TEDxBazeUniversity

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Amanda Gorman

  American poet and activist

  Amanda S. C. Gorman is an American poet, activist, and model. Her work focuses on issues of oppression, feminism, race and marginalization, as well as the African diaspora. Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. She published the poetry book The One for Whom Food Is Not Enough in 2015.

• Bola Yusuf

  Human Capital Strategist & Transformation Architect

  Bola Yusuf is the CEO of Tivana Workforce, a company specializing in recruiting and workforce transformation. He designs and implements strategies that help individuals and organisations unlock their full potential, driving personal growth and business excellence. With over fifteen years of experience, Bola has empowered people and businesses through coaching, corporate training, business consulting, and publications. His work has led to lasting transformations, enabling clients to thrive in the workplace and the marketplace. Bola is the author of Africa's number one handbook for exceptional employees - THE PURPLE COW EMPLOYEE. He is a member of Toastmasters International, the World's number one Public Speaking and Leadership Organisation, where he has held several leadership positions.

• Dr. I. Fortune Glavee

  Award Winning Dental Surgeon

  Dr. I. Fortune Glavee is passionate about making a difference and keen on oral health education to help families have healthy teeth, confident smiles and healthy gums. Secondly her other passion is raising awareness about staff well being in the workplace. Hence her mantra of prevention is better than cure! The second mantra is that the staff are the heartbeat of any organisation; Do you agree? Dr I. Fortune Glavee is a Mentor, Teacher, Poet, Content Creator as a result of YouTube accelerator programme, Innovative Dental Surgeon and Author of 3 books. Her philosophy of life is to make a difference which becomes a ripple effect to inspire the next generation.

• Dr. Ahmad Sani Bala

  Medical Doctor and CEO, Vital Aid Medical Foundation

  Dr. Ahmad Sani Bala is a medical doctor in the Department of Family Medicine at the Federal Medical Centre, Abuja. He is a passionate advocate for public health promotion and community-based healthcare delivery. Over the past decade, Dr. Ahmad has actively organized and participated in free medical outreaches targeting hard-to-reach and underserved communities across Northern Nigeria. His unwavering commitment to equitable healthcare access led him to establish the Vital Aid Medical Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on delivering essential medical services to underserved populations, including street children. The foundation has so far reached thousands of beneficiaries. A dynamic public speaker, Dr. Ahmad frequently addresses issues of public health, climate change, and other contemporary global concerns.

• Dr. Cheryl Cooper

  Global Award-Winning Cybersecurity Leader, Author, and United States Navy Veteran

  Dr. Cheryl Cooper is a trailblazing United States Navy Veteran and Doctorate of Computer Science, globally renowned for her transformative leadership in cybersecurity. With nearly three decades of experience, she most recently served as an Information Security Officer for T-Mobile and is the International President for Women in CyberSecurity (WiCYS). She is empowering organizations to cultivate diverse cyber talent and foster a culture of innovation. As the host of the podcast "Ctrl+Alt+Em-Power," Dr. Cooper unlocks the critical intersections of cyber resilience, technology, and inclusion. An accomplished author, Dr. Cooper's most recent book "Breaking the Code: Winning Strategies for Women in Cybersecurity & Tech," launched in 2025. Cooper's mission is clear: "We must see the Black and Brown girl in a world in which she is usually unseen."

• Faith Iyahen

  Leadership Strategist and Team Development Coach

  Faith, a member of the John Maxwel Team, with a passion for leadership development, she empowers teams to unlock their full potential through self-awareness, collaboration, and strategic alignment. Faith believes that when individuals truly understand themselves and their team dynamics, workplace synergy is enhanced, making the pursuit of organisational excellence both seamless and fulfilling. Her journey into leadership and behavioural dynamics began in the corporate sector, where she developed a deep fascination with the intersection of leadership behaviour and team psychology. This curiosity led her on a transformative path of discovery, self-mastery, and impact, which she now channels into coaching, training, and consulting for organizations across various industries. Beyond the corporate sphere, Faith is a Certified Goal Success Life Coach and a Cognitive Behavioral Coach, accredited by the Transformation Academy.

• Fatima Mohammed Habib

  Founder/Executive Director of Advocacy For Human Value Organization

  A passionate humanitarian and social impact leader currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Global Security and Intelligence. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Maiduguri. At the age of 14, I founded the Advocacy for Human Value Foundation (ADH) to improve the lives of Nigeria’s most vulnerable communities by providing essential services such as clean water, healthcare, education, and protection. As a YALI RLC alumna and advocate for sustainable development, she has impacted over 757,000 lives in marginalized communities across Northern Nigeria. My work focuses on combating child sexual exploitation, gender-based violence, and promoting girl child education. I am also actively addressing challenges in displaced communities through initiatives like the Illmu Project, which ensures informal education for girls in IDP camps.

• Her Excellency Hajiya Hafsat Kollere-Buni

  First Lady of Yobe State | Humanitarian Leader | Advocate for Women & Girls | Founder, Ma’aruf Foundation

  Her Excellency Hajiya Hafsat Kollere-Buni is a compassionate humanitarian, gender advocate, and the First Lady of Yobe State, Nigeria. With a solid academic foundation in Political Science, she brings a rare combination of intellect and empathy to her mission of creating inclusive opportunities for women, youth, and underserved populations across Northern Nigeria, especially North-East. She is the visionary Founder of the Ma’aruf Foundation, a platform through which she leads impactful programs in education, women and youth empowerment, health, digital empowerment, and community development. Her recent initiatives include digital literacy and artificial intelligence training for women in Damaturu, the EDULIFT Project that supports secondary school students preparing for WAEC and NECO exams, street children rehabilitation campaigns, and targeted empowerment programs for victims of flood disasters.

• Izuchukwu Ukandu

  Certified Media Consultant

  Izuchukwu Ukandu is a Communications Professional with over a decade of experience spanning corporate communications, public relations, storytelling, journalism, and communications management. Through his training programs, media features, speaking engagements, and mentorship initiatives, Izu has inspired thousands across the globe to embrace the power of storytelling and leverage digital technology to amplify their voices. In his role with the Investigative Team at Al Jazeera, he has made significant contributions to research, internal and external communications, and the production of high-quality reports and profiles for key stakeholders. Beyond journalism, Izu leads the Audacious Media team. He believes that stories are more than words, they are lived experiences that shape perspectives, transform lives, and change the world, one person at a time.

• Khadijah Zakari

  Seasoned Communicator

  A lifelong learner, Khadijah holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, a Post Graduate Diploma in Education from Bayero University Kano, an MBA from Bayero University Kano, an Msc in Management from Nasarawa State University Keffi, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Business Aministration from Nasarawa State University Keffi. Additionally, Khadijah is a member of the Chartered Institute of Mentoring and Coaching Nigeria ( CIMCN ) and a Certified Transformation and Productivity Coach.

• Olusola Sowemimo

  Executive Communications Expert

  Olusola Sowemimo is the Founder of Ope Farms, an organic farm established nearly 12 years ago. A Law graduate from the University of Lagos, she has empowered over 5,000 individuals especially rural and urban women, children and youths through organic farming and economic training. Her work has earned international recognition, including being named one of Africa’s Top 10 Women in Organic Agriculture at BIOFACH in Nuremberg in 2024, with features on BBC, France 24, and she has several awards with multiple from Lagos State.

• Pamela R Haynes FRSA

  Multi-Award Winning Author

  Pamela has over 30 years of experience working in the Criminal Justice System and she has worked in a variety of Probation Officer roles and settings. She became a Practice Development Assessor in 2002 working with Trainee Probation Officers studying on the Bsc Community Justice programme. Pam is a guest lecturer and research fellow at the University of East London and she has previously sat on the Probation Studies examination board at Hertfordshire University. Pam retired from her role as a Senior Probation Officer in 2018. Pam's debut novel Loving The Brothers was published on 8th January 2018. Her second book Loving The Sisters was published on 27th July 2022. On International Women’s Day 2021, Pam launched her Author 2 Author Podcast. She interviews published authors from around the world. Her podcast is sponsored by Dalgety Herbal Teas. Pamela is a multi-award winning Author and was recipient of an Extraordinary Achievers Humanitarian Award in March 2025.