With over a decade of experience in economics and finance, Tunji has become a respected figure in the Nigerian financial ecosystem for his ability to communicate complex economic concepts in a relatable and accessible manner.

He is dedicated to solving critical socio-economic challenges in Africa, primarily through increasing financial literacy and creating inclusive financial solutions.

Tunji’s journey into economics and financial advocacy began with his academic background in economics.

He developed a passion for financial empowerment early in his career, realizing the massive gap in financial literacy across Nigeria and other parts of Africa.

As he gained experience in both the private and public sectors, he became increasingly focused on addressing the barriers that prevent many Africans, particularly in the informal sector, from accessing financial services and securing a stable financial future.

Andrews is the co-founder of Awabah, a fintech company that provides pension solutions tailored for Africa’s informal workforce.

In Africa, over 80% of the working population is employed in the informal sector, where traditional pension schemes and social safety nets are largely inaccessible.

Awabah was created to address this significant gap by offering flexible pension plans for informal workers, ensuring they can save for retirement despite their irregular income streams.

Through Awabah, Tunji is working to bring financial security to millions of Africans who have been historically excluded from formal financial systems.

By leveraging digital technology and developing easy-to-use platforms, Awabah enables informal sector workers to plan for their retirement, making it possible for more people to achieve long-term financial stability.

Beyond financial literacy, Tunji is also an advocate for economic policy reforms that promote financial inclusion and sustainable development.

He regularly participates in discussions on Nigeria’s economic future, engaging with policymakers, financial institutions, and the private sector to advocate for reforms that support a more inclusive financial system.

Tunji has been involved in multiple forums and roundtable discussions aimed at addressing the challenges of Nigeria’s economy, including unemployment, inflation, and the impact of fiscal policies on everyday citizens.

His work has garnered recognition both within and outside Nigeria.

He has received awards for his contributions to financial literacy and fintech innovation, particularly for his efforts with Awabah in bringing pension solutions to Africa’s informal workforce. Some of his notable achievements include:

In 2022, he was feted with the Financial Inclusion Award for his work with Awabah in providing pension solutions to informal workers across Nigeria.

He is the co-founder and CEO of Kumulus Water, a company that develops innovative solutions to address the global water crisis by converting air into clean drinking water using solar-powered technology.

His work aims to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of the modern era: providing sustainable access to potable water, particularly in regions facing severe droughts and water stress, such as North Africa and the Middle East.

Born and raised in Tunisia, Iheb was acutely aware of the impacts of water scarcity, as the region suffers from periodic droughts and a growing demand for water resources.

His passion for solving real-world challenges led him to pursue an extensive academic career.

He earned his Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UC Berkeley, and prior to that, he studied at the prestigious École Polytechnique in France, where he specialized in mechanical engineering and economics.

Before founding Kumulus Water, Iheb built an impressive career in the fields of consulting, finance, and renewable energy.

He began his professional journey at The Boston Consulting Group, where he worked on strategic projects across various industries.

His experience in private equity spans nearly seven years, during which he specialized in renewable energy and infrastructure investments across the Middle East and Africa.

As executive Director at Swicorp, he oversees sustainable infrastructure investments, particularly focusing on developing and operating assets in the energy and water sectors.

Iheb also served as an advisor to the Tunisian Ministry of Energy and played a key role in shaping renewable energy policies.

In 2021, Iheb co-founded Kumulus Water with the mission of delivering a groundbreaking technology capable of providing safe, clean drinking water by extracting moisture from the air.

The startup’s flagship product is a solar-powered atmospheric water generator that captures air, filters it, and condenses the humidity into drinkable water.

The machine produces 20 to 30 liters of water per day, and its reliance on solar energy makes it highly sustainable and ideal for remote or off-grid areas.

This solution addresses critical challenges in both water access and climate change by reducing the need for plastic water bottles and eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from water transportation.

Kumulus Water’s technology has attracted attention for its potential to serve millions of people globally who are living in water-scarce regions.

According to UN estimates, over 2 billion people worldwide experience water stress. Iheb’s innovation presents a concrete, scalable solution to one of humanity’s greatest challenges.

Iheb’s leadership and vision have earned him several accolades. In 2021, he was recognized by the Choiseul Institute as one of the Top 100 Young African Leaders, a prestigious honor highlighting his contributions to innovation and sustainability.

His company has also gained international recognition, securing substantial funding to scale its operations.

A graduate of the University of Nairobi, where he earned a degree in Development Communication, Oyamo is committed to using innovation to solve global problems, particularly those related to sustainability and waste management in the textile industry.

At Rethread Africa, Oyamo and his team are working on creating sustainable, bio-based synthetics from waste products like sugarcane and corn.

These agricultural by-products, which are often discarded, are transformed into high-performance textile fibers.

The fabrics produced by Rethread Africa are biodegradable, meaning they naturally decompose, significantly reducing their environmental impact compared to traditional synthetic materials like polyester.

This approach contributes to the circular economy by repurposing waste, reducing reliance on non-renewable resources, and lowering carbon emissions by up to 80% while using 99% less water than conventional cotton production.

Oyamo’s work addresses critical issues in the fashion industry, which is notorious for its high environmental impact, particularly in terms of water use, pollution, and waste.

By offering sustainable alternatives, Rethread Africa seeks to reduce the fashion industry’s ecological footprint and promote planet-positive solutions.

Oyamo’s innovative approach has garnered significant international attention and accolades.

In 2023, he was named one of the winners of the Global Change Award, an initiative by the H&M Foundation that supports groundbreaking innovations aimed at transforming the fashion industry.

Additionally, in 2022, Rethread Africa was one of the 13 winners of the Make It Circular Challenge, an innovation competition organized by What Design Can Do and the IKEA Foundation.

Oyamo is driven by a passion for sustainability and social impact. His vision for Rethread Africa is not only to reduce waste but also to create new economic opportunities, especially for small-holder farmers who supply agricultural waste to the company.

As the founder and CEO of Kosmotive, a social enterprise established in 2014, she has dedicated her career to addressing critical issues related to menstrual hygiene and women’s health access in Rwanda.

Born and raised in the northern province of Rwanda, Blandine’s journey into social entrepreneurship was shaped by her personal experiences with the challenges women face regarding reproductive health.

Blandine began her career as an intern at Contact FM radio station and later worked at the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency.

Her background in communication and technology played a crucial role in her decision to establish Kosmotive, aiming to provide sustainable health solutions for women.

Under her leadership, Kosmotive has launched several innovative products, including the KosmoPad—an eco-friendly and affordable sanitary pad that has been distributed to over 54,000 girls.

This initiative helps girls continue their education during menstruation, thus combating period poverty.

In addition to the KosmoPad, Blandine has developed the KosmoHealth App, which offers vital information for pregnant women and connects them with healthcare services.

Blandine’s mission is rooted in the belief that access to reproductive health information and sustainable hygiene products is a fundamental right for every woman.

Through Kosmotive, she strives to tackle the systemic issues of period poverty, which affects many girls and women across sub-Saharan Africa.

Currently, her initiatives aim to produce reusable sanitary pads that not only reduce environmental waste but also provide substantial cost savings for women.

Blandine’s work has garnered significant recognition both locally and internationally. She was named one of the Top 50 African Business Heroes in 2021 and has been a finalist in various prestigious competitions.

He is the founder and CEO of Masseka Game Studio, a pioneering gaming company that creates video games rooted in African culture, history, and folklore.

Kossoko’s mission is to break the stereotypes surrounding Africa in the global tech and entertainment industries by offering authentic, culturally enriched gaming experiences that celebrate the continent’s rich heritage.

Born and raised in the Central African Republic, Kossoko was always fascinated by technology and storytelling.

He pursued studies in computer science in France, where he became passionate about using his technical skills to share African stories with a global audience.

His background, deeply rooted in African traditions, motivated him to create digital products that would serve as a bridge between African culture and modern technology.

In 2018, Kossoko founded Masseka Game Studio with a vision to transform how African narratives are portrayed in the gaming industry.

The studio’s name, “Masseka,” comes from the Sango word meaning “tales,” reflecting his goal to tell African stories through video games.

Kossoko’s studio focuses on mobile gaming, a strategic choice given the increasing penetration of smartphones across Africa.

One of his studio’s flagship creations is “Kissoro Tribal Game,” inspired by one of the oldest strategy games in Africa.

The game highlights the depth of African intellectual tradition, providing a platform for players to experience African strategic thinking while simultaneously learning about African cultures.

“Kissoro” became a breakthrough in the gaming world, receiving acclaim for how it combined tradition with modern gameplay mechanics.

Teddy Kossoko aims to tackle two major challenges: the underrepresentation of Africa in the global gaming and tech industries and the stereotypes often associated with African content.

Through his work, he seeks to change African Representation in Tech and Gaming and empower African creators.

Kossoko has received international recognition for his efforts to elevate African voices in the gaming world.

His work with “Kissoro Tribal Game” garnered attention from both gaming communities and cultural advocates, earning awards and nominations at various gaming and tech conferences.

His innovative approach has also sparked conversations about how technology can be used to combat cultural erasure and promote diversity.

She is the founder and CEO of Ambani Africa, a pioneering technology company that focuses on revolutionizing education by creating digital learning tools aimed at African children.

Lambani’s work centers around solving a significant challenge: the underrepresentation of African languages in educational content, particularly in the digital space.

Born and raised in South Africa, Lambani witnessed firsthand the linguistic diversity of the country and the continent.

Her passion for languages and education was cultivated from an early age, as she recognized the importance of maintaining cultural identity through language.

This realization would later drive her career, inspiring her to blend technology and education to preserve African languages for future generations.

Lambani founded Ambani Africa with a mission to create digital content that empowers African children to learn in their mother tongues.

The company’s platform offers a range of interactive educational tools, including mobile apps, games, and augmented reality experiences.

These tools are designed to make learning African languages fun, engaging, and accessible to children across the continent.

Through Ambani Africa, Lambani has developed educational content in multiple African languages, including isiZulu, isiXhosa, Tshivenda, and more, filling a critical gap in multilingual education.

Her work addresses a key issue: the lack of high-quality, engaging educational resources in indigenous African languages.

Many children in Africa are forced to learn in non-native languages, which can hinder their comprehension and academic success.

Ambani Africa is working to shift this narrative by providing learning tools that help children understand and express themselves in their native languages, thereby promoting literacy, cognitive development, and cultural pride.

Lambani has been recognized for her contributions to education and technology in Africa, winning several awards for innovation in edtech and social impact.

She continues to expand Ambani Africa’s reach, aiming to include more African languages and integrate more advanced technology like augmented reality and artificial intelligence to enhance the learning experience.

Her work is setting a precedent for how technology can be used to solve culturally significant challenges in education, positioning her as a leader in Africa’s growing tech and innovation landscape.

He is recognized for his innovative contributions to the e-commerce sector and his efforts to empower entrepreneurs by simplifying online store creation.

El Ghaissani began his entrepreneurial journey in 2010 by founding VayaStudio, a company focused on software development, ERP systems, and mobile applications.

His passion for media and technology led him to launch Next Media Morocco in 2016, where he currently serves as CEO.

In 2020, El Ghaissani co-founded YouCan, a tech solution designed to simplify online store creation for entrepreneurs.

YouCan acts as a one-stop shop for e-commerce merchants, offering a platform with tools and applications necessary to launch and manage an online store effectively.

What sets YouCan apart is its user-friendly approach, allowing even those without technical expertise to build and operate successful online stores.

The platform offers a range of features, including multi-currency converters for seamless international transactions, advertising pixel integration for targeted marketing, and SEO support to enhance page rankings and drive organic traffic.

Additionally, YouCan allows the integration of multiple Stripe accounts for secure transactions, providing a comprehensive suite of tools to guide entrepreneurs through every stage of their e-commerce journey.

El Ghaissani’s contributions to the tech and e-commerce industry are significant, not only in Morocco but also on a broader scale.

By founding companies like YouCan, he addresses the challenge of making e-commerce accessible to a wider audience, particularly those who lack technical expertise.

His efforts have empowered many entrepreneurs to enter the digital marketplace, fostering growth and innovation in the e-commerce sector.

Mohamed El Ghaissani’s work revolves around empowering individuals and businesses by leveraging technology to break down barriers.

Through his ventures, particularly YouCan, he aims to create an ecosystem where anyone can easily establish and grow an online business.

She is the founder of BioMec, an organization that creates high-performance prostheses made from recycled plastic collected from the ocean.

Marta’s journey into this field was inspired by a close friend’s struggle to obtain a prosthesis, which highlighted the lack of accessible and affordable artificial limbs in Mozambique.

Recognizing that 90% of amputees in her country faced similar challenges due to high costs and limited healthcare access, Marta set out to make a difference.

Marta’s work with BioMec is rooted in a commitment to sustainability and social impact.

By using plastic waste, such as six discarded bottles or 250 grams of fishing nets, to construct prostheses, she addresses two critical issues: providing affordable prosthetic solutions and reducing environmental pollution.

Her approach not only gives individuals with mobility challenges a chance to lead fuller lives but also promotes recycling and environmental conservation.

BioMec’s prostheses are custom-made to suit individual needs, using advanced technology to enhance compatibility and comfort.

The organization’s mission extends beyond providing artificial limbs; it aims to offer people the ability to live without limitations, improving their confidence and productivity.

Marta’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. She was honored with the Commonwealth Points of Light Award, presented on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

This recognition was a testament to her innovative approach to combining sustainability with life-changing biomedical solutions.

Marta aspires to create prosthetic solutions that offer individuals a life without limitations.

Her goal is to produce these devices in a way that reduces costs, improves access, and increases comfort, while also aiming to reuse a significant portion of plastic waste from Mozambique’s most polluted beaches.

Her passion for solving problems, improving lives, and advocating for environmental sustainability continues to drive her entrepreneurial journey, making her a true inspiration in her community and beyond.