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Elkanemi Hall University of Maiduguri
Elkanemi Hall University of Maiduguri
Bama road, Maiduguri
Maiduguri, Borno, 600230
Nigeria

Abdulhamid Al Gazali

Abdulhamid Al Gazali is a historian and journalist, currently leading and serving as the editor-in-chief of Yerwa Express News, a regional newspaper founded by himself and a few others in the North East of Nigeria five years ago. The paper was established from the ashes of war, the Boko Haram insurgency, and is currently hosted online on www.yen.ng. Abdulhamid majored in History, at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, where he graduated as the best student in the Faculty of Arts (in History and Museology). His academic interest, in now pursuing higher degrees, is state formation and the peopling of the Lake Chad Region. He has been practicing journalism for 11 years now, which he first started out of passion and then later to support the final stages of his studies as an undergraduate. He now teaches the History of Philosophy in the newly established Borno State University as a volunteer. Abdulhamid is also an entrepreneur, with business interest in media, agriculture and real estates, among others.

Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman

Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman is a passionate development expert, an academic and a climate advocate. He seats as the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Centre for Social Cohesion Peace and Empowerment (CENSCOPE) and the Managing Director, Quinstone International Limited. He has worked in numerous capacities as State Coordinator for Search for Common Ground and Program Manager of the Nigerian Lake Basin Program (NLCB), a United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Office of the Transition Initiatives (OTI) funded program. He also served as consultant and capacity building expert to numerous national and International organisations. Mr. Abubakar is a recipient of numerous prestigious awards and merits, and currently serves as the Director of Administration of the Network of Civil Society Organisations. In a bid to curb the menace of climate change on the planet, he is leading a voluntary tree planting campaign in the region which envisions a peaceful society through climate responsible civic engagement.

Ahmad Modibbo

Ahmad Modibbo is a multi-published Electrical/Electronic Engineer with research, design, development and fabrication experience, utilising problem solving and analytical skills to further strategic corporate vision, eager to learn and take new skills to the next level.He has an in-depth awareness of international standards required in design, assesses environmental impacts of products and application to integration of design ideas. Ahmad has vast and diverse experience across various aspects of Electrical/Electronic Engineering; Electric Power, Telecommunications, Control systems and Aerospace. In 2009, he joined the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), Nigeria and posted to the Centre for Satellite Technology Development (CSTD) Abuja.As an Engineer with the CSTD, he demonstrated key problem solving skills, hands-on design, and resourcefulness. He employed Engineering project management skills to deliver projects from concept through manufacturing. His outstanding performance saw him rise through the ranks to the position of Principal Engineer. He is currently with the Office of the Vice-President under the Office of Innovation and serves as the Founder of the Northeast Humanitarian Innovation Hub, Yola. At the Northeast Innovation Hub, he leads a team of young, dynamic, and creative game-changers working towards fostering collaboration across public, private and social sectors serving as catalyst for social impact and sustainable development; bringing together IDP’s CSO’s Humanitarian/development actors, public/private sectors and the academia with the shared goal of scaling effective, efficient, sustainable and ethical solutions to the challenges faced in Northeast Nigeria. In line with Ahmad’s passion for learning, he gives back to the community by offering pro-bono tutorials to students in his spare time.

Aisha Zannah Mustapha

Aisha Zannah is an inspiring young activist from Maiduguri, the largest city in Borno, Nigeria and the birthplace of the Boko haram insurgency. Aisha began her advocacy work at the young age of eight when she participated in the European Union Gender Equality competition back in 2008 and was a runner-up. Soon after she would go on to participate in and win another competition, this time on climate change called the Mangrove Action Project. She was also nominated for the 2016 Kids Rights peace prize award celebrating the achievements of children who are trying to change and impact the world in a positive way. Aisha has been a passionate advocate for girl’s education for many years now and has become a powerful voice on the subject.

Dr. Zaynab M. Chellube

Dr. Zaynab Muhammad Chellube was born in the mid eighty’s. She is presently a senior lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. She received her BSc Chemistry and MSc Analytical Chemistry from University of Maiduguri before eventually becoming a Chemistry lecturer at the same institution. After that she obtained her PhD Analytical Chemistry from the same institution. She is dedicated both in the area of research and teaching. She has published several articles in peer review journals. Her research interest covers several areas of environmental pollution. Aside her lecturing profession she is also a humanitarian, coming from the North East (Borno) which has been greatly affected by insurgency for over a decade now, she is actively engaged in promoting human welfare and social reforms without any prejudice. She was a lead researcher recently on Silence against Gender Based Violence. She resides in Maiduguri with her husband and four children.

Farida Yahya

Farida Yahya is the founder of The Brief Academy, a social entrepreneur, a published author and an active citizen, committed to building and empowering local communities through enterprise development. While working as a Program Coach with Future Females Empowerment initiative under the UK Aid-funded business school program, she helped improve the business model and team building strategy of early stage, female owned, tech-enabled businesses in Nigeria by guiding them through the business school's concierge curriculum. Over the past six years, Farida has impacted over 800 women and 200 startups. She does this by providing a sustainable digital learning experience that enables female founders from underserved communities to build scalable businesses, fulfill their potential and lead happy lives. Farida has a background in Biochemistry and business development with over ten years working experience. Farida volunteers as a career mentor for several groups including; skills outside school foundation, Northbridge foundation, YALI RLC and the US State department’s ECA funded AWE program.

Godbless Otubure

Godbless Otubure is the Global President ReadyToLeadAfrica NotTooYoungToRun Lagos State Coordinator and Former Vice President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria. Godbless Otubure is also the creator of the #KeepersOfDemocracy Initiative by ReadyToLeadAfrica and the convener of the first of it's kind Youth Peace Accord known as the Youth Against Electoral Violence Accord (YAEVA) which has been signed by candidates in three different Gubernatorial Elections across Nigeria so far namely, Lagos, Edo and Ondo states respectively. Godbless Otubure was recently appointed as a Global Advisory Board Member of the Presidential Precinct USA to promote US African engagement with focus on next generation political and economy leaders. Godbless holds a BSc in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Benin Nigeria and is an Alumnus of the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary USA where he undertook Leadership Development Programs. Godbless Otubure was part of the Joe Biden/Harris African Diaspora Campaign team in the last US presidential election and has monitored elections in Liberia and Ghana respectively. Godbless leads a 36 states chapters movement called the ReadyToLeadAfrica Movement made up of youths and upwardly mobile professionals. The ReadyToLeadAfrica Movement also has a rapidly growing country level chapters in Ghana, Liberia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, USA and Canada. Godbless Otubure is s also a trained project management expert with certification on Prince 2 and PMP models. Godbless Otubure also serve as a consultant to a public and private sector management and branding consulting outfit called State Knights where he supports businesses and individuals to further causes that matter

Hamzat Lawal

Hamzat Lawal is an activist who has successfully led grassroots campaigns in over 40 African countries with over 15 years’ experience in the non-profit sector and specializes in practical issues associated with Climate Change, Open Data, advocacy campaigns and development policies as it affects rural and deprived grassroots communities. He is also the Founder of Follow The Money, the largest Pan-African grassroots data-driven movement and leads a team of technology and innovation-driven campaigners to amplify the voices of marginalized grassroots communities in promoting accountability as it affects utilization of public funds focusing on specific communities across Africa. His Follow The Money initiative emerged winner of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Mobilizer 2019 Award, at the Bonn SDG Global Festival of Action, Germany. He is currently the Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE), under his leadership in 2017, CODE won the ONE Africa Award which recognizes, rewards, and advances the exceptional work of Africa based organizations; dedicated to helping the continent achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also, CODE won The Council of Europe Democracy Innovation Award which recognizes Follow The Money as one of the leading ground- breaking initiatives in the world that are promoting democratic principles. Hamzat was recently appointed on Beyoncé’s BeyGood Global Citizen Fellowship as an Advisory Board Member. He was also recognized amongst the 100 most influential Africans in 2019, joining the ranks of Amina J Mohammed, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Aliko Dangote. In 2018 & 2019, he was listed as one of the world’s 100 most influential people in digital government by Apolitical. He is currently leading a global education campaign to accelerate girl’s’ education and ending girl-child marriages starting with the Northeast in Nigeria as a Malala Fund Education Champion

N. Shuraim Abdulmumin

Shuraim is the Executive Producer and host of a TV talk show, WithShuraim, which is Africa's first global Spiritual and lifestyle Show and Also the Founder of Did You Know Studios. Shuraim makes spirituality and ethical lifestyle digestible and beloved to people of all ages through his productions. Shuraim has hosted influential personalities with broad experience from all over Nigeria and beyond , the likes of Mufti Ismail Menk (Zimbabwe), Ustadha Maryam Lemu (Nigeria) Dr Bilal Philips (Qatar), Dr Salma Ibrahim Anas (Nigeria) , Dr Muhammad Salah (USA) Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman (Nigeria),, Dr Jabir Mai Hula (Nigeria), Sheikh Saeed Rageah (Canada), Sheikh Assim Alhakeem (Saudi Arabia),Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, Sheikh Saad Tasleem (USA) and lots more. His show is featured on some of the largest TV station worldwide, the likes of DSTV, STARTIMES, GOTV, AMOS- 17, AZERSPACE-2, TSTV and NIGCOMSAT. Shuraim, born and raised in Nigeria, is highly in tune with today’s youth struggles and pressures, while his primary message is to empower youth to unleash their innermost potential and be comfortable with their own personal identities. Due to his contributions in 2017 Shuraim was invited to perform Pilgrimage as guest of the King of Saudi Arabia who is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque, King Salman Ibn Abdul-Aziz Al Saud. He is currently a Consultant for TAIF Digital Institute of finance (UAE Dubai), He is also an Ambassador to Spine and Label Bookshop and Marquise Concierge Travel Agency. Shuraim completed a degree in Islamic Theological Sciences from the prestigious Al-Hikmah University. He later went on to complete several Certificate Courses in the following; Essential Management Skills from the International Business Management Institute (Berlin, Germany), Terrorism and Security Studies from the Roman Institute for International Studies and also a Masterclass on Digital Marketing.

Ummi A. Yakubu

A multimedia developer by training, Ummi is the Creative Director at Griot Studios. She has worked on non-fictional narratives including ‘Gender & Urban Poverty’, a video series advocating for the rights of women and girls in the settlements surrounding the FCT, ‘Silent Tears’, a documentary on Gender Based Violence in the FCT and ‘Uprooted’, a documentary that sheds light on changing gender norms and cultural practices as a result of the Boko-Haram conflict. She is the Executive Producer of ‘4th Republic’ a political thriller that addresses the importance of a strong and fair judiciary in a democracy, which is on both Netflix & Amazon Prime. As a game designer, her work includes motion sensor games used for tourism and medical rehabilitation, web based games used for advocacy on the impact of healthy eating and mobile games used for children’s education and emphasizing citizen’s role in civic engagement. Ummi holds a first degree in Interactive Multimedia & Design from Carleton University and a Master’s in Social Psychology from the University of Surrey.

Ummi Bukar

Ummi is a gender rights activist and film maker who specializes in media for development, Ummi has many years of experience working in the development sector specializing in participatory development. She has been involved in the conceptualization design and implementation of several participatory Development and advocacy projects. Her core area of expertise is media advocacy and gender mainstreaming in the media, she strongly believes in providing a platform for direct voices especially for the underrepresented in the society to this end most of her projects target rural and urban poor communities, as well as capacity building and advocacy projects for journalists in Nigeria. Ummi is the founder and Programmes Director of PAGED Initiative [Participatory Communication for Gender Development] an NGO that specializes in using media for advocacy and providing a platform to the under-represented in the society. Ummi is the director of the award winning documentary Uprooted and several other participatory film projects. She has implemented several media for development projects across Nigeria. She has a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication and a masters in Development Communication, from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.