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GAIN Youth Summit was held on the 28th - 29th October, 2022.
Prof. Benedict O. Oramah is the President and Chairman the Board of Directors of African Export Import Bank (“Afreximbank or the Bank”). As the President of Afreximbank, Prof. Oramah has grown the Bank significantly and improved its global appeal and relevance.
The Bank is playing a key role in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement which is the most significant trade and development initiative in Africa for decades. In support of the AfCFTA, Afreximbank, under the leadership of Prof. Oramah championed the creation of very innovative digital platforms that will boost intra-regional trade and investments by revolutionizing cross border payments and improving access to quality trade information. These include the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (the “PAPSS”), a Trade Information Platform and MANSA, which is a repository platform that provides a single source of primary data required for the conduct of customer due diligence on African entities.
Prof. Oramah is one of the four Principals of the African Union’s Africa Vaccine Acquisition Task Team (AVATT) and under his leadership, Afreximbank played a pivotal role that made it possible for the continent to procure 400 million doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccines, by providing a US$ 2 billion Advanced Procurement Commitment (APC) guarantee to the vaccine manufacturer, on behalf of African countries.
As a recognition for his achievements, Prof. Oramah has received several honors and awards including being listed in the 100 most influential Africans by New African Magazine in 2019, 2020, and 2021. He was also listed by Jeune Afrique among the top 100 Influential Africans. In 2017 Prof. Oramah was voted African Banker of the year by the African Banker magazine. He also received the New York University Africa Leadership Award in 2018.
He sits on the Boards of many organisations and also chairs the Boards of the Funds for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS). Prof. Oramah has written over 50 articles and papers, authored books, and contributed chapters in several books.
His Excellency, Humphrey Geiseb has served in diverse diplomatic roles including being appointed High Commissioner-Designate of the Republic of Namibia to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was also the Ambassador to Cameroon and Chad and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS. He was the First Secretary & Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of Namibia to Belgium and the European Union. He was the Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Namibia to the People’s Republic of China from Oct. 2016 to Jan. 2019. He earned his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Free State. He studied Development Diplomacy in Berlin, Germany.
His Excellency, Kalilou Traoré was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, by the Council of Ministers held on December 18, 2019 in Yamoussouktro.
He effectively took office on February 13, 2020 in Abuja.
Before this function, Mr Kalilou TRAORE was the Commissioner of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in charge of Industry and Private Sector.
In this capacity, he developed and launched ECOWAS’s 2015-2020 industrial development strategy as well as the development strategy for the Private Sector and SMEs .
From March 2018 to February 2020, he assumed the office of Director of Cabinet of the President of the ECOWAS Commission.
Previously, he held several missions in public administration, regional integration, international cooperation, industrial sector, municipal development :
Director of Cabinet of several ministerial offices in Ivory Coast between 2003 and 2014 (African integration, Tourism, Crafts,);
Technical Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2010;
Chairman of the Audit Committee of ECOWAS Institutionsfor the period 2010-2013 ;
Chairman of the Board of the Regional Quality Agency (ECOWAQ), 2018-2019;
President of the National Commission of Côte d'Ivoire of Follow-upof the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union (EPA) from 2007 to2013;
Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Dry Port Project ofFerkessédougou(Côte d'Ivoire) from 2007to2013;
Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Program of Support to Trade and Regional Integration (PACIR)from 2010to 2014;
President of the ECOWAS / UEMOA Joint Committee for the elaboration of the Common External Tariff (CET) (2012 -2013) ;
President of the National Committee for the Approval of Products tothe ECOWAS Trade LiberalizationScheme (2007-2013);
Deputy Mayor of Adjame Commune, District of Abidjan (1996-2013)
Vice-presidentof the prospective think tank of the General Confederation of Enterprises of Côte d'Ivoire (CGECI), 2009 - 2010;
Factory Engineer at Nestlé Côte d'Ivoire from 1982 to 2000, Head of theTraining Departmentand industrial organization;
Ambassador Kalilou TRAORE is a graduate of the Felix HOUPHOUET BOIGNY University of Abidjan with a master's degree in science and techniques obtained in 1981.
Obinna Tochukwu Iyiegbu (Obi Cubana), chairman of Cubana Group is an award-Winning Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, and People Developer. In 2001, Obi Cubana started his entrepreneurship journey from the streets of Abuja as a real estate agent.
He is proficient in Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Business Development, Problem Solving, Negotiation, Management, and Portfolio diversification.
Born and grew up in Cameroon. After obtaining his A levels, he moved to Germany where he studied Mathematics with Computer Science. He has been working in the financial industry since 2007 and currently leads the international Capital Risk Management team at J.P. Morgan.
Emmanuel Asika is currently the Statutory Director and Country Manager for HP Nigeria. He also oversees the Omni-Channel business for HP Africa Central & East (ACE) – a cluster consisting of 16 countries spanning West and East Africa. He brings to bear over 17 years Multi – National experience in Telco & IT.
From a first degree in BA English (Lagos State University), Manny has added an MBA from Warwick Business School and a stint in Harvard Business school studying ‘Building Businesses in Emerging Markets’ to his Academic accomplishments.
He was a Boy Scout, loves travelling & History, he is a Sports and Fitness Enthusiast and is big on Leadership & Mentoring.
His leadership Philosophy leans towards Clarity of Thought, Curiosity & Authenticity.
Princess Adeyinka Tekenah is the founder of one of Nigeria’s premier indigenous coffee franchises: Happy Coffee, and a recipient of the Tony ElumelEntrepreneurs Foundation award. Also the convener of the Lagos Coffee Festival.
Adeyinka is a Bachelor of Arts graduate with high honors from the prestigious Harold Washington University, Chicago. She also went ahead to acquire a Business Management degree from the University of Phoenix.
Her career has traversed government, charity, and business development. A life member of the Phi Theta Kappa honors roll call and Dean list, she serves as an advisory member of “Apple of All Nations Nigeria and UK” (a charity for the needy and fatherless). Princess Adeyinka previously served as a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on CSR, PPP and MDG to the Amuwo Odofin LG Chairman. She’s passionate about business designs and advancement leading to sustainable growth and development for African women. She continues to build and mentor girls and women across the Nigerian business ecosystem. She’s married with an intelligent son. She loves to travel, cook and meeting new people.
Lennox Omondi, CEO and Founder Eco-Bana Limited, Hult Prize Winner 2022 and an SDG 5 Champion. He is a climate Activist and a Menstrual Hygiene Management Champion. Lennox has a Bachelor"s degree in Nursing and currently pursuing a second degree in Mass Communication Majoring in Public Relations and Marketing at St. Paul"s university Kenya.
He is an Ambassador of Sustainability with Global Ambassadors of Sustainability Dubai and a fellow with Kectil Design Thinking Program. He has won several awards some of which includes:
Award Winning Fellow with AfricaForSDGs 2022
Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 Mask Awards
Enactus President St. Paul"s university
Best Innovator Kiambu Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week
Chartered Member World Youth Alliance
Lennox has won two pageant crowns.
An award winning fellow with African Impact Initiative.
Education For Sustainable Development(ESD) Winner 2022.
Caroline Njuki, is the Officer in Charge and Chief Technical Advisor Inclusive Jobs and Education – International Labor Organization (ILO), Nairobi Kenya.
Caroline leads ILO’s work on jobs (employment) and education (skills) while also serving as the Officer in charge in Kenya. Prior to her current role, she headed the Djibouti based IGAD Regional Secretariat on Forced Displacement and Mixed Migration. She also served as Senior Regional Migration Coordinator and technical expert on political integration and human security at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
Caroline has also worked with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Somalia on migration governance and provided technical support to various humanitarian and development
organizations working on migration and displacement. Before her assignments in the Horn of Africa region, she worked with a community-based organization in Berlin that supported African migrants in their asylum process.
She holds a Master’s degree in intercultural conflict management from the Alice Salomon University in Berlin and a Bachelors of Education in History and Religion from Kenyatta University. Caroline comments and is widely published in the field of youth employment, migration and forced displacement and in 2018 was profiled by the Carnegie New York Peace Builders series amongst other features globally. She has also served as a member of the informal advisory Group on International Migration of the UN Economic Commission for Africa.
She co-founded the Africa Centre for Displacement and Migration (ACDM) in 2018, an organization that seeks to link policy on employment, migration and displacement with local development realities and processes.
Rapitso Mosebetsi is a Lesotho born entrepreneur and social business innovator with experience in consultancy, manufacturing and entertainment. He is a graduate in Marketing and Business Management studies. He co -founded Iconics Pty Ltd in 2016, a business that manufactures safety apparels in addition to providing marketing and events management services to both Business and Consumer clients.
In 2021, USTRADE HUB Southern Africa helped him complete his masterclass course in financial education. In 2022, he completed a masterclass on "TFO Canada Export Readiness". He is a beneficiary of BEDCO"s Capacity Building Program, and his business was hailed "Most Innovative & Versatile Exporter in 2022" by the Lesotho National Development Corporation, USAID Trade Hub Southern Africa, and Lesotho Post Bank.
He is an advocate for social responsibilities, a social entrepreneur who believes in the potential of collaborative effort. He is a member of Lesotho Chamber Of Commerce & Industry who supports initiatives that have a positive & sustainable development impact on his community, country & Africa. Through exchange programmes and training business skills, he supports various entrepreneurs.
He is charitable. In the last two months, his company provided over 200 female students with sanitary pads to combat school absenteeism in Elementary and Secondary schools. He is currently taking and completing the 'GAIN -AFREXIMBANK Masterclass On Entrepreneurship and Intra Africa Trade', a Masterclass offered by Grant Africa Initiative, supported by AFREXIM Bank.