Speakers
Keynotes
Dr. Rosa Whitaker
Before launching The Whitaker Group (TWG), Rosa Whitaker served as the first ever Assistant U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for Africa in the administrations of Presidents George W. Bush and William J. Clinton. In this capacity, she developed and implemented the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and other bilateral and multilateral trade policy initiatives for Africa. She started the USTR’s Office of African Affairs and was the lead U.S. negotiator for trade agreements with African countries. Before joining USTR, Ms. Whitaker was Senior Trade Adviser to Congressman Charles Rangel. In that position, she was one of the hands-on architects of AGOA and helped develop the Africa Trade and Investment Caucus in Congress. As a career diplomat, she served in Africa and the State Department’s Office of International Energy Policy. She also served as Executive Director of the Washington Office of International Business. She has lectured at National Defense University and at MIT, and previously served as Vice Chair of the US-South Africa Business Council. In 2002, she was named Woman of the Year in International Trade by the Women in International Trade organization. Her other honors include the 2001 Africa-America Institutes Award for Promoting U.S.-Africa Trade Relations and the Annual Achievement Award from the U.S. Association of Importers of Textile and Apparel in 2000. She was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Trade by the Consumers for World Trade in 2003. She holds masters and bachelors degrees from the American University in Washington, D.C. and has completed studies in England and Italy as well as at the U.S. Foreign Service Institute.
Dr. Sarah Omotunde Alade
Dr. Sarah Omotunde Alade, Deputy Governor (Economic Policy), Central Bank of Nigeria attended the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where she obtained a B.Sc (Hons) degree in Economics in 1976. She also obtained an M.Comm degree at the University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia in 1983 and a PhD Management Science (Operations Research), from the University of Ilorin in 1991. Dr. Alade has served on the teams on major economic policy studies, and has been involved in the preparation of Central Bank of Nigeria’s Monetary and Credit Policy Proposals over the years. She was actively involved in the drafting of the Medium Term Economic Programme (MTP) for Nigeria and the IMF staff Monitored Programme/Standby Arrangement. As Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, Dr. Mrs. Alade superintends over the Economic Policy Directorate, comprising the Research, Monetary Policy, Trade and Exchange, and Statistics Departments. As Chair of the Monetary Policy Implementation Committee (MPIC), she interfaces with operational departments and coordinates technical inputs for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).
Panel: Emerging Markets | Africa the Final Frontier
Karl Omatsola
Karl Omatsola is the CEO of Global Insights + Solution. His consulting firm specializes in corporate strategy, leadership development, and cultural transformation. Mr. Omatsola graduated from the University of Ibadan receiving a Bachelors of Science degree with an emphasis in Economics. Mr. Omatsola is also a Howard University alumnus, graduating from the Howard MBA program in 2009. He also attended Harvard Business School’s Strategic Management program increasing the capacity of his executive education in turn increasing his competitiveness in the market place. Mr. Omatsola is no stranger to achieving high levels of professional performance in leadership roles. Throughout his eventful career, he has achieved excellence at every position he held in several capacities. Mr. Omatsola began his consulting career at one of the “big four” accounting firms in the late 90’s. He then moved on to consult for KPMG, where he quickly rose to the position of a Director in their Advisory Services practice. Thereafter, Omatsola served as the VP of Strategy and Business Development at the Intercontinental Bank PLC. Now, Mr. Omatsola is CEO of Global Insights + Solutions; his consulting firm services top tier clientele throughout the United States, London, and West Africa.
Ajibola Fadahunsi
Ajibola Fadahunsi is Vice President of Debt Capital Markets at M&T Bank in Baltimore, Maryland. He has also worked as an investment banker for the bank since 2005. Prior to working at M&T Bank, Mr. Fadahunsi wasa senior analyst for GE Capital and GE Commercial Finance. He received his MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Darmouth.
Adekola Balogun
Adekola Balogun is a former business executive at a well known investment bank in Nigeria, He is a current Executive MBA candidate at the University of Maryland, Smith Business School.
Panel: Analyzing Policies and Regulatory Constraints in the African Business Environment
Oluwatoyin Sanni
Mrs. Oluwatoyin Sanni is a lawyer, chartered secretary and stockbroker with over twenty years experience in Trusteeship, Asset Management and Corporate Finance. Mrs. Sanni holds a Master of Laws, LLM (Hons.) from the University of Lagos. She has attended various courses including the Euro Money School for International Financial Law, Oxford, UK, Investment Banking and Project Finance by Euro Money, Portfolio Management Academy of New York Institute of Finance and the Peter Drucker Strategy Program, RKC, Switzerland. Prior to joining the UBA Group, Mrs. Sanni was Head, Trust Services, First Trustee, and later Managing Director of Cornerstone Trustees Limited. Mrs. Sanni is the President of the Association of Corporate Trustees (ACT).
Ituah Ighodalo
Ituah Ighodalo is an Accountant and a Writer. He obtained a combined honours degree in Economics and accounting in 1982 form the University of Hull, England. He is a Partner at SIAO, a firm of Chartered Accountants. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and of the Chartered Institute of Taxation. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is presently the Editor-in-Chief of TIMELESS Newspaper. Mr. Ituah Ighodalo is also a director of various other companies in construction, hospitality and financial services.
Panel: Media and Entertainment in Africa | A New Investment Horizon
Michelle Bello
Michelle Bello is one of the hottest young filmmakers in the Nollywood film industry today. Hailing from Adamawa State, Bello’s debut movie Small Boy, won two awards at the 2009 African Movie Academy Award (AMAA 2009). The film was also part of the Federal Government delegation to the Israeli Film Festival. Her movie Small Boy tells the riveting tale of a 10-year-old boy who runs away from home to the streets of Lagos because of physical abuse by his parents. This true-to-life story won the awards for Best Art Direction and Best Performance by a Child Actor at the 2009 African Movie Academy Awards. Ms. Bello is a graduate of American University in Washington, D.C. where she earned a degree in Mass Communication, specializing in Visual Media. Michelle Bello is the daughter of respected arts promoter, Mrs. Sylva Bello, of the Masoma Foundation. During the 2007 Abuja Film Festival, Bello launched the ‘Movie Directory,’ containing information about artists, directors, and producers informing Nigerians about the up and coming talents in Nollywood. Bello also has past experience producing music videos, but her true love is film.
Dele Momodu
Dele Momodu is the managing editor of the widely read Ovation magazine. He obtained his undergraduate and master’s degree from the premier Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria. Prior to establishing Ovation magazine, Mr. Momodu spent several years working in the Nigerian media industry. He worked with Premiere Newspaper, and later the African Concord Newspaper where he rose to become an editor. Afterwards, he started a public relations company called Celebrities Goodwill Ltd and quickly acquired several high profile clients including the famed M.K.O Abiola, a highly regarded African entrepreneur, philanthropist and statesman. Mr. Momodu later managed the media campaign during M.K.O Abiola’s run for the Nigerian Presidency. Mr. Momodu’s Ovation magazine is generally regarded as the biggest and best African Celebrity Magazine with a continuously expanding worldwide readership. The magazine has featured numerous prominent celebrities and achievers, ranging from movie stars to presidents of various countries.
Andre Hayes
Andre Hayes is the founder of ARC Communications, which has holdings in the fields of various fields of communications. These include (1) African Renaissance Communications - Founded in 1986 as an international media communications company focused on delivery of clear and positive messages of and about Africa and African Americans. ARC serves as an umbrella holding company, which utilizes print, video and radio to develop and produce media campaigns and communication devices for companies including Africare, Constituency for Africa (CFA), TransAfrica Forum, Black Entertainment Television (BET), Radio One, WorldSpace and NBC just to name a few; (2) World African Network Online (WANO) - Joining efforts with famed African American Media Pioneer, Eugene D. Jackson, Mr. Hayes is the President and CEO of World African Network Online. Under the leadership of Mr. Hayes, WANO formed strategic alliances with notable media companies such as Time Warner, ROad Runner, Cox Communications, Viacom Companies, the Disney Group; (3) One World New Media (OWNM) is immersed in business of acquisition, development, distribution and display of content that inspire hope, contributions of people of African descent. The genres for this media content include film, video, television, and music videos. The company has delivered film screenings in several major markets in the United States including the US Capitol, the Embassy of Republic of South Africa, the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of Ethopia, the Congressional Black Caucus, and many other notable world class institutions.
Panel: Africa’s Place in the Green Revolution | The Future of Oil and Gas
Wale Tinubu
Wale Tinubu is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Oando Plc. He assumed this position in July 2001. Prior, he was Executive Director Finance and Administration at Oando Plc. Upon graduation, Tinubu started his career with the family’s law firm, K.O. Tinubu where he worked on corporate and petroleum law assignments. In 1994, Tinubu became one of the founding partners of Ocean and Oil Group. Whilst at Ocean and Oil, Tinubu was mainly responsible for the strategic expansion of the business. Tinubu has a Bachelor’s of Law Degree from the University of Liverpool, England and received his LLM from the London School of Economics where he specialised in International Finance and Shipping. He is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association. He is the Chairman of Gaslink Nigeria Ltd and Tilca Nigeria and also serves on the Board of Stallion Properties, Oando Plc Sierra Leone, Oando Plc Togo, Oando Plc Ghana, West African Refinery Company (WARCO) Sierra Leone, Ocean and Oil Services, and Econet Wireless Nigeria. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors.
Mobolaji Aluko
Dr. Aluko is a professor of Chemical Engineering at Howard University, Washington DC, Tenured as an associate professor in 1988, he became a full professor in 1994, whereupon he also became Chair of the department. His broad research interests include chemical reaction engineering analysis, information, communications and computer technology applications in engineering, as well as engineering education pedagogy. He received a US patent in coal research in December 2000. Dr. Aluko is president of the Nigerian Democratic Movement (NDM), a US-based pro-democracy movement as well as the US Representative of the United Democratic Front of Nigeria (UDFN), an umbrella pro-democracy movement organization also based in the US. He is a frequent commentator on Nigerian and African Affairs.
Panel: Meeting the Challenge | Start-up Capital for New Business Ventures
Mavi Isibor
Mavi Isibor possesses a top rated Post Graduate Diploma and a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and is an alumnus of The Protocol School of Washington, USA, and a certified etiquette trainer. She is a seasoned banker of great repute, having contributed to the development of Universal Trust Bank in her capacity as the Deputy Manager, Human Resources Management. Over the years, she has used her great wealth of knowledge to transform personalities and she has made impact in the lives of many people who have at one time or the other been connected to her. She is the current Programme Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Poise Nigeria Limited (The Finishing School) – the premier Personality and Image Consultancy in the whole of Africa. She has worked cordially with different prominent Groups, NGOs and Government Institutions, and has been directly involved in dialogue on economic, industrial and people development issues.
Ken Russ
Ken Russ is President and CEO of Los Angeles management, investment & consulting company Preferred Trading International. He has acquired property in several African countries for hotel/resort development and engaged in alternative energy, waste management & market center projects. Mr. Russ is Chief Africa Advisor to the Green Technology Institute in L.A. and Senior Africa Diaspora Consultant to P.A.L.D.I.F. (Pan African Leadership Development Institute & Foundation) in Windhoek, Namibia, member of T.F. Gospel Institute Board of Directors in Paris, France, member of Hotel Masongola Board of Directors in Zomba, Malawi, and served on 1997 Los Angeles MBOC International Trade Sub-committee in association with Office of L.A. Mayor Richard Riordan. Ken Russ lectures at universities on Africa’s image, economics & Diaspora. For his trade & investment efforts, in 2005 he was awarded the Republic of Benin’s highest Medal of Honor and ceremony honoring him in the Republic of Malawi by Malawi Former Minister of Education Caroline Gondwe – 2002. He was made an Honorary Member Chief in the Ivory Coast of the Ebrie (ethnic group) who are the traditional authority over Abidjan – 2000; he was honored by the Namibian Embassy in Washington at the residence of Deputy Ambassador Usko Shivute. Lastly, Mr. Russ is working on a book that will be published by Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles) in association with Tsehai Publishers. One of many notable endorsers for the book includes Howard University’s Dr. Sulyman Nyang.
Isa Odidi
Professor Isa Odidi is a founder and one of the principals of IntelliPharmaCeutics, and serves as Chairman of the Board, ChiefExecutive Officer, Co-Chief Scientific Officer and Chair of Scientific Advisory Board. From 1995 to 1998, Professor Isa Odidi held positions, first as Director, then as Vice President, of Research, Drug Development and New Technologies at Biovail Corporation International (now Biovail Corporation), a drug delivery company. During this time, Professor Odidi developed several blockbuster drugs, including supergenerics of the very difficult to duplicate Adalat CC (Bayer) and Procardia XL (Pfizer). In the pharmaceutical industry, Professor Odidi is highly regarded for his entrepreneurial acumen, something rare for a scientist. Professor Odidi is also a highly respected innovator and inventor with a long history of success. His work has been cited in textbooks and he has published over a hundred scientific and medical papers, articles and textbooks. Prior to 1995, Professor Odidi held senior positions in academia and in the pharmaceutical and health care industries. He currently holds a Chair as Professor of Pharmaceutical Technology at the Toronto Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology in Canada, and is an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Molecular Medicine, California, U.S.A. Professor Isa Odidi received his B.Sc. degree in Pharmacy, from Ahmadu Bello University, and his M.Sc., Pharmaceutical Technology and Ph.D Pharmaceutics degrees from the University of London, England. Professor Odidi is a graduate of the highly regarded Western Executive Management Program at the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. He is also a member of University of Toronto, Rotman’s School of Business Class of 2001.
Alicia Polak
Alicia Danielle Polak is a social entrepreneur whose credentials include leaving a high paying job with a successful Wall Street firm to launch a cookie company in the town of Khayelitsha outside of Capetown, South Africa. In two years the company grew from one worker to ten and supplied brownies and cookies to high-end hotels, restaurants and cafes throughout South Africa. Today, the home of The Khaya Cookie Company is located deep in the winelands of western South Africa where it produces its range of cookies for the export market. As a result of the company more jobs, job skills training, and opportunities for men and women are being created. Today, Khaya Cookies can be found in Whole Foods and are sold across the United States. Ms. Polak created a forward-thinking business model that allowed her to fulfill a personal commitment to better the lives of the residents in her adopted home of South Africa. For every 1,500 boxes of cookies sold, one new job is created in South Africa. In the United States, for every 500 orders placed, four new jobs are created at their Philadelphia, PA Distribution Center. Ms. Polak and her work have been featured in CNN Headline News “Small & Global” and in publications such as The Financial Times, Glamour (South Africa), O, the Oprah Magazine (South Africa), and Business 2.0. She received the Food Network Awards 2007 Edible Entrepreneur of the Year award for her “passionate pursuit of bright ideas.”
