ASP Series Speakers
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Ngozi Ngoka
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
- Categories:
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Ngozi Ngoka is the Vice President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) with oversight functions for Nigeria’s South-East States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States. She is a passionate advocate for community tourism as a tool for economic emancipation of rural communities.
She began her professional career at the logistics department of a construction company but soon realized her passion was for people, travel, history and culture. She decided to pursue a career in tourism and consequently proceeded to study for a postgraduate degree in Tourism, Culture and Society at the University of Westminster, UK. She also took professional courses in Creating Attractions, Global Festivals and Events Management.
After working at Choice Holidays and Thomas Cook in the United Kingdom, she returned to Nigeria in 2001 to establish Zigona Travel and Tours Ltd, a travel management company with a niche for bespoke travel experiences and destination events for the upscale market.
Ngozi is well known and recognized on the African continent and internationally for her mentoring work and contributions to the Travel and Tourism Industry. She frequently participates in global tourism trade shows and conferences and has provided tourism advisory services for two State Governments in Nigeria and to South African Tourism.
She is a member of the Nigeria Mirror Committee, set up by the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) to make recommendations for grading and standardization of hotels and tourism facilities in Nigeria. Her previous roles include Director General of the Imo State Tourism Board and Trustee Board Chairperson of the Touristry Consultants Forum. She is also the recipient of The Pyne Awards for Tourism and a judge for the World Travel Market Awards which holds every year in Capetown.
She holds a master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Benin, Nigeria.
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Stephen Newton
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Stephen A. Newton Esq. is Chairman of The Illuminate Africa Group Ltd., a firm assisting businesses in their African expansion goals. Previously the Founder & CEO, he is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience leading businesses and has held various C- level roles within the industry.
During his time at IAG, he served in interim executive roles for biNu where he served as interim CEO. At Universal Music Group Africa, he was interim Chief Operating Officer for Africa amongst others.
An American native, Stephen has spent the last 21 years living and working across LATAM & EMEA developing deep business ties within the regions. During this time Stephen has held various positions and assisted large corporates. He has served as CEO e-commerce Platforms for MIH Internet, a division of Naspers, VP & MD of inMobi Africa, MD of Google South Africa, MD of Google Analytics and Checkout EMEA, VP & MD of the Ad Exchange for DoubleClick EMEA (sold to Google); and GM Hitwise EMEA. (sold to Experian). Stephen has also taken part in two successful exits; Hitwise to Experian and Double Click to Google and has equally assisted in acquisitions and setting companies up for the same. Additionally, Stephen serves as an active senior-level board member of numerous businesses that focus on the African continent.
Stephen resides in South Africa, is married with 3 children, and holds a Juris Doctorate in Law from Loyola Law School Los Angeles, with a focus on Bio-Ethics and the Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French from University of Washington, Seattle. He speaks English, French and is conversant in Spanish, Portuguese, and learning Swahili.
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Eddie Ndichu
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Eddie has been a leader in transforming how financial services are delivered in Kenya and Africa over the last 15 years for some of the largest local and global banks such as Standard Chartered and KCB. He has led multiple mobile money integrations, mobile banking deployments, online banking deployments, and new digital products, as well as launch the first teller less branch and mobile virtual network (MVNO) fully dedicated to financial services. He has also performed the highest digital banking transaction in Africa when climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro to attempt it successfully on a mobile phone.
His most recent posting was the Managing Director for Opera Software, leading deployment of Opera News, Opay and Okash platforms across Africa against the Opera mini browser base of over 150 million users. He has since founded and runs Wapi Pay, the first Africa Asia payment gateway supporting trade and cross border commerce.
Previous to that he spent 10 years in Australia undergoing his education and work experience in developing mobile technology software. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems and Applied Statistics from Murdoc University in Perth Australia and is completing an MBA in technology and Innovation and holds multiple certificates in change and transformation.
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Wangeci Murage
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Wangeci Murage is a digital content media executive with over 20 years experience in broadcast management, business development, content production and project leadership. She is the Founder and Executive Director at Media Pros Africa, where she formulates business strategies that provide innovative media solutions to multiplatform broadcast networks, content providers and distributors across Africa.
Wangeci has been a driving force in the media industry through development of content and channel strategies for Pay TV, Free-To-Air and Online media networks, which have contributed to the growth and development of production and distribution of local content. She is the first Regional Head of MNET East Africa where she set up and managed its operations and played a significant role in the rebranding of the MNET East Africa channel and launch of Africa Magic Swahili on
DSTV. She also managed the development of popular programs including Idols East Africa, Big Brother Africa, Changes, Comedy Cub and The Patricia Show.At Wananchi Programming, (ZUKU TV), Wangeci led the team as the Head of Business Development where she developed strategies that led to the launch of ZUKU Swahili Movies and ZUKU Kids channels through acquisition and production of local content. Programs such as Tales From The Bush Larder, Groove Theory and BAQE on ZUKU Sports received local and international recognition that attracted advertising and sponsorship contributing to revenue growth, in addition to sales in distribution from external media networks such as Fox International Channel and local Free-To-Air TV stations.
Wangeci is a member of the International Emmy Awards and continues to serve as a jury member since 2011. She has also actively participated as juror in the Zanzibar International Film Festival, the Coast Film Festival, Africa Magic Viewer Choice Awards, Riverwood Academy Awards, Machawood Short Film Festival, Lake International Pan African Film Festival, Mashariki Film Festival, International Festival of Cinema and Audiovisual of Burundi, Women in Film Awards, and Kalasha Awards where she also co-directed the first TV and Film Festival. She has coordinated content pitching sessions at DISCOP. Africa in Nairobi and Johannesburg, and held a collaborative production workshop in Côte d’Ivoire. Wangeci has contributed to local and international market forums as a panelist at DISCOP, AfricaCom, East African Film Network, and the Deutsche Wella Global Forum.
Having begun her career as a radio and television producer and presenter on NTV and KTN, Wangeci has extensive knowledge on the broadcast media landscape in Africa and has formed strategic partnerships with local governments and funding institutions in and around East Africa. Being an active member in the media industry, Wangeci also holds membership with the Content Distribution Guild of Kenya and is the Vice Chair of the Pan African Film Consortium Committee.
Wangeci’s passion was also featured on-stage where she acted in several productions at the Phoenix Players Theatre, and appeared in the local films, Dangerous Affair and Project Daddy. She is an alumnus of the University of Cumbria graduating with an MBA in Media Leadership.
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Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu has almost 30 years of an eclectic career spanning enterprise solution architecture, design and software development, marketing communications, digital design, strategy, and change/transformation in private and public sectors. He is the founding Managing Director/CEO of technology solutions provider, InfoGraphics Nigeria the 2-time Microsoft Worldwide Award Partner of the Year, 4-time winner Regional awards, pioneer Microsoft Academic Services Partner responsible for over 300 partners in 7 countries in West Africa, and leading exponent of Enterprise Collaboration solutions in West Africa. He has also worked in Microsoft Corporation as General Manager (Anglophone West Africa) overseeing a 7-country portfolio as a member of the Microsoft EMEA executive management team. He left Microsoft in 2008 to pursue his vision of a borderless Africa as Managing Partner of GrandCentral, a technology strategy consulting and project management firm focussed on critical national information technology infrastructure in Government, Healthcare, Education, Oil & Gas, and Media/Entertainment and Financial Services. He is also the founding Lead Partner in iX Consulting, a boutique Enterprise Development Services firm that nurtures young entrepreneurs in the startup space in the multi-nodal, iX Infinity Hubs.
In these capacities, Chinenye has led strategy, solutions architecting and delivery in Financial Services, Manufacturing, General Services, Retail and Telecommunications in over 40 enterprise software integration projects. With a background of multi-country responsibilities in Africa mainly focused on national technology strategy development and market growth, he has been instrumental in architecting entrepreneurial ecosystems and early stage involvement in startups. His public sector experience is derived from service in the area of government’s reforms across its ministries, parastatals and agencies engaged in over 25 Digital Transformation projects since 1997. He is a pioneer certified Foundation Rainforest Innovation Architect and Member, Board of Trustees, Global Rainforest Makers Network. Notably in conjunction with Cross River State Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria/ National IT Development Agency, his firm conceptualised and developed as anchor investor, Tinapa Knowledge City (TKC), a 10,000 sqm digital knowledge hub serving the West and Central African sub region for the export of software and services.
Chinenye is on the Board of several organisations including BanyanTree Capital Partners Limited, a business process outsourcing and procurement firm, Content and Compliance Monitoring Limited (CCM), Nigeria’s fastest growing media monitoring agency, mobile health insurance pioneer and digital services aggregator, Salt and Einstein Limited, a communications and technology advisory, Open Media Limited, and the revolutionary peer-to-peer communications startup, PlusLife Limited. A Fellow and Deputy President of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), a Council Member of Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), and at various times General Secretary and 2nd Vice-President of the Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON).
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Matias Mariani
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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After graduating from NYU Tisch School of the Arts Matias Mariani worked extensively as a producer in films such as Fish Dreams (Cannes’ Critics Week), Drained (Sundance), Adrift (Cannes Un Certain Regard). In 2014 Matias directed the documentary feature I Touched All Your Stuff, which had its world première at FID Marseille and won Best Editing at the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, as well as being released theatrically both in Brazil and the US, followed by the fiction feature Shine Your Eyes, which had its premiere in the Panorama session of the 2020 Berlinale and was purchased by Netflix for worldwide release on July 2020, earning glowing reviews from The New York Times, Variety and Hollywood Reporter.
As a scriptwriter Matias worked on I Bring it With me (best film at Brasília Film Festival), Pendular (FIPRESCI award at Berlinale 2017) and Shine Your Eyes (Berlinale 2020).
Matias is currently writing and directed Cora, together with Gustavo Rosa Moura, a documentary-narrative hybrid set to be released in 2020.
Watch Shine Your Eyes trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tY_ahX4Jv8
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Sophie Masipa
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Co-Founder and CEO, MwunganoESG
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Audu Maikori
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Audu is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, lawyer and creative industry expert. He is better known as the founder of Chocolate City Group- a media /entertainment company which is comprised of Chocolate City Media (Film,TV and content production), Chocolate City Kenya, CCX (live music space) and Chocolate City Music record label – one of the biggest record labels in Africa – and home to some of Africa’s most talented artistes including Grammy Nominated Femi Kuti, M.I Abaga, Dice Ailes, Ckay, Blaqbonez etc. In March 2019, Chocolate City Group signed a landmark partnership deal with Warner Music Group (one of the biggest record labels in the world) to bring the Warner catalogue to Africa and promote the Chocolate City catalogue and artists across 60 new markets globally.
In 2018, he was invited to join the board of Unanimous Games LLC – a 360 Esports digital company based in New York – that focuses on mobile game development, Esports activations, Content creation , STEM Education and talent management. As Executive Director and Partnerships lead, his portfolio includes companies like Rocnation, BET Networks, PUMA, AfroIsland Initiative and the Government of Barbados.
Born in Kaduna, Nigeria , he attended the prestigious King’s College Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2001. He has served as legal counsel in several corporations including Chief Afe Babalola SAN & Co, Leasing Company of Nigeria (a subsidiary of Bank of Industry), Abuja Markets Management Limited and was Senior Legal consultant with CPCS Transcom International (a Canadian infrastructure advisory firm) where he was lead counsel for major Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE)/World Bank funded projects including the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) reforms, Abuja Rail Mass Transit system and the Lagos Blue Line Rail Mass Transit project.
He is a passionate advocate for social justice and entrepreneurship as the key to economic empowerment. He has served on various entrepreneurial judging panels including – Microsoft’s Passion to Empire, Etisalat Prize for Innovation, She Leads Africa, Chivas The Venture Competition and served as judge on the M.I.T Inclusive Innovation Global competition in 2018 and 2019.
Audu sits on several boards including Recycle Points (a recycling and waste management company), Global Rights Africa (a human rights and advocacy NGO) , Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and is the Chairman of Beat Drone (a drone tech company).
He is an alumnus of the University of Jos, Pan African University, Lagos and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of management, Boston respectively.
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Usher Komugisha
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Usher Komugisha is a Ugandan multimedia sports journalist that has a passion for covering sports majorly in Africa.
She is currently working as a Basketball Writer for FIBA and an African Football Reporter for Soccer Africa, the leading magazine show on the continent airing on SuperSport TV every Thursday night. She is also an analyst on NTV Press Box, voted as the best sports show in Uganda for two years straight – 2018 and 2019.
Playing basketball, rugby, and golf as well as excelling at track and field from a very young age has shaped her journalism journey and propelled her to a deep understanding of reporting about sports and its power to change the narrative about Africa.
A book addict and linguist, who loves to travel, she speaks 18 languages and is currently learning Zulu and Igbo. Last year, she was selected among the Top 100 Most Influential Young Africans and continues to use her platforms to inspire youth on the continent. She is also an activist for Women In Sport.
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Ibrahim Mahama
- January 15, 2021
- Posted by: Michael Umoh
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Ibrahim Mahama (b.1987) in Tamale Ghana is an artist who lives and works in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale, Ghana. He started his practice through his interest in the history of materials and architecture. Failure and delay through specific forms always inform his choice of sites which he believes the works do not only occupy but are also occupied within the works/objects. Residues and points of chaos registered as marks within the forms he selects, they present us alternative perspectives of looking into the materials/Labour conditions of society. Form is important. His work has included objects from jute sacks used to transport commodities to the point of decay and later sewn together with a network of collaborators under specific Labour conditions which is then superimposed on architecture. The politics of the hand and it’s parallel relation with architectural forms become a lot more evident.
His work, a straight line through the carcass of history has also dealt with forms related to the second world war and bacteria life. His work has been included in the 56, 57 and 58 Venice Biennale, documenta 14 Athens and Kassel, Orderly Disorderly, Accra, Images An Age of Our Own Making, Denmark, the island is what the sea surrounds, Valletta 18, Malta and Spectacles Spectations, Kumasi Ghana and Labour of Many at the Norval Foundation, Cape Town, Parliament of Ghosts at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester and currently at the 22nd Sydney Biennale. He finished a year residency with the DAAD in Berlin in 2018. In march 2019 he opened SCCA Tamale, which is an artist run space, built and dedicated to retrospectives of practices which emerged from the 20thcentury. His current interests are using specific architectural forms within history in the formation of spaces inspired by the potentialities and failures of modernity.