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).

Dunes Center
33 Aguiyi Ironsi St
Abuja, Abuja Federal Capital Territory, 900271
Nigeria

Adetola Onayemi

Tola Onayemi is an international lawyer with expertise in international trade, investment, transactions, technology and competition policy. He is currently working closely with the global law firm, King & Spalding, on developing a trade remedy infrastructure to safeguard the Nigerian economy from unfair international trade practices. He has provided legal advisory services to technology companies in West Africa, Europe, and North America.

Alkasim Abdulkadir

Alkasim is a Communications Specialist who currently works as the Head of Media and Communications at Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative. He has also worked as a content producer for BBC Media Action and covered stories for CNN International and BBC World Service. He also worked as a news analyst and media fixer for Aljazeera and CCTV. He won the 2012 Future Awards for Excellence in Journalism Award for his work on security and conflicts.

Ayisha Osori

Ayisha Osori has over 18 years experience in the public and private sectors including work with the World Bank, UNICEF, National Democratic Institute and Department of International Development on projects related to good governance, gender equality, women’s economic and political participation and ending violence against women. She is also a published writer. Her latest book, Love Does Not Win Elections, about her experience contesting the PDP primaries in 2014 was recently released to much acclaim.

Bishop Matthew Kukah

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah is the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria. Bishop Kukah was born on August 31, 1952 in Anchuna, Ikulu Chiefdom in Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State. Kukah received his primary education at St. Fidelis Primary School, Zagom, then St. Joseph Minor Seminary, Zaria, before proceeding to St. Augustine Major Seminary Jos, Plateau State, where he studied Philosophy and Theology. Kukah was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 19, 1976. Bishop M H Kukah also attended the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a diploma in Religious Studies. Kukah also received the Bachelor of Divinity at the Pontifical Urban University, Rome in 1976, followed by a Master’s degree in Peace Studies, at the University of Bradford, United Kingdom in 1980. Kukah’s academic pursuits culminated with a PhD from University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in 1990. Between 1999 and 2001 he served as a member of the Nigerian Investigation Commission of Human Rights Violations. In addition to his work as a parish priest of Saint Andrews’s parish in Kakuri, Kaduna from 2004 until his nomination as bishop, he was secretary of the National Political Reform Conference (2005) and from 2005 onwards he has been serving as the chairman of the Ogoni-Shell Reconciliation. Additionally, between 2007 and 2009 he worked also in the committee for electoral reform set up by the Nigerian government

Dr Amina Abubakar Bello

Dr. Amina Abubakar Bello is the First Lady of Niger State and a practicing OB/GYN. She is also the founder of RAISE Foundation a none profit that focuses on the improvement of Maternal and Child Health. Despite her official functions as First Lady, Dr. Amina still carries out free VVF surgeries on women from vulnerable communities in General Hospitals across the state. This has raised awareness on VVF and has encouraged those suffering from the condition to come forward for treatment.

Dr Fatima Akilu

Dr. Fatima Akilu is the Executive Director of NEEM Foundation and heads its Psychosocial Services. She is a trained psychologist with over 20 years experience in the field of mental health and psychology. She has taught and authored research papers relating to homelessness, ethnicity and its relationship with mental health. Dr. Akilu was the Head of Communication to the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Nigerian President on Millennium Development Goals and until 2015, she pioneered Nigeria’s Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) programme as the Director for Behavioural Analysis and Strategic Communications at the Office of the National Security Adviser; a position she held for 3 years.

Fatima Yetcha

Fatima Yetcha Ajimi Badu is from Borno state. She is a photographer and one of the drivers of the #UntoldStoriesOfTheNorthEast online photo campaign. Fatima is also a program Manager for Youth Network for Revival and Empowerment (You-Net), a local NGO that aims at promoting social Justice and creating opportunities for young people.

Gloria Emmanuel

Gloria Emmanuel is a writer and news reporter. She is a Fellow of NESIF, a project aimed at countering extremism in northeastern Nigeria sponsored by USAID - NERI. She has worked at NTA Jalingo as a news reporter for 3 years. Gloria is passionate about adding value to the causes closest to her. That has informed her use of the media to change incomplete narratives while advocating for tolerance, diversity, resilience in the face of extremism.

Jude Abaga (M.I)

Jude Abaga also known as M.I, is a Nigerian Hip Hop Artist, lyricist, producer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and record label executive. He’s won numerous awards including the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009 and was nominated at the BET 2010 Awards in the Best International Act Category, most recently he won the Best Rap Album and Lyricist on a roll at the just concluded Headies award. He is signed to Chocolate City record label where he is currently the CEO of Chocolate City Music.

Kingsley Moghalu

Kingsley Moghalu is a global leader who has made contributions to the stability, progress and wealth of nations, societies and individuals across such domains as academia, economic policy, banking and finance, entrepreneurship, law, and diplomacy. He is the author of several books, and his latest ‘Build, Innovate, Grow’ lays down a detailed blueprint for his goal to restore Nigeria. He is the Founder & CEO of Sogato Strategies LLC, and previously worked for the United Nations for 17 years, leading successful work in national reconciliation and nation-building in fractured societies, risk management and management reform in the UN, and raising billions of dollars for social investments in developing countries by The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Geneva. He returned to Nigeria and was deputy governor at the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 – 2014, leading a team that stabilized the banking industry after the 2008 global financial crisis. In 2015, he returned to the US to become a Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University from 2015 – 2017. Kingsley was educated at the London School of Economics and Political Science (Ph.D., M.Phil.), The Fletcher School at Tufts University (M.A.), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (LL.B.), and the Institute of Risk Management in London, UK. He has completed executive leadership programs in economic transformation, macroeconomic management, global leadership, corporate governance, and strategy at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Business School, Wharton, Chicago Booth School of Business, and the International Monetary Fund Institute. A keen philanthropist, Kingsley founded the Isaac Moghalu Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides support for literacy, educational institutions, and access to education for underprivileged children in rural communities in Nigeria. He is also presently President of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation. He is also an international keynote speaker at industry conferences, and a frequent commentator in the global media including CNN, BBC World TV, Bloomberg, and the Financial Times.

Umar Khalifa Yakubu

Umar Khalifa Yakubu is the Founder of Cyberlogik Foundation. He is an Intelligent Systems Engineer with 10 years working experience in Oil & Gas, Banking and IT. He is also the CEO of Najwa Farms and the Technical Assistant to the CIO of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. (NNPC). In 2016, Umar Yakubu was named 1 of 100 Top Arewa Personalities of the year, among other recognitions in the previous years such as FIFA Fairplay Ambassador and Area Youth Empowerment & Enlightenment Initiative Ambassador.

Usman Lawan

Usman is the founder of an eco-friendly farm that focuses on using sustainable farming techniques in its processes. He is also a Mandela Washington Fellow, a Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur and is interested in managing food security challenges in Nigeria & Africa.