TEDxGombe State University

Speakers

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

• Adamu Usman Garko

  Adamu Usmain Garko is a Nigerian youth leader, civic space defender, and climate mobility advocate working at the intersection of technology, governance, and social justice across Africa and global policy ecosystems. He is the founder of the open knowledge development initiative, a grassroots-to-global organization. implementing internationally funded programs and advancing policy engagement from community to continental and global levels with partnerships including Plan International Nigeria. A three-time individual grantee of the Wikimedia Foundation Garko has led digital literacy and open knowledge initiatives across several communities in Northeastern Nigeria, promoting access to information and youth participation in the digital knowledge ecosystem. He has also supported grant-making and project reporting processes linked to over €10 million in funding from the European Union, benefiting more than 1,000 youth-led initiatives across Africa and other regions. He is an active member of the Open Government Partnership Youth Collective, contributing to global efforts on transparency, open governance, and youth civic engagement.

• Dr. Leah Jalo

  Leah liya Jalo, Ph.D., is a researcher and thought leader working at the intersection of African feminist epistemology, literature, and community transformation. Her work explores gendered silencing and identity. and the current realities of African women, with a focus on challenging limiting narratives and redefining how women are viewed. Dr. Leah Iliya Jalo Blending academic insight with community engagement, she is passionate about reshaping conversations around gender, culture and the pursuit of social change With a voice rooted in both scholarship and lived realities, she challenges audiences to rethink what they have been taught to accept—and to reimagine how women are seen, named, and heard.

• Gambo Hassan Bisau

  Gambo Hassan Bissu is the visionary and executive director of the YouLead360 Development Initiative, Nigeria. He is a transformative leadership development expert with expertise as a writer, consultant, leadership coach, and strategic and critical thinker. In his role as Executive Director, he has led the YouLead360 Development Initiative to remarkable growth, spearheading impactful programs such as the Northeast Gender and Inclusion Summit, Women Innovative Enterprise in Northeast Nigeria (WEIN 360), and the climate resilience project. Through his leadership, the organization has driven transformative change, particularly in the lives of youth, women, and persons living with disabilities. Gambo Hassan Bissu Go to A7T. His influence has extended across the Northeast and Nigeria at large, touching countless lives and fostering sustainable development within communities

• Hon. Karu Simon Elisha

  Hon. Karu Simon Elisha is a purpose-driven Nigerian leader and former member of the House of Representatives, where he represented Kaltungo/Shongom Federal Constituency in Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly. With over two decades of experience in civic engagement, youth development, and governance, he is recognized for building leaders and strengthening institutions. His leadership journey began through the YMCA, where he led programs focused on leadership, democratic participation, and community transformation. As a legislator, he championed education, youth empowerment, and healthcare initiatives, blending grassroots connection with policy-driven representation. An alumnus of the IVLP, he brings a global perspective rooted in integrity, service, and excellence. At TEDxGombeStateUniversity, he will speak on "Minority Is First a Mindset.”

• Rev. Dr. Hyeladi Mshelia

  Rev. Dr. Hyeladi Mshelia is a pastor, farmer, entrepreneur, and legal practitioner serving through Gateway Christian Centre, leading churches, outreaches, conferences, and media while building a vibrant faith community onsite and online. A Bible teacher known for practical insights on life, family, business, and nation building, he is a barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, trained at the University of Maiduguri and Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, with 19 years of post-call experience. He is also a professional negotiator and mediator and holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity from New Covenant College, USA. He convenes the 360 Degrees Conference, Young Ministers Conference, and Conference of Light across Northeast Nigeria. He has authored over 11 books, founded Discovery House publishing, and hosts the daily radio program COMPASS. In 2025, he launched the AITEC Development Initiative, supporting education, IT, and entrepreneurship training for over 70 students.

• Sadiya Yunusa Bello

  Sadiya Yunusa Bello is a first-class graduate of English from Gombe State University. a writer, project manager, and unapologetic youth and gender advocate redefining what empowerment means for the modern African girl. She is an alumna of the Study of the United States Institute (SUS) Exchange Program in Seattle, Washington, and the LEAP Africa Youth Leadership Development Program, where she developed a global, intersectional lens on leadership, social justice, and youth development. Sadiya currently serves as the Human Resources Lead at Future Forward Development Initiative, an NGO focused on youth and women empowerment, where she drives people-centered strategies that strengthen impact and sustainability. Her leadership journey is marked by bold, community-driven work, serving as Project Director for sexual harassment and mental health advocacy initiatives, Co-Director of digital women empowerment and leadership programs, and a Gender Officer in the Students' Community Service Club, where she championed conversations around gender equity and safe spaces for young women. SADIYA YUNUSA BELLO During her university years, she also held executive leadership roles as vice president of the Creative Club, shaping creative expression into a tool for advocacy, dialogue, and social change. At the core of her work is storytelling—not as art alone, but as resistance, healing, and power. She creates spaces where young people, especially girls, are not just heard but understood, equipping them with the emotional intelligence, self-worth, and courage to challenge silence, confront societal limitations, and reclaim their narratives