SPEAKER’S PROFILE

Chief Emeka Anyaoku

For his exceptional contribution to the struggle for freedom, justice and democracy in South Africa and on the African continent and for persistent efforts to promote the attainment of democracy and good governance on the African continent

Chief Eleazar Chukwuemeka (Emeka) Anyaoku was born on 18 January 1933 in Obosi, Nigeria. Not only is he a chief through line-age, but also through his exceptional leadership skills. His career in leadership spans many decades and institutions, both national and internationally. The promotion of democracy on the African continent has always been his primary focus and an area of concern. His precociousness in leadership showed when he joined the Commonwealth Development Corporation at the tender age of 26, in 1959.

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko

Dr. Olusegun Mimiko was born on October 3, 1954 in Ondo town.

The earliest education of Olusegun Mimiko Known to Nigerian Biography is his Secondary Education. Olusegun Mimiko had his secondary education at St. Joseph’s College, Ondo and Gboluji Grammar School, Ile-Oluji. After his secondary education, Olusegun Mimiko proceeded to Obafemi Awolowo University in 1972 where he studied medicine, and graduated in 1980.

Olusegun Mimiko egaged in the practice of his profession which he did both in Ondo State and Rivers State.

Olusegun Mimiko is the founder of the famous Mona Mediclinic situate in Ondo Town. Olusegun Mimiko served Ondo State as Commissioner of Health and also as Secretary to the State Government.

In the year 2003, he contested for the position of the Governor of Ondo State and lost the election on the platform of Alliance for Democracy. Later in the year 2007, he contested again for Governorship election and won on the platform of Labour Party and was re-elected in 2012.

Kunle Afolayan

The award-winning Nigerian movie star who has a knack for quality works, Kunle Afolayan was born at Ebute Metta in Lagos State on 30 September 1974. An actor, an astute producer and director per excellence, Kunle Afolayann, who hails from Kwara State, is a brother of another popular actor Gabriel Afolayan and son of a veteran Nigerian actor of the 20th century, late Adeyemi Afolayan aka Ade Love. His love for the arts has always been there, just waiting for him to tap into it despite working as a banker after school. Even though Kunle was doing this while acting on the side, he was persistent and felt the urge to go into acting full-time. So he went to the US and enrolled for a course in filmmaking at the New York Film Academy. While a student there, and graduating from the school, the cute Nollywood celebrity has moving forward in the art of quality acting and film production. Little wonder he has featured in a large number of films home and abroad, and has produced and directed a lot more. In addition, he has received numerous accolades for his work, creativity and versatility. Currently the MD/CEO of Goldene Effects Services Limited, Kunle is married to Tolu and the union is blessed with three lovely kids.

Afolayan completed his studies in Accounting and has a certificate in filmmaking from New York Film Academy.

He usually performs the role of a lovestruck village guy.

Breakout Movie including year released: Shaworo Ide (1999)

Popular Movies including year released:

• October 1 (2014)
• Dazzling Mirage (2014)
• Phone Swap (2012)
• The Figurine: Araromire (2009)
• Irapada (2006)

Aisha is a thorough bred diamond woman because she just also happens to be the head of retail banking at Diamond Bank where she is responsible for the bank’s strategic retail products as well as customer segments which includes consumer banking, private wealth management, and direct sales agent network; all of which cater for over 5 million customers. So far, her impact can be described as outstanding.

She is a member and a beneficiary of awards from Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) – which prides itself as ‘the most respected and recognized investment management designation in the world’; and also Chartered Alternative Investment Analysts (CAIA).

Her educational achievements include: an MSc in Finance and Management at Cranfield School of Management (UK), an MBA (Master of Business Administration) in Finance at the University of Lagos; she also holds a graduate degree in Accounting from the University of Abuja. All of these have, indisputably, helped shape and develop her investment and management skills.

Audu Maikori

Audu Maikori (born 13 August 1975, Kaduna) is a Nigerian lawyer and founder/CEO of Chocolate City Entertainment, and is well known in Nigeria as a former Idol series judge. The third of five children, Maikori was born to a Christian family in Kaduna and was raised in Lagos by his parents Adamu Maikori, a renowned lawyer/politician and mother Laiatu, a Princess of the ancient Jaba royal family. He attended Adrao International School and King’s College before obtaining his Law degree from the University of Jos, moving to Abuja for Law school and youth service

In 2001, Maikori and business partner Paul Okeugo formed the Guild of Artistes and Poets – a non-profit arts society aimed at encouraging creativity in Abuja which has held art exhibitions along with collaborations with the French Cultural Academy.

It was through GAP that he met with a range of artistes and started out rendering free legal services to aspiring artists. Two years later, Maikori registered Chocolate City – a record label, recording studio, events consultancy, and artiste management company -with earnings from his bonus quarterly, and enlisted Okeugo and brother Yahaya (who is also co-owner of Maikori’s Chinese restaurant Oriental Express) as directors of the board. The company has numerous artists on its books, including M.I, Jesse Jagz, and Ice Prince, Brymo.

Maikori has received both local and international commendations for his work in developing the youth including being invited to Albania in 2008 to deliver a keynote speech at a seminar organized by the Albania Ministry of Youth and Employment, Minister of culture and British Council.

On 19 March 2011, he was recognized by City People Magazine for his outstanding contribution to the Nigerian music industry.

Nkemdilim Begho 

Nkemdilim Begho is founder and Managing Di­rector of Future Software Resources Limited, an IT solutions provider focused on online solutions, e-learning and IT security. As one of a few Nigerian women in the industry, her success is founded on a passion for driving innovative thinking, building a globally recognized technology brand and setting trends in the Nigerian Technology space.

Respected and recognized as a leader in her industry, Nkem is regularly featured in newspaper and magazine publications and as an expert speaker on ICT in Africa. She’s a recipient of many awards including the Jim Ovia Prize for Software Excel­lence, and the Etisalat Prize for Innovation. She regularly volunteers for mentoring and empowerment programmes often sharing her experiences with young Nigerians and less privileged children.

Nkem embarked on the first stage of her professional career in Germany at the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Psychiatric Research in the department for Statistical Genetics and Proteomics, later working at Affectis Pharmaceuticals AG, Germany before returning to Nigeria. She graduated from the Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) & Technical University Munich (TUM), Germany, where she received a BSc. Hons in Bioinformatics.

Her entrepreneurial journey really started with her company Future Software Resources, which was a business initially incorporated by her father, Chris Uwaje, Nigeria’s foremost IT policy maker, on her behalf with the intention that when she was ready, she would take it over. In 2008, she fulfilled that vision when she not only took over the reins of the company, but rebranded it and refocused it to concentrate on online solutions, e-learning and IT security. She has been at the helm of the business ever since….

Okechukwu Ofili

Okechukwu Ofili wasn’t supposed to become an artist or author and definitely not an entrepreneur. He was not even supposed to graduate Secondary School. Early on in his Educational career, Okechukwu Ofili struggled academically especially with English. And many people and teachers did not give him a chance.

But he proved them wrong. Today, Okechukwu Ofili is a blogger known for his witty illustrations, an author of 4 books including “How Intelligence Kills,” is the founder of the fastest growing mobile book reading app in Africa in okadabooks.com all while holding down a full time job as a Design/Project Engineer at a fortune 500 company.

Ofili utilizes his educational turn around to critically analyze the way we judge/measure intelligence in children. He argues against the school ranking system as an archaic and outdated measure of smartness, and instead believes that each child has their own unique way of learning that many parents and teachers fail to recognize.

It is this belief that pushes him to speak to students at any opportunity about their unique abilities, encouraging them to ignore the negative things that others say and instead find the talent that lies deep inside of them. Ofili’s work has seen him travel across the globe addressing students and teachers about the multi-dimensionality of intelligence, utilizing his colorful sketches and disruptive thinking to drive home his message!

Joy Isi Bewaji

Joy Isi Bewaji joyfully  wears the hat of a publicist, media entrepreneur and author. She is an all round media personality with incredible presence on TV, radio, online and print. Driven by the desire  to make a mark in whatever she does, Joy presently engages in celebrity PR   with the sought after showbiz personalities like Joseph Benjamin, and Tonto Dike  in her portfolio.