TEDxAdo Ekiti

Speakers

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

• Blessing Dada

  Education & Development Practitioner

  Blessing Tunde Dada is an educational development practitioner, social entrepreneur, and digital equity advocate advancing inclusive education through technology. He serves as African Representative and Global Youth Leader on the UNESCO SDG4 Youth and Student Network High-Level Steering Committee. A 2023 Chevening Scholar with an MA in International Education and Development from the University of Sussex, he has led initiatives addressing education access, digital inclusion, and youth empowerment. He is the founder of SARAFACDI and co-founder of GenexTED, and through programs like Back2School and TechUpRuralGirls has reached over 20,000 children and youth.

• Jesudamilare Adesegun-David

  Placemaker | Community Transformation Strategist | Redemptive Enterpreneur

  Jesudamilare “JD” Adesegun-David is a Thought Alchemist and Community Transformation Strategist, and co-founder/CEO of Ennovate Lab, building innovation ecosystems in underserved university communities. Through Qeola and Cognessay, he supports visionary founders and has equipped 10,000+ people with critical and creative thinking skills across Africa. He is also a co-founder of Children That Change the World, a nonprofit advancing inclusive education. JD is a recognized ecosystem builder, mentor, and fellow of multiple global leadership programs.

• Mayowa Lawrence Ekundayo

  Farmer

  Mayowa Lawrence Ekundayo is a development catalyst in the horticulture value chain of Southwest Nigeria. Known as “Farmer Lawrence,” he is a strong advocate for smallholder farmers with expertise in program management and strategy. He is co-founder and COO of PostAgvest Solutions Limited, founder of the Raise A Farmer Initiative (RAFI), and convener of the Speak Agriculture for the Future Economy (SAFE) Summit. He coordinates the 2SCALE Vegetable Syndicate Partnership, supporting over 2,600 farmers and more than 35 agribusiness clusters across the region. Mayowa has served as Nigeria consultant to ECDPM, co-authoring a political economy analysis of Southwest horticulture. Through RAFI, he has trained 200 youths, with a fifth cohort launching in July 2025. He holds a certificate in Food System Transformation from Wageningen University & Research and has spoken at conferences in Nigeria, Rwanda, and the Netherlands.

• Oladele Bello

  Storyteller — Film & Video Art

  Oladele Bello is a multidisciplinary Nigerian artist working across film, video art, photography, poetry, and theatre. Born in Lagos, he earned a B.A. in Theatre and Media Arts from the Federal University Oye-Ekiti in 2022. His work has been exhibited locally and internationally, including at the Russian Museum of Ethnography (Saint Petersburg), Tiwani Contemporary (Lagos), The Project Space (Italy), and Goethe-Institut Lagos. His video piece Ghost was a Jury Pick at the PLURAL+ International Video Festival (Morocco, 2022) and won third place at the GLF Storytelling Competition, Africa. In 2024, he was named 3rd Runner-Up for the Tilga Art Prize (Nigeria). Oladele has served as Media Lead at The QDance Centre, artistic assistant to Qudus Onikeku, and media lead and instructor at The QSchool. He is a fellow of the Imora Arts Intensive, an Associate Producer with Ankara & Black Playhouse, and a founding member of The 104 Collective.

• Oluwaseun Osadola

  Lecturer | Head of Department

  Osadola Oluwaseun Samuel, PhD, is a historian and academic in the Department of History and International Studies at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, Nigeria, where he currently serves as Head of Department. He earned his PhD in History and International Studies from Ekiti State University (2016–2019). His research spans African Studies, Diplomatic History, and War History, with a strong focus on Nigeria’s federalism, secession movements, and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Dr. Osadola has authored multiple scholarly articles and at least two books, widely recognized for their insightful analysis of socio-economic history, development studies, and displaced populations. Actively engaged in global scholarly discourse, he is also an honorary curator at the Aberdeen Museum and Gallery.

• Richard Afahaene

  Product Leader

  Richard Afahaene works at the intersection of people, design, and data, crafting thoughtful solutions rooted in real human needs. A passionate communicator and Toastmasters member, he recently served as Vice President of Public Relations at Oil City Speakers Club, advancing his mission to inspire and connect. He is an alumnus of the BRAVE Redemptive Fellowship, where training in technical mastery, entrepreneurship, and redemptive thinking shapes his creative approach. Richard is also a member of Adullam Nation, a private mentorship community dedicated to raising young men to lead and uplift others. A strong advocate for family, Richard believes societal transformation begins at home. His thought leadership on “Family as a Service” reframes intentional parenting as a contribution to nations. Through design, speaking, and organizing his first youth conference on politics and nation-building, he remains committed to inspiring a generation into greatness.

• Similoluwa Awe

  Lawyer

  Similoluwa Awe is a Lawyer and Youth Development Practitioner with 9 years of experience. She is the founder of Hey! Teens and Twenties, a multi-award winner, and a strong advocate for the UN Agenda 2030. She specializes in legal advisory and compliance for startups and commercial firms, real estate, with interests in Medical Law and Ethics. A passionate writer, she is the author of Writers’ Love Language and Everything Ekiti. Similoluwa has served on several local and international platforms, including the UNFPA Youth Participatory Platform, as an SDGs Champion, and on advisory and innovation networks in the UK and Nigeria. Her awards include recognitions from the Ekiti State Government (2019), Salem Open University (2025), and other notable institutions. Through her projects and volunteering, she has impacted over 6,000 young people, remaining steadfast in her commitment to youth development and national growth.