Director of International Programs, Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School
Reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist Senait Fisseha is a global leader in expanding access to reproductive health services, especially in developing countries.
Dr. Fisseha has overseen international grant making at the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation to advance women’s health and reproductive rights globally since 2015.
Born in Ethiopia, Dr. Fisseha earned an undergraduate degree from Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois, M.D. and J.D. degrees from Southern Illinois University, and a certificate in International Human Rights and Comparative Law from the University of Oxford. She completed her internship (2000) and residency (2003) in obstetrics and gynecology and fellowship training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (2006) at the University of Michigan.
As adjunct professor of obstetrics and gynecology at U-M, Dr. Fisseha advocates for training and capacity building in contraception and reproductive health services globally. Previously, Dr. Fisseha was medical director of Michigan’s Center for Reproductive Medicine and founding executive director of its Center for International Reproductive Health Training. She helped U-M forge strong partnerships with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and the St. Paul Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa, and was honored by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health in 2013 for her contributions to the health sector. She also is a key adviser to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the first African elected director-general of the World Health Organization.
Dr. Fisseha has published more than 50 scholarly articles and serves on the board of the Ethio-American Doctors Group. In 2016, the U-M Medical Center Alumni Society presented her its Early Distinguished Career Achievement Award.
Managing Director, Emerging Markets & Africa, Deloitte
Dr Martyn Davies is the Managing Director of Emerging Markets & Africa at Deloitte. He also leads the Japan Services Group for Deloitte Africa. He is a member of the Global Firm’s Insight Advisory Group as well as the Deloitte Economics team.
Prior to joining Deloitte, Martyn founded Frontier Advisory, a strategy advisory firm that was acquired by Deloitte. Over his career, he has been an advisor to a large array of multinational firms on their market entry & engagement strategies in emerging markets and Africa. He has also conducted a large amount of advisory work on behalf of the public sector. Martyn has previously been ranked the # 1 analyst in South Africa in the “African Economies & Markets” category as awarded by the Financial Mail in its Annual Analysts of the Year awards.
He is a Senior Fellow at the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth – a group comprising leading international economists which works on subjects relating to macro-economy and inclusive growth and provides strategic advice to the Mastercard executive. Martyn was selected in 2010 as a Young Global Leader, an honour bestowed by the World Economic Forum each year to recognise the most distinguished young leaders nominated below the age of 40 from around the world and has served in various advisory capacities at the WEF.
President and Chairman, Board of Directors, AfreximBank
Prof. Oramah has been President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank since September 2015.
Prior to this, he was Executive Vice President responsible for Business Development & Corporate Banking (October 2008 – September 2015), specifically supervising Trade Finance, Project & Export Development Finance, Syndications & Specialized Finance, and Corporate Finance & Advisory Services. He also supervised the Research and Strategy functions of the Bank.
He holds an Advanced Management Certificate from Columbia University, M.Sc. and Ph.D. Degrees in Agricultural Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, and a B.Sc. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan. On 22 July 2018, he was decorated Professor of International Trade and Finance by Adeleke University, Nigeria.
Chairman Petrolin Group, Benin
Engineer of the French Institute of Petroleum (IFP 1972) and Engineer in Petrochemistry and Industrial Organic Synthesis (IPSOI 1971) with over 40 years experience in the oil and mining sector. He has held high-ranking positions within State structures and in the private sector.
He served as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and Chairman of the Expert Committee of the African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA). He is a Founding member, and the first Chairman, of the African Petroleum Institute. He is a member of the African Energy Leaders Group - West Africa (AELG).
Mr. Samuel Dossou-Aworet plays a strategic role in the promotion and the development of oil majors and African companies in Cameroon, Congo, DRC, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Côte d'Ivoire, Namibia, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda, etc.
Mr Samuel Dossou-Aworet is the chairman of the "African Businessmen Round Table" (ABR).
Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of Industry,
Republic of Djibouti
Mr. Ilyas Moussa Dawaleh, 51, is the Minister of Economy and Finance, in charge of Industry as of May 12, 2011.
Amongst other roles, Mr Dawaleh served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Djibouti for over a decade.
Mr.Dawaleh engages in the private sector. He served as a director of corporations and not for profit boards, including Chairman of the Board and Board of Trustees of several non-profit organizations. He is also the co-founding chairperson of RDE, Djibouti’s Young Entrepreneurs’ Club. CEO of several companies he founded in Djibouti and abroad, Mr. Dawaleh is known for his entrepreneurship and leadership qualities.
Mr.Dawaleh holds a Bachelor in Economic and Social Administration with a specialization in Business Management from the University François Rabelais of Tours, France, and a Master (DEA) in Marketing and Strategic Management.
Minister, Ministry of Health, Ethiopia
Dr. Amir Aman Hagos is Minister of Health (MOH) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Dr. Hagos is a dedicated public health professional and a physician with a master’s degree in public health. As a medical practitioner, he has worked in rural settings as a clinician and medical director. He has also served as a Director of Human Resources and Development, Director-General for Policy and Plan, State Minister of Health of Operations, and now Minister at the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Hagos became State Minster at a young age of 27, and currently, at 33 years of age, a Minister and has become an inspiration and a model for the new generation of health professionals dedicated to public service and volunteerism.
Some of his noteworthy accomplishments include the significant increase in the mobilization of human and financial resources to support Ethiopia’s health sector development, resulting in the substantial increase of Ethiopia’s 39,978 Health Extension Workers, 3893 health centers, major hospitals 392, and 17,086 health posts. During his tenure, he has also made significant contributions towards the planning, development, deployment, and utilization of health professionals at all levels of service delivery.
During his tenure, medical schools in Ethiopia increased from 13 to 32, and enrolment of medical students less from than 1,000 to 3,100 per year. As a task-shifting measure more than 400 Integrated Emergency Surgical Officers and 9000 midwives have been trained to reduce maternal, prenatal and infant mortalities and trauma-related morbidities and mortalities. And the country has seen an expansion of its Health Extension Program (HEP), with the recruitment, training and deployment of an additional 9,000 Health Extension Workers. There is international consensus that HEP has significantly contributed towards Ethiopia meeting of the Millennium Development Goals and the provision of Universal Health Care.
Dr. Hagos has also played a key leadership role in the development and implementation of FMOH’s 5-Year “Health Sector Development Plan IV” which facilitated the attainment of the Millenium Development Goals, and the current “Health Sector Transformation Plan” which is geared towards the timely realization of the Universal Health Care Coverage in general and Sustainable Development Goals in particular.
Internationally, Dr. Amir serves as Co-Chair of WHO’s Transforming IHP+ International Health Partnership for UHC 2030 which is dedicated to building a partnership to strengthening health systems and is a member of numerous related committees. Moreover, he is also the Co-Chair of the International Institute for Primary Health Care established to increase the quality and share the experiences of HEP throughout Africa.
While he has received many accolades both locally and internationally, in 2017, The University of the Western Cape gave Dr. Amir Aman Hagos its “outstanding alumni” award, and in 2018 the “Jakes Gerwel Award” which honors its former Rector and Vice Chancellor.
In a Facebook post Dr. Aman said, “I am humbled by my appointment to serve and lead our health sector; it is a call to duty to ensure the “health” of our people – indeed, as the adage aptly states – health is wealth, because a healthy society is a productive society. That is why we view our mission to provide Universal Health Care - that is quality, accessible, affordable and equitable - fundamentally a human right and a non-negotiable moral imperative.”
H.E. Isatou Touray
Minister of Health and Social Welfare in The Gambia
Dr. Isatou Touray serves as the Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
Dr. Touray is noted as an activist against female genital mutilation (FGM). She co-founded the Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices (GAMCOTRAP) in 1984, which is committed to ending FGM. She became executive director of GAMCOTRAP.
From 2006 to 2011, Dr. Touray was chairperson of the Gambia Chapter of the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP).
She served as Secretary-General of the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children from 2009 to 2014. She also worked as deputy director of the Management Development Institute (MDI), where she founded a gender and development unit.
Dr. Touray attended Usman Danfodiyo University in Nigeria, graduating with a bachelor's degree in education and English. She then studied at the International Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands, where she graduated with a master's degree in development studies. She completed a PhD in development studies at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, United Kingdom
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is a confederation of African chambers of commerce and industries, business networks and professional associations.
The Chamber will foster a vibrant and interconnected business community where collaboration increases capacity; education enhances ability and advocacy influences authority.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to improving the economic environment of the African continent through enhancing the opportunities of businesses, fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship while advocating for business friendly policy making.
We Foster the development of a flourishing entrepreneurial culture and a competitive SME sector to support Africa’s economic development goals.
VISION
To be a catalyst in transforming the African business landscape through Innovation, Creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE). We work with Governments,CEOs,Entrepreneurs and Civil Society to ignite
a socio-economic and cultural transformation in Africa
VALUE STATEMENT
REPRESENTATION: to be the voice of small business in Africa by being aware of and proactively addressing issues and opportunities through a united voice.
NETWORKING: providing a variety of opportunities for members to get connected through the power of network.
APPROACHABILITY: promote the fact that the Pan African Chamber of Commerce is here for everyone; no business is too small, all matters are important and all businesses and related issues welcome.
LEADERSHIP: We are visionary and future orientated in our thinking and decision making.
OBJECTIVES
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is organized to achieve the following objectives:
Med Suite Media is specifically tailored to provide specialists with the latest developments/discoveries in the healthcare industry from a comprehensive arsenal of reliable sources. We understand the importance of healthcare, and why it’s important to keep abreast of changes that affects the industry.
Moreover, we are cognisant of the fact that time is money and your calling is demanding, so searching for and consuming all the news on your own steam is simply not an option, so we do it for you. The digital age is upon us, and we consistently work to enhance the content for you.
As a media entity, we understand the frustration of information-overload; therefore, we are particularly selective with the content that we source so that we produce monthly publications that include media that is both relevant and informative, and easy to digest.
There are a total of 14 specialist publications under the Med Suite Media Banner.
Which include:
| AESTHETICS AND DERMATOLOGY |
| CARDIOLOGY |
| DENTAL |
| GASTROENTEROLOGY |
| GREY MATTERS |
| GYNAECOLOGY |
| HOSPITAL INSIGHT |
| IMMUNOLOGY |
| IPA |
| NEPHROLOGY & UROLOGY |
| ONCOLOGY |
| OPHTHALMOLOGY |
| PAEDIATRICS |
| PHARMACY |
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is a confederation of African chambers of commerce and industries, business networks and professional associations.
The Chamber will foster a vibrant and interconnected business community where collaboration increases capacity; education enhances ability and advocacy influences authority.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to improving the economic environment of the African continent through enhancing the opportunities of businesses, fostering a spirit of entrepreneurship while advocating for business friendly policy making.
We Foster the development of a flourishing entrepreneurial culture and a competitive SME sector to support Africa’s economic development goals.
VISION
To be a catalyst in transforming the African business landscape through Innovation, Creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE). We work with Governments,CEOs,Entrepreneurs and Civil Society to ignite
a socio-economic and cultural transformation in Africa
VALUE STATEMENT
REPRESENTATION: to be the voice of small business in Africa by being aware of and proactively addressing issues and opportunities through a united voice.
NETWORKING: providing a variety of opportunities for members to get connected through the power of network.
APPROACHABILITY: promote the fact that the Pan African Chamber of Commerce is here for everyone; no business is too small, all matters are important and all businesses and related issues welcome.
LEADERSHIP: We are visionary and future orientated in our thinking and decision making.
OBJECTIVES
The Pan African Chamber of Commerce is organized to achieve the following objectives:
Oxford Business Group (OBG) is a global research and consultancy company with a presence in over 30 countries, from the Middle East, Africa and Asia to the Americas. A distinctive and respected provider of on-the-ground intelligence on many of the world’s fastest growing markets, OBG has offices in London, Berlin, Dubai and Istanbul, and a network of local bureaus across the countries in which we operate.
Through its range of products, OBG offers comprehensive and accurate analysis of macroeconomic and sectoral developments, including banking, capital markets, tourism, energy, transport, industry and ICT. OBG provides business intelligence to its subscribers through multiple platforms: Economic News and Views, OBG Business Barometer - CEO Survey, Roundtables and conferences, Global Platform - exclusive video interviews, The Report publications and its Consultancy division.
Website http://oxfordbusinessgroup.com
Oxford Business Group (OBG) est un cabinet mondial de recherche et de conseil présent dans plus de 30 pays, du Moyen-Orient, d'Afrique et d'Asie aux Amériques. OBG dispose de bureaux à Londres, Berlin, Dubaï et Istanbul, ainsi que d'un réseau de bureaux locaux dans les pays où nous sommes implantés.
Grâce à sa gamme de produits variés, OBG offre une analyse complète et précise des développements macroéconomiques et sectoriels, dans les domaines bancaires, les marchés de capitaux, l’immobilier, le tourisme, l'énergie, les transports, l'industrie et les TIC. OBG fournit des renseignements commerciaux à ses abonnés à travers de multiples plateformes: Nouvelles économiques et revues, Baromètre OBG - Sondage des PDG, Tables rondes et conférences, Plateforme mondiale - Entrevues vidéo exclusives, Les publications du Rapport et sa division Consultants.
Site web http://oxfordbusinessgroup.com
Med Suite Media is specifically tailored to provide specialists with the latest developments/discoveries in the healthcare industry from a comprehensive arsenal of reliable sources. We understand the importance of healthcare, and why it’s important to keep abreast of changes that affects the industry.
Moreover, we are cognisant of the fact that time is money and your calling is demanding, so searching for and consuming all the news on your own steam is simply not an option, so we do it for you. The digital age is upon us, and we consistently work to enhance the content for you.
As a media entity, we understand the frustration of information-overload; therefore, we are particularly selective with the content that we source so that we produce monthly publications that include media that is both relevant and informative, and easy to digest.
There are a total of 14 specialist publications under the Med Suite Media Banner.
Which include:
| AESTHETICS AND DERMATOLOGY |
| CARDIOLOGY |
| DENTAL |
| GASTROENTEROLOGY |
| GREY MATTERS |
| GYNAECOLOGY |
| HOSPITAL INSIGHT |
| IMMUNOLOGY |
| IPA |
| NEPHROLOGY & UROLOGY |
| ONCOLOGY |
| OPHTHALMOLOGY |
| PAEDIATRICS |
| PHARMACY |
Ventures Africa (www.venturesafrica.com) is an online news site and community interested in producing stories about an evolving Africa that inspire people to positively shape their context. We cover business, policy, innovation and life in Africa across our numerous platforms including the web, social media, email, and through special print issues on specific topics of importance.
Our goal is to bring our readers to a new way of thinking about the news and events in the world around them, by digging for the deeper meaning in the stories we tell.
Gayle SmithPresident and CEO, One Campaign
Smith is the President and CEO of the ONE Campaign. An internationally acknowledged expert on development issues, she has served as a senior adviser to two American presidents.
In her most recent role as Administrator of the US Agency for International Development, Smith led a staff of more than 10,000 people working to end extreme poverty, foster sustained and inclusive economic growth, and promote resilient democracies. She was previously a special assistant to President Obama, and a senior director for development and democracy at the US National Security Council (NSC); while as a special assistant to President Clinton, she was a senior director for African affairs at the NSC.
Her earlier background includes working as a journalist and with NGOs in Africa for more than 20 years.
Michel SidibéExecutive Director, UNAIDS
Since his appointment as Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the UN in 2009, Sidibé’s vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths has echoed around the world.
Under his leadership, UNAIDS works to ensure that no one is left behind in the response to HIV and that everyone in need has access to lifesaving HIV services.
He initiated the global call to eliminate HIV infections among children and his global advocacy has firmly secured HIV at the top of political agendas.
Abebe SelassieDirector, African Department, IMF
Prior to his current position at the IMF, Selassie worked for the African Department (AFR) in several other roles, including as senior resident representative in Uganda, mission chief for South Africa, and team-leader on AFR’s Regional Economic Outlook. He has worked with policymakers from many of the region’s frontier markets, such as Ghana and Kenya, as well as its more fragile countries, including Guinea and Sierra Leone.
In his 22 years at the Fund, he has also held posts in the Strategy, Policy and Review Department, and in the European Department.
His earlier background includes working for the Ethiopian government, as Principal Economist in the Office of the President.
Aigboje Aig-ImoukhuedeAigboje Aig-Imoukhuede is the Founder and Chairman of Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG), a not-for-profit organisation, established to be a catalyst for high public sector performance in Africa by bringing proven private sector innovation, leadership and funding to the public sector in a private-public partnership to attract, inspire and support future leaders of Africa’s public sector.
Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede is also the Founder and Chairman of Coronation Capital Limited, an Africa-focused private equity and proprietary investment firm established in 2014. Prior to this, he was Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, where he led the transformation of the bank to rank amongst Africa's leading banks. His career in banking and finance spans three decades and has earned him national as well as international recognition including Commander of the Order of the Niger “CON”, conferred by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for his contributions to the development of banking and finance, and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (West Africa).
In 2012, Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede was appointed Chair of the Presidential Committee on the Verification of Fuel Subsidies. His oversight of the process is widely credited with saving Nigeria billions of dollars in fraudulent fuel subsidy payments. He was, also in 2012, elected President of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
His social and entrepreneurial philanthropic engagements include Chairman of Friends Africa, a partner organisation of the Global Fund, Co-Chairman of the Board of GBC Health, founding member of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Chairman of the Business Coalition for Sustainable Development of Nigeria, a member of the board of the Aliko Dangote Foundation and a member of the International Advisory Board of Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government.
Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede is also the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Financial Market Dealers Association (of Nigeria) and Chairman of Wapic Insurance Plc. He was in 2017, elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He holds a law degree from the University of Benin and was called to the Bar in Nigeria. He also holds a Trium MBA awarded jointly by the London School of Economics, New York University and HEC Paris.
His social and entrepreneurial philanthropic engagements include Chairman of Friends Africa, a partner organisation of the Global Fund, Co-Chairman of the Board of GBCHealth, founding member of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, Chairman of the Business Coalition for Sustainable Development of Nigeria and a member of the board of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
He holds a law degree from the University of Benin and was called to the Bar in Nigeria. He also holds a Trium MBA awarded jointly by the London School of Economics, New York University and HEC Paris.
Aliko DangoteAliko Dangote is the founder and president/chief executive of the Dangote Group, the largest conglomerate in West Africa. The Group currently has presence in 17 African countries and is a market leader in cement on the continent. One of the Group's subsidiaries, Dangote Cement Plc, is the largest listed company in West Africa and the first Nigerian company to join the Forbes Global 2000 Companies list. The Group’s four subsidiaries Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar, Dangote Flour and NASCON Allied Industries account for 35%-40% of the capitalization of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).
The Group has diversified into other sectors of the Nigerian economy including agriculture and is currently constructing the largest petroleum refinery, petrochemical plant and fertiliser complex in Africa.
In addition to his extensive investment in the domestic economy, Dangote has played several roles in Public-Private Initiatives; Chairman/Co-Chair and member of various Government Bodies including, Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, National Committee on Job Creation, Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council, and more. He is also the founding Patron of the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN).
Internationally, Aliko Dangote sits on various multinational boards including the board of the Corporate Council on Africa, the Clinton Global Initiative, the McKinsey Advisory Council, and the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum and is a member of the Steering Committee of the United Nations Secretary-General's Global Education First Initiative. He was named Co-chair of the US-Africa Business Center, in September 2016, by the US Chamber of Commerce. In April 2017, he joined the Board of Directors of the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which is helping countries build the systems necessary to provide health services for their people. He is also on the Board of ONE, the global anti-poverty advocacy group, co-founded by Bono, serves as the United Nations Malaria Ambassador for Nigeria, and a member of the End Malaria Council alongside Bill Gates and Ray Chambers.
A dedicated philanthropist, Aliko Dangote made an initial endowment of $1.25 billion to the Aliko Dangote Foundation in March 2014, enabling it to scale up its work in health, education and economic empowerment. In collaborating with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Federal and State Governments of Nigeria, Aliko Dangote Foundation is in the vanguard of the fight to eradicate polio from Nigeria and by extension Africa. Supporting and expanding the work on Polio, the Foundation is also working with the Gates Foundation and Government of Nigeria to improve national routine immunization and strengthening of the national primary healthcare system. The Aliko Dangote Foundation is also poised to take on the lead in the fight against malnutrition in Nigeria with its $100 million flagship Aliko Dangote Foundation Integrated Nutrition programme.
The Foundation contributed to a number of global disaster relief efforts including N7 Billion in feeding, clothing, housing, and resettling of the Internally Displaced People in the Northeast Nigeria over the last 5 years, as well as millions of dollars for Pakistan flood relief in 2010, Nepal earthquake relief in 2015, and the response to the West African ebola outbreak in 2013-2016.
In education, Aliko Dangote and the Dangote Group, directly and through the Aliko Dangote Foundation sponsor a variety of community scholarship programmes. The Aliko Dangote Foundation human capital investment in education strategy involves investments in: (1) supporting secondary and tertiary education institutions, such as the Ahmadu Bello University, but also Bayero University Kano, Kano State University of Science and Technology, University of Ibadan, and Crescent University; (2) Leadership development, through sponsoring the World Economic Forum Africa Young Global Leaders programme and Junior Achievement Nigeria, among other initiatives; and, (3) Contributory funding for and participation in global education improvement initiatives, such as the Global Business Coalition for Education and the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunity respectively.
A graduate of Al-Azahar University in Cairo, Egypt, Dangote began his business career in 1978, trading in rice, sugar and cement, before he ventured into full-scale manufacturing. In April 2014, TIME Magazine listed him among its 100 'Most Influential People in the World.
For four consecutive years, 2013 2014, 2015 and 2016, Forbes listed him as the 'Most Powerful Man in Africa’ alongside the Egyptian President Abdel Fatteh el Sisi. He also made the list of CNBC's 'Top 25 Business men in the World' that changed and shaped the century. In 2017, he emerged among The Bloomberg 50, a new, yearly, multi-platform initiative that honors 50 icons and innovators who have changed the global business landscape in measurable ways over the past year.
Jim OviaChairman, Zenith Bank
Ovia is the founder and chairman of Zenith Bank, Nigeria’s largest and Africa’s 6th biggest bank by shareholder funds.
He has been a member of the National Economic Management Team of Nigeria, and received the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award for his work in support of the economy.
His philanthropic work includes founding the Youth Empowerment and ICT Foundation, empowering them to embrace ICTs.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-IwealaChair, GAVI
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has served as Board Chair of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, since January 2016.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala has more than 30 years of development and financial expertise. She has twice served as Nigeria’s Finance Minister, most recently between 2011 and 2015, and in 2006 was the Foreign Affairs Minister. She has also held several key positions at the World Bank, including as Managing Director.
Her background is particularly valuable as Gavi strives to ensure that immunisation programmes are financially sustainable.
Dr Belay BegashawExecutive Director, SDG Center for Africa
Prior to his current role, Dr Begashaw was the Founding Director of the Columbia Global Centers for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.
He has also held several positions at Columbia University’s Earth Institute (EI), including as Director of the MDG Center of East and Southern Africa, and Associate Director of the Agriculture and Food Security Center.
He has over 20 years of experience in agriculture extension and rural development, ranging from grass-roots development work to being Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture.
Dr Amany AsfourFormer Chairperson, Comesa Business Council
Until recently the Chairperson of COMESA’s business council (CBC), Asfour holds various high-level portfolios in African business platforms, including being the President and founder of Egyptian Business Women Association (EBWA), President of the Business and Professional Women-Egypt (BPW-Egypt), President of the African Alliance for Women Empowerment (AFRAWE), and Chair of the Federation of Business Women Associations of COMESA (FEMCOM).
She has a passion for women’s entrepreneurship and empowerment and is the owner of a multimillion-dollar medical supplies company in Egypt.
Dr Tedros Adhanom GhebreyesusDirector-General, WHO
Dr Tedros has been Director-General of the WHO since 2017. He served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2016, and as Minister of Health from 2005 to 2012.
As Minister of Health, Dr Tedros received praise for innovative and system-wide health reforms that substantially improved access to health services and key outcomes, such as increasing the hiring of health cadres including medical doctors and midwives.
A globally recognized malaria researcher, his other work includes having been Board Chair of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Dr Herbert WigweDr Herbert Wigwe is a Nigerian banker and entrepreneur. He is currently CEO and Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s top five banking institutions.
Education
Herbert has a degree in Accountancy from the University of Nigeria, an MA in Banking and Finance from the University College of North Wales (now Bangor), an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London, and is an Alumnus of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program.
Career
Wigwe began his career at Coopers & Lybrand, Lagos as a management consultant later qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. After a stint at Capital Bank, he joined GTBank where he spent over a decade working in corporate and institutional banking, rising to become the Executive Director in charge of institutional banking.
In 2002, Herbert and his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, saw a unique opportunity and grasped it, acquiring what was then a small commercial bank, Access Bank – at the time, the 65th largest of the 89 banks in the country.
Access Bank is now one of the top 5 banks in Nigeria and ranked among the top 500 global banks according to a report by The Banker magazine and is aiming to be Africa’s top bank. It currently serves over 8m individual and corporate account holders, through 370 branches and with more than 1,500 ATMs in major centres across Nigeria, Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK.
As one of Nigeria’s foremost corporate bankers, he has helped develop some of Africa’s biggest companies in the construction, telecommunications, energy and oil and gas sectors through a unique model, which involves understanding and providing financial support and expertise.
Being a seasoned entrepreneur, Herbert appreciates the innovative potential of young people and actively invests in the development of the youth through making out time to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs.
His flair for Corporate Social Responsibility and sustainable banking practices has seen the Bank receive a lot of associated accolades which have positioned the Bank as a leader in corporate citizenship.
Considering his impact in ensuring that the Nigerian banking sector attained international standard, the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and the Gombe State University recently conferred him with honorary doctoral degrees in Science.
His career in financial services spans more than 25-years including over a decade as Deputy Managing Director.
Herbert also served as the Chairman of Access Bank (Ghana) Limited, Access Investment & Securities Limited, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS) and is the current Chairman of Access Bank (UK) Limited and Unified Payments Services Limited. He is a Board Member of Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and a member of the advisory Board for Friends Africa. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN – FCA), a Fellow of The Institute of Credit Administration, and an Honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
Since January 2014, he has been CEO and Group Managing Director of Access Bank.
Vera SongweDr. Vera Songwe is a UN Under Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa.
Dr. Songwe is the first woman to hold this position. From being listed by Forbes in 2013 as one of the “20 Young Power Women in Africa”; to being chosen by Institut Choiseul for International Politics and Geoeconomics as one of their “African leaders of tomorrow”; described as one of the “Top 10 Female Business Leaders in Africa” by the African Business Review in 2014; to being listed once again in the New African Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Africans of 2017; Dr. Songwe has a long-standing track record of policy advice, results-oriented implementation in the region and demonstrated strategic vision for the continent. Some of her previous appointments include serving as the International Finance Corporation’s Regional Director for West and Central Africa; the World Bank’s Country Director for Senegal, Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania; and Adviser to the Managing Director of the World Bank for the Africa, Europe and Central Asia and South Asia Regions.
Dr. Songwe holds a PhD in Mathematical Economics from the Center for Operations Research and Econometrics and a Master of Arts in Law and Economics and a Diplôme d’études approfondies in Economic Science and Politics from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. She also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan. She is also a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes College in Cameroon and has published widely on governance issues, innovative finance and fiscal policy issues.
