In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

THE BIG TENT
98 MARIAN ROAD
CALABAR, Cross River, 540222
Nigeria

Charles O'Tudor

Charles O’Tudor deploys modern strategic and media paradigms in exploring visual and tactile briefs. He invents new brands, products and experiences deploying the cerebral filtration process credited to him. He has a bias and preference for native culture, visual dialects and modernities. Charles serves as the Principal Consultant, ADSTRAT Consortium. He led a team of brand strategists that bided for and won Cross River State's pioneer ‘Out of Home’ media project’, and became Nigeria’s most renowned authority in State Branding after a successful creation, engagement and management of the Cross River State brand for 4 years. He is an alumnus of University of Witwatersrand, Johannhesburg, South Africa.

Chris Ngwodo

Lawyer + Writer + Public Intellectual + Consultant on Governance and Policy Communication.

Chris Ngwodo is a Writer, Lawyer, Speaker, and Public Intellectual. As a consultant on Governance and Policy Communication issues, his work straddles the realms of governmental actors and civil society. He is a blogger and a regular op-ed contributor to various online and print media. He is also a regular consulting analyst on political, socioeconomic, conflict and security issues on a variety of national and international broadcast networks.

Gabe Onah

Theatre Arts Administrator + Carnival Arts Consultant

Gabe Onah is the Chairman of Cross River State Carnival Commission. He holds a master’s degree in Theatre and Media Studies. He has certificates in Tourism with specialization in Tour Guiding Skills and Destination Management from the famous Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) of Jamaica and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Gabe has conducted research on ‘‘Carnival Arts Management and Cultural Diplomacy: The Carnival Calabar Paradigm.’’ He has led and participated in several delegations to Europe, the Caribbean, far East, Eastern Europe, and Exchange and Synergy Marketing sessions for the Cross River State Tourism Initiatives.

Ibim Semenitari

Journalist + Information Management Strategy Specialist.

Ibim Semenitari is a results-driven administrator successful at leading high-performing teams through all phases of projects, from concept development to implementation. She is an Information Management Strategy specialist, award winning journalist/Publisher, accomplished media practitioner and a veteran business/financial intelligence analyst with a rich and active professional engagement profile in national, international and independent sector initiatives or projects. She was the first Nigerian female journalist to win the CNN African Journalist of the year Awards. She also won the Nigeria Media Merit Award twice and the Diamond Award for Media Excellence on three occasions. Ibim is former Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC - Government's agency with mission of facilitating rapid, even and sustainable development of the Niger Delta into a region that is economically prosperous, socially stable, ecologically regenerative and politically peaceful.

James Okina

Social Entrepreneur and Child Rights Advocate

James Okina founded Street Priests Inc. in 2014 to tackle the societal challenge of street children. Having lived on the streets in 2007 when his parents separated, he turned to gangsterism. Street Priests has been a beacon of hope in the cosmopolitan areas they have served by not just transforming the lives of thousands of street/indigent children, but also reducing the rate of petty crimes by over 75%. They have reached over 3,000 children, taken 316 children off the streets, and funded 215 children back to school through their scholarship scheme. In 2015 at age 14, he was awarded the Young Emerging Leader of the year by ‘‘Leader’s Den Foundation.’’ He's received ‘‘Future Africa Leader’s Award’’ awarded to individuals driving change on the African Continent. He was announced as one of 30 ‘‘Global Teen Leaders’’ from around the world. He was honored by his State government as one of ‘‘50 Young Leaders to Watch’’ in the next 50 years.

Judith Okonkwo

Futurist + Virtual Reality Evangelist + Business Psychologist

Judith Okonkwo is a Business Psychologist, Futurist, and Founder + CEO of Imisi3D - Nigeria’s first Virtual Reality Creation Lab dedicated to growing a community of Virtual Reality developers in Nigeria and providing educational as well as engagement experiences with Virtual Reality. Judith is Organization Development Consultant with experience working in Africa, Asia and Europe. She sits on the Board of the European Organization Design Forum, and currently advises start-ups, not-for-profits, and SMEs. She is a guest lecturer at the Lagos Business School and the University of Westminster. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society.

Musheer Alambath

Blockchain Technology Adviser + Global Finance Executive

Musheer Alambath is the United States Regional Campaign Leader for Blockchain with Ernst &Young. He’s a Sloan Fellow, Stanford MSx Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business. A global finance executive, he has worked on banking sector projects across four continents. In his role as Vice President, Group Audit at National Bank of Abu Dhabi, he managed global teams across the network which extends to 18 countries over 150 locations. He has experience working on assignments in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Middle East. His travel to over 26 countries has helped him develop an appreciation for the cultures and social norms across the globe.

Onofiok Luke

Lawyer and Law-maker

Onofiok Luke, ESQ, obtained a bachelor's degree in Law from the University of Uyo, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2010 upon graduation from the Nigerian Law School same year. He later proceeded to the University of Calabar for a master’s degree in Telecommunications Law. In 2009, Barr Onofiok Luke was nominated to the Nigeria Youth Parliament where he was elected to serve for two years as the pioneer Speaker of the 109-member youth parliament. He won the 2011 house of assembly election by a landslide to represent the people of Nsit Ubium state constituency in the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly. He was re-elected for a second term in 2015. In December 2015, members of the 6th assembly unanimously elected him the 11th Speaker of the Akwa Ibom state House of Assembly. He's a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures of Nigeria, 2010 Fellow of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI).

Richards Akonam

Career Missionary + Girl Rights Advocate

Richards Akonam is a Pioneer Missionary and works among the Utanga (Cross River State, Nigeria) and Becheve tribes (Benue State, Cross River State – Nigeria, and Republic of Cameroon) respectively. He’s the Director of Missions at Faithhouse Missions, as well as Director, Richgrace Foundation. Richards has led Faithhouse Missions for 25 years, advocating strongly against the practice of ‘Money Marriage’ among the Becheve tribes. His work has given succor to indigent children and has redeemed and empowered many girls who once were sold into slavery through ‘Money Marriage’. He’s an author and song writer. He holds, among other certificates, a degree in Guidance and Counseling.