “Child Marriage in Nigeria” was published by the prestigious Yale Global. She is very passionate about education and learning and on the back of this, won a scholarship to attend the renowned international research centre, University of Luxembourg to earn a certificate in Law and Regulation of Inclusive Finance.
In her strive to promote the Sustainable Development agenda, Nonye works with various orphanages and groups, providing basic amenities, food supplies and education opportunities. She runs the Azar Initiative for Development in Africa (AID Africa), a non-governmental organisation with the mandate of alleviating poverty through education, training and capacity development. AID Africa is aimed at helping disadvantaged children and youth and more specifically, young women, realise their full potential through mentorship, training and sustainable education programmes. AID Africa also awards scholarships to children, helping them off the streets and getting them back into school.
Nonye is married to Hon. Dr. Chukwuemeka Ujam and together they have 4 children (aged 19, 15, 11 and 7).

Mark co-founded Siyavula Education and the Siyavula Foundation, a social enterprise focused on the accessibility of high-quality education. Siyavula's primary offering is an adaptive practice service for mathematics, physics and chemistry in high school complemented by a comprehensive teacher toolkit. Siyavula has also developed a catalogue of openly-licensed textbooks in collaboration with educators, sponsors and the Department of Basic Education.

Mark has been working in the education sector since 2002 with openness, technology and community as his main tools. He was the Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow for Open and Collaborative resources as well as the co-founder of the Free High School Science Texts project.  

In a previous life he studied Physics and has PhD from the University of Cape Town.

Dr. Amy Ogan is an educational technologist focusing on ways to make learning experiences more culturally and contextually relevant. Her training spans disciplines from Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, the Learning Sciences and modern languages. She has been named a World Economic Forum Young Scientist, a Rising Star in EECS by MIT, received the McCandless Chair and the Thomas and Lydia Moran Professorship in Learning Science, and been awarded the Jacobs Early Career Fellowship to study the use of educational technologies in emerging economies. She has had affiliations with Carnegie Mellon University Africa, USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and has conducted field research on the deployment of educational technology across five continents. Her research is supported by the National Science Foundation, Google, the McDonnell Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation and the Jacobs Foundation.

Evans Atis is currently an Education-Economist at the Global Partnership for Education(GPE) with over 12 years of experience in international education. In his current role, he mobilizes evidence and provides technical advice to the Global Partnership for Education Secretariat and partner countries on education technology, data systems and uptake of evidence into policy design and implementation. Previously, he worked at UNICEF and facilitated education data systems strengthening, education systems diagnostics and planning processes, including the development of education digital transformation strategies at the country level. He holds a master’s degree in economics and education.

Rodwell Mangisi is a seasoned engineer and technology leader with over 15 years of experience in the tech industry. He is currently the Digital Economy Director at Mastercard Foundation and  has held senior positions at leading organizations such as Deloitte&Touché  , GE Transportation, GE Healthcare.  He holds a BSc and an MSc in Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, where his research focused on using advanced machine learning algorithms to enable industrial consumers reduce their peak energy demands. He also holds an MBA from Birmingham University, UK, where he focused on the impact of Venture Capital on African start-ups.

Rodwell is passionate about using technology to solve real-world problems and has worked as a Microfluidic sensor design engineer, Optimization software developer,Advanced analytics manager, Digital transformation lead, and commercial leader structuring and executing projects across Africa and Europe. He is also a strong advocate for access to skills. He believes that everyone should have the opportunity to learn the skills they need to succeed in the digital economy. To this end, he regularly supervises Masters students in Computer Science and Engineering, was a content and course developer for Deloitte’s graduate trainee program and he is a regular facilitator of the MIT Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy short course. He is always seeking for opportunities to make an impact that matters and is committed to using his skills and experience to making a positive impact on the world.

In his spare time, Rodwell enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters, as well as mountain biking ,ultra marathons, trail running and cross training.

Titi Adewusi is an Engineer, Management Consultant, and passionate Educator committed to empowering African youth through innovative education solutions. As the Co-founder of 9ijakids, an Edtech company, she aims to reduce poverty by providing affordable, gamified online learning for nursery, primary, and secondary school students across Africa. 9ijakids has partnerships with major Nigerian telecom operators like MTN and Glo, enabling access to educational content via airtime.

9ijakids has received international accolades such as the Global Education Startup Awards and locally recognized as Best Creative Children’s Brand at the 2021 ACE Awards. Titi also co-convenes Africa’s largest STEAM gathering, the annual STEAM Fun Fest, engaging over 4,500 children in STEAM fields through hands-on activities and career talks.

Internationally recognized as a 2024 Cartier Women Initiative fellow and locally celebrated in Leading Ladies Africa and PowerWoman100 lists, Titi is dedicated to education excellence. With a BSc in Mechanical Engineering and over 20 years of experience, she volunteers extensively, serving on the board of Bethesda Child Support Agency, advocating for free education in underserved African communities.

Titi is an alumnus of Founder Institute and AWEC, programs that have honed her leadership and business skills, driving her vision for impactful education across Africa.

Alex Twinomugisha is a senior education technology specialist at the World Bank and Global Lead of the Education Technology (EdTech) Thematic Group within the Global Education Practice where he leads the Bank’s knowledge and advisory services to governments on EdTech. He has spent over 20 years working on education and technology to solve some of education’s most difficult challenges in developing countries. Prior to joining the Bank, Alex worked for leading private sector and non-governmental organizations on large scale digital transformation in education in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Ruth is a 100-Level Accounting student at the University of Lagos. She was the overall best student in WASSCE¹ 2023 at her school and Lagos State Education District IV. An advocate for environmental sustainability, Ruth is passionate about EdTech solutions and driven by a commitment to problem-solving.

Georgine is the Founder and Director of eKitabu’s Studio KSL. She and her team are pioneering the development of video storybooks using national sign languages in Africa and leading groundbreaking research on their impact on language acquisition in early grade for learners who are deaf and hard of hearing while driving utilization of accessible and inclusive learning materials in the classroom. An Acumen 2023 Fellow and a 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow, Georgine is also a passionate educator with over ten experience in inclusive education. 

Muluneh is an Information Systems and Technology professional by training. He holds a PhD, MSc, and BSc in Information Systems. He has a combined experience of research, teaching information systems, and leadership in Higher Education. 

His research mainly focuses on development of socio-technical information systems design theory in multi-stakeholder and multi-context settings. His interest covers the areas of information systems development, ICT4D, and data analytics research. Methodologically, his research draws on Information Systems design theory, design science research in Information Systems, interpretive, and positivist approaches. Muluneh also taught graduate and undergraduate level courses, mentored student’s research, and managed different functional units as a co-curricular activity in his former University.

Currently, he is coordinating the national e-learning initiative being implemented across the 50 public universities in Ethiopia. The e-learning initiative is a comprehensive intervention to transform higher education in the country. It involves digital literacy and skills development of faculty, students, and leadership; development and rollout of platforms; building digital/multimedia studios; and development of an e-learning policy framework. Moreover, Muluneh has also coordinated and led the development of EdTech strategy and policy for Ethiopia and is supporting the implementation of the policy frameworks by the Ministry of Education, Ethiopia. Namely, he led the preparation of the ‘Digital education strategy and implementation plan for Ethiopia (2023-2028)’, the ‘ICT in Education policy for Ethiopia’, and the development of supporting ‘e-learning policy, e-learning guideline, and e-learning directive for higher education’. 

Muluneh has also volunteered to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to develop the “Partner2Connect Action framework Report” and to other organizations too. He contributed to the preparation of the ITU's action framework for digital transformation strategies to frame and shape the successful implementation of digital initiatives in “developing countries”, “land locked countries”, and “smaller Islands”.

Umar Kakumba (PhD) is a Professor of Public Sector Management and the Deputy Vice Chancellor/ Vice President (Academic Affairs) at Makerere University. He is the immediate former Dean of Faculty at School of Business and Management at Makerere, a position he held for eight years. He previously served as Head, Department of Management Studies at Makerere.

• He is a visiting research fellow at the University of Cambridge, UK, where he completed his Post-Doctoral programme in 2014. He holds a PhD in Public Affairs (Management) from the Faculty of Economic & Management Science, University of Pretoria; a Master’s of Public Administration & Management; a BA (Social Sciences) from Makerere University; and a Diploma in Business Administration.  

• He serves and chairs committees of Governing Boards and Councils of reputable institutions and organs, including: Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB); Chairperson, Buganda Kingdom Lukiiko (Parliament) Finance, Planning & Investments Committee; Board of Trustees, Makerere Endowment Fund (MakEF); Buganda Royal Institute of Business & Technical Education (BRIBTE); the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere; Makerere Joint Aids Program (MJAP); Kawempe Muslim Secondary School; Kibuli Secondary School; and Kira Junior School. He is a member of Makerere University Senate and Council. He was recently honoured by his Alma-mater to serve on the Advisory Board of the School of Public Management & Administration, University of Pretoria.

• He has led research teams to numerous research and scholarship Grants Winning projects from reputable international agencies, inluding: the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Mastercard Foundation, Swedish International Development Agency, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, among others. He has taught, researched and consulted extensively in the broader realm of Public Sector, Development Administration & Management. He has published numerous articles in internationally accredited journals and has presented papers locally and internationally. 

Umar is external examiner and visiting professor at The University of Fort Hare; University of Pretoria, University of Kwa Zulu Natal, University of Rwanda, Nelson Mandela University, and Uganda Management Institute.

As an Education Technology entrepreneur and a thought leader in financing Early Childhood Education, my passion lies in leveraging technology to transform educational opportunities for teachers and young
children, with a specific focus on literacy in the African continent. I am dedicated to bridging the educational gap by reaching underserved communities and nurturing the future of Africa through the power of early childhood education.
Professional Achievements: Edtech Innovator: I am a visionary in the field of Education Technology (EdTech) and have successfully developed and implemented innovative solutions that enhance learning experiences for educators and young minds in Africa. My tech solution https://app.ntemata.io facilitates the improvement of educational outcomes by providing schools with a comprehensive automated
assessment system.

• Thought Leadership: I have contributed significantly to the discourse on Financing Early Childhood
  Education, focusing on literacy as a crucial cornerstone of child development.
• Education Advocacy and Campaigning: I am a relentless advocate for increased investment in and sustainable financing models for early childhood education across Africa. I am committed to raising awareness and rallying stakeholders to prioritize this fundamental stage of education.
• Mission and Vision: My mission is to create a brighter future for Africa by building technology that fosters literacy and foundational skills in young children, ultimately empowering them to thrive in the ever-evolving world of work. My vision is a continent where every child, regardless of their background, has access to high- quality early childhood education, setting the stage for lifelong success.

Future of Work: I firmly believe that the future of work is closely intertwined with education. In an age of
rapid technological advancements, preparing our children for the jobs of tomorrow begins in their early years. By championing EdTech and early childhood education, I am actively shaping a workforce that is not only equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to excel but is also adaptable, creative, and resilient in the face of change.
Get in Touch: If you share my passion for EdTech and the future of work, and if you are dedicated to
improving early childhood education in Africa, I invite you to connect with me. Together, we can make a
lasting impact on the lives of young African children and pave the way for a brighter future.

Dr. Adefunke Ekine is the Deputy Director -Research and External Relations at Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Nigeria and; an Associate Professor of Early Childhood Education. She is currently the Board Chair EdTech Center of Excellence at the university. She was appointed as an Advisory Director and a research consultant on Child Development and Education for Gritwel Research & Technology Center, The Netherlands in 2014.

Dr. Adefunke is a 2013 fellow, Echidna Global Scholars as well as a member of Learning and Action Alliance for Girls Agency (LAAGA) both initiatives of the Center of Universal Education at The Brookings Institution, Washington DC, USA. She also serves as the Cluster Lead for Childhood Education International (CEI) USA. She is the elected National President of Organisation Mondiale Pour L’Education Prescolaire(OMEP) -an international organization that caters for the well-being of children 0-8;for a period of three years 2024-2027.

Adefunke founded Youthcare Development and Empowerment Initiative (YcDEI) a non-profit NGO registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2014. Her research interest is promoting quality education especially for girls through intervention programs in STEM Education, and School Related Gender Based Violence and (SRGBV). Her work has received grants from both local and International donors such as TETFund, LEAP AFRICA, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Philanthropists Advisors, and Funds Innovation Development (FID). She recently developed validated training manuals to strengthen the knowledge base of students, teachers and parents on SRGBV as well as promoting a gender responsive environment for learning.

She holds a PhD and Masters in Early Childhood Education from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan while her first degree is in Food Science and Technology from University of Ife, Ile Ife. She is well travelled and is a speaker at conferences with over thirty-five publications to her credit both in local and international journals.

Ojoma Ochai is the managing director of CcHUB - Africa’s largest innovation centre
which supports and invests in tech and creative entrepreneurs and innovators to
promote African prosperity. She is also a co-founder of CcHUB’s Creative Economy
Practice.
She is a member of the UNESCO Global Expert Panel on the 2005 Convention on
Cultural Expressions, a group of about 40 experts from around the world who
support UNESCO and its state parties on strategies and approaches for growing the
global Creative Economy. In this role since 2015, she has delivered projects and
provided Technical Assistance to support Creative Economy development in various
locations worldwide, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean.
Her almost 20 years of experience spans International Cultural Relations and leading
Creative and Digital Economy projects. Her previous roles have included being
Regional Director for British Council Sub-Saharan Africa Arts and Creative Economy
Programme and other roles working on projects for institutions like the Swedish Arts
Council, World Bank, and various national governments to support the development
of the global Creative Economy.
She sits on various creative and technology organisation boards, including the board
of ₿ Trust (a trust set up by musician and entrepreneur Jay Z and Jack Dorsey -
CEO of Block Inc. and co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, to support Bitcoin
development in Africa and other locations), Africa No Filter (a narrative change
organisation funded by a collective of donors including Ford Foundation, Luminate
and Bloomberg) and Pixel Ray Studios (a global film infrastructure development
company).

Tom Vandenbosch is an education leader and social influencer with 20+ years of experience working in 22 countries on 4 continents. With a strong background and practical engagement in leadership and international development, he is skilled in strategy development, project development, team leadership, and scaling education innovations. Tom is currently the Global Director of Programmes at VVOB. He is also a member of the Teacher Task Force hosted by UNESCO, a member of the Technical Advisory Board of the World Bank’s Coach program, co-chair of the Steering Committee of Educaid.be, and a Trustee of Sabre Education.

Stijn De Lameillieure has accumulated 25 years of experience in international development with a particular focus on education and poverty reduction. He currently leads the private sector and foundations engagement at the Global Partnership for Education. 

Stijn specialises in creating and implementing innovative partnerships and strategies that enhance teaching and learning experiences. 

He is committed to fostering collaboration between diverse stakeholders and has successfully built and managed partnerships that drive sustainable development and educational equity worldwide. His work emphasises the critical importance of cross-sectoral cooperation, bringing together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds to create impactful educational programs. 

At GPE, Stijn currently co-leads a new Technology for Education Initiative which aims at leveraging expertise and resources from across GPE’s network of partners in support of digital transformation in lower-income countries. Passionate about creating inclusive and forward-thinking learning environments, Stijn De Lameillieure is committed to leveraging technology to transform education systems with a focus on equity. 

Prior to joining GPE, he held different roles at the European Commission, UNICEF, UNDP, UN-Habitat, Save the Children and has worked in Angola, Ecuador and Brazil. 

Minu Limbu is the regional lead for Innovation and Tech4 Dev with the UNICEF Regional Office for West and Central Africa providing strategic guidance on digital transformation to 24 countries, including Nigeria. Minu is an accomplished digital humanitarian and development nomad, a passionate equity-focused technologist, and an unapologetic advocate for sustainable scalable impact for children. 

Since beginning his career as a teacher in Nepal, Minu has dedicated over 15 years to humanitarian and development work across Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, and now in Africa with agencies like the British Council, UNOCHA, IFRC, and UNICEF. With a deep commitment to digital innovation and partnership, he champions data-driven, evidence-based policies and impactful solutions for children, women, and young people. 

 Minu's work focuses on connecting the unconnected, bridging the digital divide, and bringing social services to the most deprived through last-mile partnerships for development. 

 A proud Nepali, Minu holds a master’s degree in Geospatial Technologies and serves as an external adviser to the European Research Center for Information Systems.

Angela brings more than thirty years of academic and administrative experience in the United States and Ghana, to her current role as Provost of Ashesi University. A member of the Phi Kappa Phi community of scholars and professionals, she's a strong advocate for higher education quality serving on national university accreditation agency Boards such as the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) and serving 18 years on the United States Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP, formerly NCATE).   She contributed to the development of Africa’s first university ranking system designed to embolden southern theory and systems change in Africa’s universities and the continent.  Angela has served as Samford University's Assistant Dean of Education Assessment, Elon University's Associate Dean of the School of Education and Associate Dean of Access and Success, , and a Board Member on one of the ten Regional Education Laboratories (SERVE) in the United States contributing to policy direction and implementation to support research in education. She’s growing in the scholarship of teaching and learning to improve student learning, the science of learning for faculty optimization of instruction, and research capacity building to improve higher education experiences and outcomes. Her research interest is in impact evaluation and change in Africa's higher education, specifically digitized higher education instruction, the scholarship of higher education teaching and learning as a science, and African students’ intercultural understanding among themselves in Africa’s Higher Education institutions for a new Africa

Timothy Brown is director of research and a professor in the Engineering and Public Policy Department at Carnegie Mellon University Africa in Rwanda. He is also director of the Kigali Collaborative Research Center. Before that he was professor at the University of Colorado at Boulde and director of the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program. He received his B.S. in physics from Pennsylvania State University and his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from the California Institute of Technology, after which he worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Bell Communications Research. His research interests include applications of ICT in Africa, adaptive network control, machine learning, and challenged wireless communication systems. His current research funding includes Master Card Foundation and other industry funders. He is a recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, and the GWEC Wireless Educator of the Year Award.

Adrian R. Mulindwa Bukenya has more than 20 years of global professional experience in energy, infrastructure, and financial services, 16 of which have been spent in operations across Africa in senior leadership roles. His experiences also include business development, government relations and regulatory affairs.
Prior to joining the Mastercard Foundation as the Country Director - Uganda, Adrian worked as the Country manager, providing advisory services to the Baker Hughes and GE Businesses with respect to the legal and regulatory frameworks. Previously, Adrian worked with Tullow Uganda
Operations as commercial and joint venture manager, Shell Oil Products Africa as lubricants and liquefied petroleum gas sales manager for Uganda, Macquarie Bank as strategic consultant, Black and Decker
Corporation, Maryland, USA as Materials Engineer, and Purchasing Manager, and SUNOCO CHEMICALS, Philadelphia, PA, USA as Process and Environmental Engineer.
Adrian holds an MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Oxford, Said Business School, Oxford, UK and a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Drexel University, Philadelphia PA USA and International Baccalaureate Diploma from St. Mary’s School, Nairobi, Kenya.

As Executive Director, Global Services at the University Design Institute, Dawn Straw works to advance UDI’s mission of transformation for global higher education. As a key steward of UDI’s capabilities as a global transformation partner, Dawn oversees UDI’s portfolio of programs and services and helps universities and systems determine how to utilize these programs and services to support their own transformation journey.

Dawn has over 20 years of experience in higher education, primarily designing learning solutions and leading collaborations between external stakeholders and universities.  She joined ASU in 2008 and has held roles in the Office of Global Academic Initiatives, the Thunderbird School of Global Management, and the W. P. Carey School of Business.  She served as Executive Director, Global Academic Initiatives, working in partnership with internal and external stakeholders to develop, facilitate and promote pan-university and public-private partnership engagement models to promote educational access and opportunity, academic excellence and international impact on behalf of the university.  Dawn held the role of Executive Director, External Relations and Partnerships for the Thunderbird School of Global Management where she worked closely with the heads of Thunderbird’s global centers of excellence to bring Thunderbird programs, learning assets and partnership models to global markets. She served as Chief Operating Officer of Thunderbird Executive Education and Executive Director of the W. P. Carey Center for Executive and Professional Development.

Dawn holds a MS in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the W. P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and a BS in Corporate Communication from the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College.

Dr. Michael Fung is the Executive Director of the Institute for the Future of Education at Tecnologico de Monterrey, a leading private university in Latin America with 26 campuses in Mexico and 18 offices globally. The Institute creates, disseminates, and applies research-based educational innovation, to transform higher education and lifelong learning around the world and improve the lives of millions of people through education.

He was formerly the Deputy Chief Executive at SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and led the development of a comprehensive education and training ecosystem under the national SkillsFuture movement, which has become a global benchmark and reference for workforce skills development and lifelong learning across society. 

Michael was Senior Advisor to the Office of the President at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and Director of Planning and Institutional Research. He led the development of the five-year University Strategic Plans, and the annual administrative and academic planning and resource allocation exercises. He also led the University’s participation in international rankings, propelling HKUST to #1 in Asia three years in a row.

He was previously the Director of Strategic Planning and Quality Assurance at the Singapore Management University (SMU), a Deputy Director at the Singapore Ministry of Manpower (MOM), and held various senior positions at the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) and the National Computer Board (NCB) of Singapore.

He was the Founding President of the Higher Education Planning in Asia Association, and serves on a number of boards and committees, including the International Labor Organization, the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, and the Carnegie Mellon University Admissions Council.

He is an alumnus of the University of Southern California and Carnegie Mellon University in the US, and Tsinghua University in China.

Nissi Madu is an accomplished professional in the field of education with a steadfast commitment to
leveraging technology to reshape education landscapes in Africa. With a decade of dedicated experience,
Nissi's journey has been characterized by visionary leadership, innovative program design, and a
deep-rooted passion for advancing learning through technology.
Nissi is Managing Partner at CcHUB leading its Startup Support and EdTech portfolio. Prior to this she
was the Head of Learning Sciences at Co-Creation HUB, she has championed the set-up and strategic
focus of the unit that supports the edtech startups in the Mastercard Foundation Edtech Fellowship
Programme to build products that deliver improved learning outcomes to learners in alignment with
CcHUB’s unabated focus on transforming education on the continent.
,She also served as the Practice Lead, Education where she drove the execution of a systematic
approach to CcHUB’s education work cutting across 3 key themes: Interactive and Engaging Digital
Content, Innovative Teaching Methodology and a Community of Practice approach to upskilling
educators. Under these approaches, she has implemented several projects which include the Safe
Online with Facebook Programme running for 5 years now, focused on empowering young people in
Nigeria with the skills required to stay safe as they explore the internet. The project has reached over
30,000 students, parents, teachers and over 400 schools across 20 cities. She also managed the
implementation of the European Commission-funded project- Go-labs goes Africa (GO-GA) focused on
accelerating the adoption of richer learning environments to transform STEM Education in Africa and led
the expansion of the 3-year project from the 3 pilot countries (Nigeria, Kenya and Benin Republic) to 4
Associate Countries - Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Ghana.
Nissi’s expertise lies in various areas including strategy, project management, digital learning product
design and development, stakeholders management, business development, and programme design and
management across over 20 programmes in 7 African countries. Her strategic acumen has led to the
creation of impactful frameworks that have guided education initiatives on the continent.
As a thought Leader, Nissi's research contributions have been featured in esteemed journals, providing
insights into teacher training during the pandemic and the implementation of inquiry-based learning.
These scholarly pursuits underscore Nissi's dedication to evidence-based innovation and the elevation of educational practices.
Prior to joining Co-Creation Hub, Nissi worked with LEAP Africa, as Programme Coordinator for
eLearning. During this period, She co-designed the MasterCard Foundation Transformative Leadership
Programme aimed at supporting teacher mentors in the Scholars Programme to help the scholars build
leadership and life skills. She successfully led the development of content, product and service offerings around LEAP’s core themes for dissemination through e-learning and technology channels and
spearheaded the distribution of LEAP Africa’s premier e-learning course on ethics across multiple sectors.
Before LEAP, Nissi worked as a Software Developer at Interswitch where she contributed to the
development of notable products like Quickteller and Kimono.
Nissi's endeavors extend beyond borders, as exemplified by impactful fellowships such as the British
Council New Narratives Programme and The US Consulate Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative. These
experiences have enriched her global perspective and fortified her drive to effect positive change in
education and innovation. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Babcock University,
Nigeria.

Nana Gyamfi Adwabour is a Doctoral Research student in Innovative/Business leadership at the Swiss Business School. He has a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Publishing Studies from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Phoenix in Arizona. 
Nana also has an LLB from the University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) in Ghana and an LLM from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. He is also pursuing an MSc. in Digital Education from the University of Edinburgh.
He has certificates in Communication from the Huawei University and Networking and Programming certificate from ITT tech in Houston Texas. 
He is currently the Executive Director of the Centre for National Distance Learning and Open Schooling (CENDLOS), an agency under the Ministry of Education in Ghana mandated to lead EdTech solutions in Ghana.

Karen Muriuki is an Autistic Self Advocate based in Nairobi, Kenya. She is currently Working as an Neurodiversity Consultant at Ubongo International an international Ngo based Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania  that does educational content for children across the African continent. She's also an Award Winning InAble Africa Inclusive Influencer, a certified disability inclusion facilitator, an organising secretary for the Differently Talented Society of Kenya which is a organisation that advocates for autistic people alongside their caregivers which under the United disabled persons of Kenya and finally an International Disability Alliance Bridge Kenya CRPD-SDGs alumni which teaches about the United Nations Convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities and the Sustainable development Goals. She's passionate about inclusive Edtech and education, disability policy making  among persons with disabilities not only in Kenya but also across africa. 

Jennifer Otieno is the co-founder and CEO of EdTech East Africa. Alongside her cofounder, Missy Mwenda, Jennifer helped to create a home for East African EdTech entrepreneurs and enablers (funders, researchers, innovative implementers, technology partners and more). Jennifer is motivated by helping ecosystem members accelerate their pace of progress in creating evidence-based, technology-enabled solutions that improve teaching and learning.

Jennifer is also the Kenya Co-Lead for the EdTech Hub, a global research collaborative funded by FCDO, World Bank, Gates Foundation and UNICEF that empowers people by giving them the evidence they need to make decisions about technology in education. Jennifer also leads the team at Education Design Unlimited, a Nairobi-based research and design firm that uses evidence and user-centred design principles to improve teaching and learning in the areas of education, edtech and skilling.