TEDxMinna

Speakers

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

• Abdullahi Idris Umar

  Founder, One 17 Capital

  Over the last 10 years, Abdullahi has worked in several capacities across the public and private sector, structuring public private partnership for residential and commercial real estate development, providing operations and project management strategies for business ventures and providing business development and consultancy services. His focus is on strengthening business opportunities and capabilities while providing a strategic road-map to improve success potentials. Mr. Umar has several leadership and management certifications, an MBA from Nottingham Business School UK, and a B.Tech in Mathematics/Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology Minna, Niger State.

• Aisha Falke

  enterprenuer

  Aisha falke is an ideation architect, media strategist, and ecosystem builder who works at the intersection of SMEs, EdTech, media, culture, and identity. She is the Founder of Northern Hibiscus, one of the most influential digital and cultural ecosystems in Northern Nigeria, engaging over one million people across commerce, media, and community. Aisha is also the Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Yushaa, an African SME platform focused on visibility, market access, and trade, and the Founder of Lalitah, a business to government EdTech and skills solution designed to support structured learning, entrepreneurship, and economic participation through public sector collaboration. While working with the Ministry of Education as a Special Adviser on Girl Child Education, she ideated and contributed to the conceptualisation of Luminah 2030, a long term initiative aimed at educating and empowering one million women and girls by the year 2030.

• Aishah N. Ahmad, CFA, OFR

  Global finance and policy leader

  Aishah N. Ahmad, CFA, OFR, is a global finance and policy leader whose work sits at the intersection of financial systems, gender equity, and societal transformation. With nearly 30 years of experience, she curates the Bridgforte Dialogues at UNGA, is Chair of the Graça Machel Trust Expert Leaders’ Group (ELG), and holds the traditional title of Soniya Asusu Nupe—a stewardship role committed to enterprise, community prosperity, and cultural legacy. She was Deputy Governor for Financial System Stability at the Central Bank of Nigeria (2018–2023), where she oversaw landmark reforms in digital finance, financial inclusion, and banking regulation in Africa’s largest economy. Her tenure strengthened Nigeria’s position as a continental leader in financial innovation and saw significant progress in women’s representation in senior banking roles. Prior to her public service, she held senior leadership roles at Stanbic IBTC, part of Standard Bank Group, overseeing private wealth management

• DR Ibraheem Dooba

  Founder, 200 million trees

  ibraheem dooba is a multidisciplinary scholar whose career spans five sectors: computing, journalism, education, agriculture, and finance. His academic journey spans four continents, earning six degrees from world-class institutions, including Harvard University (Multiple Intelligences postgraduate program), Stanford University (Advanced Cybersecurity), and the London School of Journalism (Honours Diploma in Media Law). He holds a PhD in Information Technology from PETRONAS University of Technology, Malaysia’s top private university. Dr. Dooba has served as Chief Press Secretary to a state governor, Chief Data Scientist at RBA, and an Editorial Board Member at Daily Trust, where his column Prof. Brainy has run for 19 years. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Sustainability (JASES), Head of School at Esteem Learning Centre, and Director of Research & Publications at Abuja Pensions School — West Africa’s only pension polytechnic.

• Maryam Maigida

  Freelance painter and Art historian

  Maryam Maigida is a Nigerian visual artist, freelance painter and art historian whose work is deeply rooted in cultural exploration, symbolic storytelling, and surreal visual narratives. Her practice draws heavily from Northern Nigerian traditions, reimagining identity, memory, and womanhood through bold colors, allegory, and architectural symbolism. She currently serves as the president of the Female Artists Association of Nigeria (FEAN) and the Art Ambassador to Nigeria for the Funun Arts Group in Dubai, UAE. Maryam is a graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with a degree in Fine Arts (specializing in Art History), and has since established a thriving full-time studio career with a rapidly growing international presence. Beyond her studio practice, Maigada is known for her mentorship masterclasses, where she trains emerging artists in tchnique, creativity, and professional growth.

• Muhammad Nurudeen Lemu OON

  Director of Research and Training at the Da’wah Institute of Nigeria (DIN)

  Sheikh Nuruddeen Lemu is the Director of Research and Training at the Da’wah Institute of Nigeria (DIN), Islamic Education Trust (IET) in Minna, Nigeria. He develops, facilitates and conducts train-the-trainers courses in enhancing inter-faith dialogue and engagement, intra-faith cooperation, building resilience against various forms of religious extremism among Muslims, and promoting faith-based critical thinking tools for Muslims (“Shari’ah Intelligence”). He is on the board of several organizations including: Lotus Capital (Halal Investments) Limited, Lotus Bank Ltd., the Development Initiative of West Africa (DIWA), the Almajiri Child Rights Initiative (ACRI), ICICE-Al-Noor Academy, a co-founder of the Inter-Faith Activity and Partnership for Peace (IFAPP) and of the Regional Centre of Expertise (RCE) Minna which focuses on education for sustainable development.

• Saadiya Aliyu

  Director/CEO Urban Shelter Ltd .

  Saadiya Aliyu is the Managing Director/CEO Urban Shelter Ltd . Saadiya is an executive management professional, who is results-oriented. She is focused, driven and dynamic with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience. Saadiya has lead Urban Shelter – a real estate development company – through change management since 2015 and repositioned the company to be an industry leader in real estate sector. In addition, she heads the Thematic Group for Housing & Urban Development of NESG; She was the Coordinator for the Technical Working Group, Housing & UD for the MTNDP; she provides governance as a board director in a number of companies including Shelter Suites & Hotels Ltd and North South Power. She is an alumnus of Brunel University and School and Oriental & African Studies, University of London. She is passionate about gender equity.

• Sada Malumfashi

  curator, Hausa International Book and Arts Festival (HIBAF).

  sada Malumfashi is a Nigerian writer, journalist, and cultural curator, known for his works exploring Hausa literature and culture. He founded Open Arts, and curates the Hausa International Book and Arts Festival (HIBAF). He focuses on Northern Nigerian issues, exploring topics around identity, gender, and crisscrossing issues in Hausa literature. He has works published in Transition Magazine, Lolwe, and The Africa Report. He is an alumni of the European Union’s Global Cultural Relations Program (GCRP) where he co-founded RIMA, a platform that empowers emerging creative practitioners from the global south. He is a 2022 arts curator resident at the Al-Balad Arts Residency in the historical district of Jeddah “Al Balad,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site; a 2019 fellow of Reporters Without Borders Germany; 2019 fellow of Arts Omi Residency; and 2018 fellow of the Goethe-Institute/Sylt Foundation African Residency in Germany.

• Sony Otache

  Media personality

  Sony Otache is a renowned media personality, entrepreneur, and multimedia expert with over three decades of experience spanning broadcasting, production, media consulting, and community development across the West African sub-region. Widely respected for his voice, vision, and versatility. He has built a career defined by impact, credibility, and innovation. A seasoned broadcaster, Chief Otache ow the host of the widely followed Oga Landlord Radio Show and Crusaders Radio