The AWP Network \’Get Connected Business Series\’ – Meet the Speakers

The African Women Power (AWP) Network will host the “Get Connected Business Series,” during the last week in April. The forum is created with the intention to provide insights and information needed to help entrepreneurs and employees grow and get to the next level. The event begins at 9:30am. 

MEET THE SPEAKERS:

Saudat Salami is the founder of Easyshop Easycook, a fresh farm produce and online delivery service. Her company helps working women meet up on their domestic responsibilities without putting stress on their careers.  Salami is a Vital Voices Grow Fellow, a United States IVLP Alumna, a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women scholarship recipient for the CEM (Certificate for Entrepreneurial Management) program at EDC and an Alumna of the Fate Foundation-Aspiring Entrepreneurs Program. She is an Associate Member of WIMBIZ (Women in Management, Business, and Public Service), WEConnect International, Institute of Logistics Management of Nigeria and she volunteers with various charity organizations. Saudat Salami is happily married to Mr. Abiodun Salami and they are blessed with two lovely girls.

Tolulope O. Adeyemo is program director at The WAAW Foundation, a non-profit organization with the mission to increase the pipeline of African girls in technology and engineering while ensuring that they are engaged in the technology innovation pipeline. Adeyemi holds a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Prior to joining the WAAW Foundation, Adeyemo worked as a corporate communications officer at Oando Marketing Plc. She has extensive hands-on experience in program planning, project management, long-term strategy planning, marketing and branding, and fundraising.  She serves as a mentor and sacrifices her time to empower girls through education. Adeyemo is a firm believer that education and technology are essential to breaking the cycle of poverty and providing economic progress for any nation.

Femi Longe is the co-founder of Tender.ng, a tech solution for procurement opportunities in Nigeria. He is also co-founder and director of programs at The Co-Creation Hub. Longe earned a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is an avid traveler and eclectic consumer of books, music, and movies.

Nkemdilim Begho is the founder of Future Software Resources. Begho has successfully re-branded the company, thus changing its focus from a standalone solution to a web-based educational and business solutions enterprise. Prior to her appointment at Future Software, Begho contributed to various research projects to include: the wazobia linux initiative, the e-government interoperability framework, NITDA open standards framework, as well as the deployment of e-commerce and e-portal solutions in the Nigerian public and private sector. Her company, Future Software Resources is the winner of the Etisalat Nigeria Prize for Innovation. She is a board member of the World Summit Youth Award, co-founder of the Bake for Change Development Foundation, and co-founder of a clothing manufacturing company.

Abisoye Ajayi is a social impact entrepreneur and founder of Pearls Africa, a non-governmental organization promoting the technological advancement of vulnerable women and girls. Ajayi has over 12 years’ of experience in Information Technology Solutions Development. She is a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) and an Oracle Database Administrator (OCDBA). Ajayi describes herself as a technology savvy data analyst with a passionate heart for change and a strong will to make it happen. She is a United States IVLP Alumna, a member of the United Nations Interagency Network on Youth Development, the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, and is recognized as a leading woman in tech by YNaija!

Reginald Bassey is a farmer at Janai farms limited. He previously served as Chief of Staff at the Office of Rep. Robinson Uwak of the Oron Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State where he led the team on policy and legislative research, and community mobilization. Bassey earned his Master’s degree from Baruch College in New York and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Covenant University. He is a Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) Associate.

Shade Ladipo is the Country Director for WEConnect International in Nigeria. At the age of 25, Ladipo founded Avienti Limited — a destination management company. She has worked with the United Nations Volunteers and several advertising agencies where she specialized in events and account management, client services and strategy. Ladipo is one of the founding members of Global Shapers in Lagos and represents Nigeria at World Economic Forum events. She is also recognized as the co-founder of Enough Is Enough Nigeria, a platform for young people deciding Nigeria’s path to change. Ladipo was recognized by several platforms for her work as a change agent and businesswoman. She has been nominated for the Future Awards Africa Awards, chosen as 101 Young Achievers at the Africa Business Forum in Accra, Ghana, and selected as a Goldman Sachs fellow. She regularly appears on radio programs and at live events about everything she is passionate about including leading a successful business in Nigeria.

Itoro Eze-Anaba is the founder of the Mirabel Rape Crisis Center. A lawyer and women’s rights activist, Eze-Anaba is involved in the promotion and protection of women’s rights in Nigeria since 1999. She is a United States IVLP alumni and participated in the exchange program of the Law Society of England and Wales. She went on to set up Partnership for Justice, a non-governmental organization with the mission to provide an innovative range of services to promote and protect human rights in Nigeria. In 2005, she received a scholarship from the American Association of University Women (AAUW) for her LLM-Masters in Law program at the American University, Washington College of Law, Washington DC where she specialized in Gender and the Law.

Jolaoluwa Ayeye is a representative of the Stand To End Rape Initiative. She is a senior writer and content creator at Zikoko. Ayeye graduated from the University of Durham with a degree in Politics and Philosophy. Ayeye is a social and traditional media enthusiast through which, she enjoys telling stories that have not gotten enough representation. Jolaoluwa Ayeye is passionate about women’s rights, poverty alleviation, and good governance. She joined the Stand To End Rape organization in 2015 and is a part of their communications team.

Iheoma Obibi is the founder of Intimate Pleasures, Nigeria’s first online sex shop. A feminist, writer and human rights activist with extensive experience providing training to rural and urban poor communities in Africa and to marginalized communities in London. Currently, Obibi is the Executive Director of Alliances for Africa an international non-governmental organization engaged in human rights training, legislative advocacy, public policy and community development.

Obibi regularly acts as a Trainer and Facilitator and has worked as a consultant for several international agencies including UN Women, British Council, OECD, DfID and the Commonwealth Secretariat. In 2005, Obibi was selected to become an Ashoka Fellow. She has published short stories in several online e-zines and anthologies including, “African Women Writing Resistance: An Anthology of Contemporary Voices” and “Pastor Saul Bottomsup” in the publication “An Anthology of Great Writing Volume 1.” She earned a degree from the University of East London and an MA with distinction in Communications Policy Studies from City University, London.

Blessing Timidi Digha-Omolere is a Women Deliver Young Leader, Feminist and girl child/Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights Advocate with 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector. The journey into advocacy started after her teenage pregnancy experience in 2005.  Digha-Omolere earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Food Science & Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, Nigeria and is now a Community Mobilization/Advocacy Officer at 9jaGirl – an organization advocating for the girl-child on all fronts with an emphasis on sex education, sexual reproductive health and rights, HIV/AIDS, female genital mutilation (and other harmful traditional practices), sexual violence, early child marriage, education and other issues affecting the girl-child.

Idongesit Harrison Umoh is the founder of Idong Harrie Limited, a handmade footwear & accessories company. Umoh founded her business with about 7000 Naira and with the support of former colleagues at Nokia Nigeria. She has grown the business to become a national brand and has won several awards and grants since founding the company in 2005.