Theme: Portals

More than just a word, a portal is a threshold to new worlds of possibilities; a conduit for connection, and a catalyst for change. It represents the gateway to opportunity, the bridge to progress, and the key to empowerment. Yet, for many, these portals remain elusive, closed, or difficult to navigate.
With this event, we explore the concept of portals as a metaphor for access, opportunity, and empowerment. We delve into the unseen barriers of entry, spotlight the individuals who are forging new pathways, and highlight the transformative power of opening these gateways to everyone. We aim to inspire hope and ignite a sense of possibility in our audience.

By convening a diverse group of thinkers, doers, and gatekeepers, we aim to illuminate the path forward and discover & spotlight exceptional ideas, solutions, and individuals who are shaping the future through their unwavering commitment to breaking down barriers and opening doors.

Fraser Suites Abuja
294 Leventis Close, Central Business District
Abuja, Abuja Federal Capital Territory, 900414
Nigeria

Adaeze Oreh

Medical Doctor, Advocate & Researcher

Dr. Adaeze Oreh is a Consultant Family Physician, Public Health Specialist, and the Honourable Commissioner for Health in Rivers State. Prior to her appointment, she was the Pioneer Country Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics for Nigeria’s National Blood Service Commission (NBSC), and a Senior Health Policy Advisor with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health with over two decades of private and public healthcare experience. She is a Fellow of the West African College of Physicians, Kofi Annan Global Health Leadership Programme, the Aspen Institute, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the Royal Society of Public Health, and a Member of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood Global Advisory Group and the International Society of Blood Transfusion COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma Working Group. She advocates for respectful, quality healthcare, health equity, universal health coverage, and quality medical education, and was invited to speak at the 74th UNGA.

Daere Akobo

Entrepreneur & Philanthropist

Daere Akobo is an Entrepreneur, Business Mentor, and Philanthropist. He is the CEO of AKD Digital Solutions Ltd and the Group CEO of an international business conglomerate. With over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas sector, his business focus has since diversified beyond Oil and Gas to encompass a variety of industries with growth potential, including power, water, and process technology, e-commerce, telecommunications, and information technology. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Directors, London; the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria; the Chartered Institute of Management Consultants and a Certified Management Consultant. He is a Member of the Young Presidents Organization and a member of the Forbes Business Council. His insights received considerable attention when published in the Forbes Africa-Nigeria 60th Anniversary Edition. He is an innovator at heart, driven by his life motto: "A dream without a deadline is a nightmare.”

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu

Energy Leader, Author & Legal Icon

Prof. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is a former Minister of State Petroleum Resources of The Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 2015 - 2019. He also served as Group Managing Director, NNPC from 2015-2016 and became the only Nigerian to have held at the same time, portfolios of Group Managing Director, NNPC, Minister of State Petroleum, President of OPEC, president Of GECF, and President of APPO. He was the Executive Vice Chairman of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and General Counsel for ExxonMobil Nigeria affiliate Upstream and Downstream Companies in Nigeria before his time in government. Prof. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu is a visiting Professor in several universities globally including Harvard and three Nigerian universities. He is the author of over 12 law books on energy, contract, investment & petroleum. He is an international consultant on petroleum and energy policy matters to various countries & companies.

Iyobosa Rehoboth

Creative Technologist

Pioneering the next digital frontier, Iyobosa leverages a decade of creative expertise to transform complex technologies into accessible, human-centric solutions. As the founder of FloatsXR, he's dedicated to making emerging technologies intuitive and impactful through immersive technology and Artificial intelligence. With over a decade of experience in filmmaking, digital content, product design, and user experience design, Iyobosa is leading the charge in shaping the future of emerging tech in Africa. Iyobosa successfully spearheaded the HeadsByBnxn NFT project, integrating blockchain and XR, which onboarded 7,000+ people into the creator economy. He has been featured in renowned platforms like Billboard, TechCabal, and The Guardian for his work in XR and the creator economy. Iyobosa is on a mission to unlock the collaborative power of technology, optimization of products and businesses through immersive tech, artificial intelligence and innovation design.

Jane Egerton-Idehen

Tech Executive, Author & Angel Investor

Jane Egerton-Idehen is a Tech Executive, Author, and Angel Investor. She is currently the MD/CEO of Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited. She was the Head of Sales, Middle East and Africa, Meta and Country Manager & Regional Sales Director for the West African branch of Avanti Communications Group PLC. She spent 13 years in Sales and Management at Ericsson and worked as a Cluster lead for Nokia Siemens Network in West Africa. Jane has a degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; a Master's Degree from Warwick Business School, US; and an executive education from Yale School of Management, US. She has worked in the telecommunications industry in Africa for more than 17 years. In March 2020, she published a book titled, “Be Fearless: Give Yourself Permission To Be You.” Outside of work, she spends time with her amazing family and gives back to her younger women and girls via mentorship, her NGO (Women and Career), and other initiatives.

Kate Okoh-Kpina

Legal Expert & Diversity Advisor

Kate Okoh-Kpina is an exceptional legal expert specializing in gender and inclusion. She has a rich background in law shaped by her family’s legacy. She holds an LL.M in International Law from the University College London as a distinguished John Carr scholar. With over 10 years of experience in legal practice and international development, she has been instrumental in designing and implementing reforms in criminal justice and gender. Presently, she leads the gender, diversity, equity, and inclusion secretariat of the GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS country office. She is an avid reader and prolific writer. Her articles on gender; criminal justice reforms; power and infrastructure; and securities and investments can be found on academia.edu.

Uka Eje

Agribusiness Expert

Uka Eje is the Co-Founder & CEO of ThriveAgric Limited, a leading agricultural technology company based in Nigeria, passionate about ensuring food security. He co-founded ThriveAgric in 2017 with a vision to build an Africa that feeds herself and the world, by linking smallholder farmers to finance, data-driven best practices, and access to local & global markets for their commodities. ThriveAgric is currently present in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda and Under Uka’s leadership, ThriveAgric has worked with local and international financial institutions to provide financing for over one million farmers in over 3000+ communities in Nigeria and across Africa. Uka is an alumnus of YCombinator, Alibaba Business School, Google Launchpad Accelerator, and the University of Leeds’ Future of Food Programme. He is the recipient of several recognition awards including the 2024 TIME Climate Leaders Award, the 2018 Top 5 CEOs in the African Business CEO Summit, amongst others.