This revolution will produce winners and losers. Our job is to reduce the number of losers” 

– Paul Kagame (President ofRwanda) speaking on the issue of digital revolution. 

This is especially true today, knowing that every job or business has

an active digital component. Fresh out of school and during my National Youth Service Year, a deep reflection on how my cousin only got a job nine

years after graduation got me thinking deeply about my chances too. My response to this frightening reality was to learn new soft skills to better my chances; then it hit me – this situation isn’t peculiar with just me! (many just like me from the traditional educational institutions are not adequately prepared with the skills for today’s job or business). So, I negotiated with an expert at one of the trainings I had previously attended and organized an employability skills training for my fellow corps members, at a very subsidize price; the feedback was amazing.

At this point, I realize that I could join Paul Kagame, in doing my little bit, to reduce the number of losers by learning more and sharing my knowledge with others. This realization subtly forged my path as a trainer when I joined MindTheGap (a social enterprise) on the Google Digital Skills for Africa Project in 2017. Leveraging the platform, I have trained 5,374+ Corps members in the over 6 National Youth Service Corps orientation camp sessions in River State; 536 students of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education; 76 students of Delta State Polytechnic; 274 women in Port Harcourt, Enugu, Asaba and Benin on the #SheMeansBusiness (She Leads Africa x Facebook) project; 15 business owners in Thamesmead (SE2), London; and over 150 SMEs in Digital Skills, Social Media Strategy, Online Safety, Employability Skill, entrepreneurship and Online marketing. Beyond the numbers, my desire to achieve tangible results with my new found path, saw me taking up the Managing Partner position with Hitestroes Technologies Africa and co-founding Converge.hta to consolidate our current efforts and scale our reach for more impact through technology-based solutions and future relevant skills.

My current community work spans hosting monthly #YouthCan and #YALILearn Events; training and supporting local businesses and SMEs to create socioeconomic impact and decent jobs in their immediate community through Converge.hta; training job seekers on the future of work and employability skills through SPEED Project; and training women on Digital Skills and Entrepreneurship on the SheLeadsAfrica platform.

These has earned me a few commendations, chief among them is my promotion to the highest tier (Grow with Google Champion) on the Google Trainers Program (first time ever in Africa) and subsequent Google sponsored trainers exchange program in London, Thamesmead and Portsmouth where I had the opportunity to train business owners in the United Kingdom, visit Google headquarters in London, attend industry specific conferences and visit/participate in some futuristic projects while in the UK.

Away from teaching and all the ‘digital seriousness’, you will find me conspicuously behind the microphone effortlessly managing the thin line between my Public Speaking and Corporate MC/Comedian career (no retirement plans on this one, lol). With a 16-year on-the-job experience as an MC, I’d like to consider myself highly privileged to have anchored events through the ranks and files, both within and outside Nigeria.

My five years target (starting 2019) is to mobilize, train, motivate and coach 10,000 young people/business owners in entrepreneurial, digital and employability skills with hope of at least 10% becoming viable businesses and creating opportunities for decent work and socioeconomic growth.

Belinda Wong is an Author and Director of Leader Corporate Services Limited

(www.lecorp.hk)

She shares on the current ecosystems of Hong Kong

 Immense government supports: HK Science & Technology Park, Cyberport, lots of incubators, building of the Lok Ma Chau loop, an area between Shenzhen and HK,  Co-working spaces,  Government grants to Universities / commercialization of research results Closer ties with Mainland China esp. the Greater Bay Area to build up a stronger innovative and technology hub

Belinda will also talk on the importance of:

 Team

Execution: are the ideas / products innovative, regulatory compliance

 Investors: Their exit strategy / profits of the startups

David Lanre Messan (DLM) is a multiple award winning idea strategist, entrepreneur and investor with key interest in entrepreneurship and technology (Tech-Startups, Fintech and Sharing economy), highly skilled in idea development, disruptive strategy and startup development.

DLM is committed to raising disruptors to create wealth and jobs through entrepreneurship and through this has developed over 250 thriving business ideas for clients in Nigeria and other countries of the world and has raised over $4million investment for small businesses.

His works have been recognized by the World Economic Forum, Global Shapers Community, World Bank, Taking IT Global, African Business Leadership Forum, and European Research Council.

He has spoken in over 100 conferences on key economic and social topics, major amongst them are the Grow Africa Investment Forum, World Economic Forum on Africa, SHAPE Africa, Rise Networks Enterprise Summits, Junior Chamber International Enterprise Summit etc

Some of DLM's key recognitions are; 2006 - One of 100 Best Authors of the World Bank International Essay Competition, 2007 - One of 101 ABLF Young African Leader, 2008 - LEAP Africa/Nokia Youth Leadership Award.

DLM worked as a Senator of World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), a global advisory board member (West Africa) for Innovate Africa and Scalabl international advisor (Africa).

He is a Harvard Business School credential holder, JCI University and Pan Atlantic University alumni where he studied Disruptive Strategy, Business Presentation and Digital Marketing respectively

Abiodun Anani is a Professional Marketing Strategist with over nine (9) years of cross-cultural experience in marketing, Branding and events. With outstanding achievements in delivering innovative solutions, and facilitating efficiency.

She began her marketing career at Oracle in 2011, an experiential marketing company as a Marketing Executive. Where she hosted several product demonstrations, activation and events. Abiodun then moved to Holidays and Host in 2018 where she served as Head, Public Relations and Marketing a luxury lifestyle company.

During her stay at Holidays and Host she played a lead role in the success of The AMTF Trade Fair which had over 20,000 participants, she’s also the creative director of Mainland Children Funfair.

She is currently the Brand Marketing Manager at City Scope Africa, where she oversees marketing, sales and business development departments and works directly with the management group to help ensure continued growth.

She’s known for sharing professional marketing content to help marketing enthusiasts and business owners accelerate in today’s competitive market.

Abiodun holds an accounting degree from National Open University of Nigeria.

Lola Yunus is the Founder of Impact Street, a training and development company that empowers African professionals and youths to thrive in their personal and professional life through coaching, training and mentoring.

Lola also consults and teaches the Impact Street in-house signature course, Purpose, Profit & Impact (“PPI”) framework to business owners interested in “doing well by doing good”. She helps her clients embed the PPI framework as a core business strategy.

As a creative, Lola loves writing and writes on her blog at www.lolayunus.com. Her writings aim to inspire African professionals to reflect on their life’s goals and take action to become the best version of themselves.

Lola is also a qualified Lawyer with 9 years plus experience. She started her career in Lagos before moving to London in 2012. In the last 7 years, she has worked for multinational companies in London as a corporate governance professional. She is mother to 8 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. She lives with her family in England.

Kitawa Wemo is the executive director of MAMA Ventures, am impact venture builder that works with early stage startups from idea to market.

She has actively worked with many incubators and accelerators and pioneered and supported the growth of communities for entrepreneurs in Kenya.

As a startup catalyst in the ecosystem for the over the  past three years, Kitawa has worked with over 150 businesses, raising $100,000 in crowdfunding, grant, equity and debt financing.

As a venture builder, MAMA Ventures works with business founders to connect their vision to a competent team to generate revenue and attract investment for growth and profitability. Kitawa is a two time awardee for Women Economic Forum, a mentor at Pangea & Nailab accelerators, sits on the board of PACEMAKER International and a strategic advisor for various companies in agriculture and technology across the globe.

Benedicta Chukwuyem Uweru-Apuamah is a Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree holder who is passionate about working the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She was a ONE Champion (2017 & 2018) at ONE.org in Nigeria. She represented ONE in Nigeria & Africa at the ONEYouthSummit in Brussels where her presentation earned her a standing ovation from ONE CEO & President, Gayle Smith & other Youth Ambassadors across Europe. Her dream work place is the UN, she considers this a platform to impact her community better. She is the Founder, Girls for Development Goals Foundation [Formerly Girls Health & Education Foundation (GHeF)] where she enlightens girls on Sexual Reproductive Health (SRHR) utilizing the SDG templates especially SDGs 3, 4 & 5. Her projects include "A Love Letter to Myself" & "Advocacy Against Teenage Pregnancy" amongst others. She continues to impact lives by volunteering with other organizations such as the medical outreach (May 2018) with the Moses Lake Medical Team (from the US) in Kebbi State, Nigeria. She's a 2019 WYSE ILP Brazil Alumni being the only Nigerian Delegate at a training that gathered 26 participants across 16 countries of the world in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Jan 6th to 17th 2019). She was a Chairperson at the just concluded Tanzania International Model UN Conference 2019 and continues to develop herself. She is the Director on the board of Benny&Freddy, a Private Liability Company that produces Reusable Sanitary Pads & offers a variety of services.

She organized the Youth Voices Conference in commemoration of the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference in Kebbi State, August 28th, 2019. She also spoke at the Youth Empowerment and Development Conference in Abuja, Nigeria where she engaged young people on how to Access International Platforms. She is currently the only female Nigerian ambassador for the Young Political Leadership School Africa representing Nigeria at the 6th semester in Monrovia, Liberia, October 2019. She was the youngest speaker at the just concluded "Our Girls Our Pride" project organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Delta State. She is currently the Program Manager at JDPC Iseleuku, FASTER Project in Delta State.

Jo-Ann is the Founder & CEO of Rare Birds, LLC. She was born and raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands to parents from St. Kitts and Nevis. She is a global citizen, rooted firmly in her Caribbean identity. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the American University in Washington, D.C. She obtained a Master of Science in Real Estate Investment from Cass Business School in London and a Master of Science in Management in Construction from Kingston University, also located in London.

Her professional and cultural experiences span countries and continents, having lived, worked and been educated in North America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia. Prior to founding Rare Birds, LLC she worked for a decade in various roles in the corporate property and construction industry.

Outside of the corporate world Jo-Ann has worked as a freelance writer and as an independent consultant to social enterprises-focused on HIV/AIDS, African international development policy, food insecurity, Caribbean culture and the Arts-in the US and UK.

She is currently designing and delivering entrepreneurship curriculum for secondary schools, universities and various startup communities around the globe. To date, she has done so in the Caribbean, U.K., India, the Gambia and now, China.

She has acted as a mentor, advisor and champion to various global communities, some of which include the United Nations Women (UN Women) Empower Women community based in NYC, the Women’s Economic Forum based in India and StartUp Grind.

When she is not tinkering with Rare Birds, she spends her time meandering through ideas in tech, science, sustainability, entrepreneurship and futurism with a focus on the Global South.

Juliet Ukpabio Archibong is a quintessential lady on a mission to build a nation where economic and human capital development thrives.

A Visionary fore-runner who believes in driving development and has spent most of her life expressing her purpose in the various sectors as an entrepreneur by creating businesses driven by purpose to make an impact.

Juliet is a certified brand communications manager specializing in international trade promotions and has practical working experience spanning over 10 years in retail, experiential marketing, advertising, procurement, supply chain management, export trade and business management. 

When she is not on forefront of trading exchange, she is writing and speaking on nation building, purposeful businesses, mindset for global growth as well as consulting for individuals, government and organizations; helping to highlight, package and sell opportunities for economic development.

She is an advocate for Made-in-Nigeria brands and strongly believes in the potential of Africa to sustain itself.

Juliet believes in  entrepreneurship for impact and is at the hem of affairs at Adiaha trading Limited, Exclusively Owambe party services and SLJ services.

Juliet truly means business as she is on a mission to make every single being, government, nation all understand their highest potential are accepting their purpose and living from the highest version of themselves.