TEDxDugbe

Speakers

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

• 'Sola Fagorusi

  Executive Director, Onelife Initiative

  'Sola Fagorusi is the Executive Director of Onelife Initiative, a youth-serving NGO connecting young people with resources to build a resilient society. The organization’s focus spans Governance, Agribusiness, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and Inclusive Education. A seasoned development professional, 'Sola has led 14 multi-year youth programs integrating gender perspectives. He earned his first degree at Obafemi Awolowo University, holds a master's in Development Communication, and is pursuing a PhD in Public Policy. A skilled facilitator, he has consulted for major international organizations, including UNICEF, UNFPA, and the African Union Commission. Dedicated to public policies that prioritize vulnerable populations, 'Sola leverages evidence-based research and last-mile media tools—like radio and digital platforms—to drive impactful change. Recognized globally for his work, he is a designated Malala Fund Education Champion advocating for gender inclusivity and equity.

• Aderonke Sakpere

  Founder, Tech Girls Club

  Aderonke Sakpere is a computer scientist with an interest in building technologies that address developmental challenges and foster inclusive education in technology. She is a lecturer at the University of Ibadan and is the founder of the Tech Girls Club, an initiative that empowers young girls to explore and thrive in the world of technology. Aderonke is a recipient of several prestigious awards and fellowships, including the Google ExploreCSR Research Grant, TechWomen Fellowship, MIT Empowering the Teachers Fellowship, recognition as a Selected Young Scientist by the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and one of the Top 200 Young Researchers by the Heidelberg Laureate Foundation, among others.

• Ahmeed Etti-Balogun

  Poet & Spoken Word Performer

  Ahmeed Oluwadara Etti-Balogun, known on stage as The Poet On Fire, is a performance poet whose words ignite audiences with depth and energy. He has graced platforms such as TEDxAkure, Fadaka Fest, and the CityJS International Tech Conference, championing poetry as art in its rawest and most powerful form. A final-year Computer Engineering student at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Ahmeed bridges the worlds of science and art, inspiring creative expression within a technical environment. As Project Director of the Poetry and Literacy Society (PALS), he has helped expand the organization from its FUTA origins into a multi-state Pan-African movement. Through live performances and digital engagement, he continues to influence a wide and diverse audience.

• Claire Lavielle

  Former Economic Officer, French Embassy of Nigeria

  Claire Lavielle is a former Economic Officer at the French Embassy in Nigeria, where she fostered innovation and economic partnerships between France and Nigeria. With a background in Management and Political Science, and training in data science, she works at the intersection of policy, technology, and creativity. Her journey from China to Niger and now Nigeria has shaped her belief in collaboration across cultures and sectors. Actively engaged in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, she visits innovation hubs, supports startups, and speaks at regional events. As Community Lead of French Tech Lagos, she connects entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators committed to using technology for positive change.

• Femi Aiki

  CEO/Co-founder, Foodlocker

  Femi Aiki is the Co-Founder and CEO of Foodlocker, an innovative AgricTech company based in Ibadan, Nigeria. Femi is an accomplished engineer and entrepreneur with a global perspective, holding multiple Master’s degrees from institutions like Imperial College London and ESADE Business School. His background includes working with major international corporations like Amazon in the UK and in complex engineering projects in the Middle East. He is currently transitioning his expertise to solve real-world problems in Africa's food value chain. Under his leadership, Foodlocker leverages technology to efficiently connect smallholder farmers with large buyers, helping to address supply chain gaps and improve market access. Femi's insights on e-commerce, scalable business models, and the intersection of technology and agriculture are invaluable.

• Francis Egbokhare

  Author, Cultural Critic, and Professor of Linguistics

  Professor Francis Egbokhare is a distinguished Nigerian academic and Professor of Linguistics at the University of Ibadan. He became one of the university’s youngest full professors at 37. He is a leading figure in African linguistics, and he is best known for his pioneering work on the Emai language, co-authoring its grammar, dictionary, and collections of oral traditions. Beyond academia, Professor Egbokhare has served as Director of the University’s Distance Learning Centre, where he led major reforms, and as President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL). A respected public intellectual, he writes the thought-provoking column “Preying Mantis,” offering incisive commentary on education, governance, and ethics. Professor Francis is also a poet and cultural commentator; his recent anthology Echoes and Chimes highlights his deep engagement with language, identity, and the postcolonial Nigerian experience.

• Michael Oluwole

  Entrepreneur | Co-founder/COO, Touch & Pay Technologies

  Michael Oluwole is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Touch and Pay Technologies (TAP), a pioneering Nigerian fintech revolutionizing micro-transactions across Africa’s informal economy. Through TAP’s contactless “Cowry Card” and other digital solutions, the company has made it possible for millions of commuters and vendors to make secure, cashless payments in sectors often excluded from digital finance. Trained as a Mechanical Engineer, Michael combines technical expertise with strategic insight to drive innovation and financial inclusion. His leadership at TAP has earned the company recognition from Y Combinator and other global accelerators for its role in expanding access to digital payments. Passionate about solving local problems with scalable technology, Michael continues to champion conversations around Africa’s fintech growth, inclusive innovation, and the power of youth-led entrepreneurship.

• Olamide Alao-Akala

  Entrepreneur & Investor. Chair of UMéRA.

  Olamide Subulade Alao-Akala is a dynamic Nigerian entrepreneur, author, and speaker also known as "Mrspreneur." Olamide is the CEO of the Conglomerates UMéRA Farms, a major agritourism enterprise, and the founder of the UMéRA Business School, where she focuses on raising the next generation of leaders. She is a dedicated advocate for empowerment, notably through her "The CEO Women" program, which transforms rural women into entrepreneurs. A John Maxwell Certified consultant, Olamide is passionate about linking purpose with prosperity, and she brings a powerful blend of agricultural innovation, leadership insight, and business acumen to the stage. She is currently pursuing her PhD in International Agribusiness, demonstrating her continuous quest for knowledge and excellence.

• Opeyemi Akindele

  Entrepreneur & Healthcare Access Innovator

  Akindele Opeyemi is an entrepreneur, author, and management consultant, transforming how healthcare reaches people. His journey began with Instapharm Healthcare, a company he founded to redefine retail and community pharmacy in Nigeria. From that foundation of innovation in patient-centered service, he built FirstTesta and Global Masters Institute, two groundbreaking ventures where he pioneered a system to improve diagnostics accuracy in community settings while extend healthcare beyond hospital walls by equipping professionals across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and North America with future-ready skills. As the author of Clinical Intelligence: Point of Care Testing Protocol for Primary Care Professionals, Akindele has championed diagnostic accuracy and the integration of point-of-care testing into primary care systems. His work bridges technology, training, and access, proving that innovation guided by empathy can heal systems as much as it heals people.

• Temitope Farombi

  Neurologist. Founder, Online Health Company

  Dr. Temitope Farombi is a highly respected Consultant Neurologist and an Atlantic Fellow for the Global Brain Health Institute. She is a Consultant Neurologist at the prestigious University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and her work is a brilliant blend of clinical medicine and social innovation. Temitope recognizes that healthcare access is a critical challenge, and so she founded two major initiatives: the health-tech startup, Ohealth, which uses telemedicine to bring specialist care to underserved communities, and the Brain Health Initiative Nigeria (BHIN), a non-profit actively fighting the stigma around conditions like dementia. She is driven by the conviction that innovation, not just infrastructure, will solve Africa’s health challenges, and that women must lead the charge.