Speakers & honorees.

Hon. Dr. Bosun Tijani

Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy
Federal Republic of Nigeria

Recognized as one of the TIME100 AI 2025 honorees for his leadership in advancing artificial intelligence globally, Dr. ’Bosun Tijani serves as the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He is the co-founder and former CEO of Co-Creation Hub, the leading pan-African technology and innovation center with a presence in Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda and Namibia.

Under his leadership, Co-Creation Hub became a vital catalyst for the African technology ecosystem, promoting collaboration, knowledge sharing and the development of groundbreaking solutions to local and global challenges. Before Co-Creation Hub, he led the networking and coordination of innovation agencies across Europe as European Innovation Manager at PERA and previously worked at the International Trade Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr. Tijani holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Jos, a Master’s degree in Information Systems and Management from the University of Warwick, and a Doctorate in Innovation and Economic Development from the University of Leicester.

He is Chair of the 2026 International Telecommunication Union Council and Co-Chair of the ITU International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience. Dr. Tijani is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the ITU Digital Innovation Board for the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital Development.

H.E. Mark-Alexandre Doumba

Minister of Digital Economy and Innovation
Republic of Gabon

Mark-Alexandre Doumba is Gabon’s Minister of Digital Economy and Innovation. In this role, he leads the country’s digital transformation agenda, including the development of digital public infrastructure and government services, mobile payments, innovation ecosystems and national readiness for artificial intelligence.

He previously served as Minister of Economy and Public Holdings, where his portfolio included reforms in state-owned enterprise governance, domestic debt management, para-fiscal taxes and public-private investment.

Before entering government, Mark co-founded CLIKPAY Technologies, Central Africa’s first licensed neobank, and Enovate Capital, an impact investment firm focused on emerging markets. As an entrepreneur and investor, he helped mobilize nearly $100 million for ventures expanding financial inclusion, healthcare access, business formalization and telecommunications connectivity across Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

His work examines how emerging economies can build economic and technological sovereignty in the age of artificial intelligence. He serves on the ITU Digital Innovation Board, is a Foundry Fellow at MIT and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader. Mark studied at George Washington University, the London School of Economics and Harvard Kennedy School, where he served as Managing Editor of the Africa Policy Journal.

Ipeleng Selele

Chairperson, Brand South Africa
Vice President, African Women in Maritime

Ipeleng Selele is a qualified international strategist with business interests in cleaner energy—including LPG, LNG and green hydrogen applications—transport and logistics across rail, road and shipping, and maritime and ports infrastructure. She has worked on projects in South Africa, Kenya, Cameroon, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Namibia, Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, Angola, Singapore, Europe and the United Kingdom.

She holds a Master of Science in International Strategy, specializing in foreign market entry strategy, from London South Bank University. She completed an African Leadership Executive Course at the University of Oxford as part of her Tutu Fellowship, as well as a Strategy Execution qualification from INSEAD in France. She is Vice President of the African Women in Maritime and Chairperson of Women in Maritime South Africa.

Ipeleng currently sits on the board of JSE-listed Telkom and serves as Chairperson of the Brand South Africa Board. She previously sat on the board of Frankfurt-listed Siemens Energy and the Mahlako Energy Fund. She was instrumental in developing Sasol’s green hydrogen market entry strategy in Namibia, leveraging the country’s renewable energy potential through market analysis, stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships.

As Vice President of African Women in Maritime, Ipeleng organized the inaugural Africa Maritime Indaba, hosted in South Africa in October 2013, to spotlight the maritime sector’s potential to increase intra-African trade and contribute to economic growth and development. She also played a crucial role in developing South Africa’s Maritime Strategy, laying groundwork for improved maritime infrastructure and operations and providing a blueprint for legislative and regulatory reform.

Ipeleng is deeply passionate about empowering women and expanding their involvement in maritime. Through her leadership and initiatives, she advocates for increased female representation, mentorship and capacity-building programs designed to break barriers and inspire the next generation of women leaders in the sector.

She has also been deeply involved in LPG distribution, recognizing LPG as a social product that promotes clean cooking and heating. Her work has supported access to cleaner solutions in Richards Bay, Mossel Bay and the Vaal communities. Her honors include the African Industry Personality Award in 2020 and the South Africa’s Women Leaders Award at the 11th World Women Leadership Awards in 2024.

Gabriel Opoku-Asare

Chief Export Development Officer, 24 Hours Authority
Office of the President of the Republic of Ghana

Gabriel Opoku-Asare is a globally accomplished executive with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning international trade, public policy, sustainability, governance, corporate affairs and strategic communications across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America. Throughout his career, he has worked at the intersection of business, government and society, helping organizations navigate complex regulatory environments, unlock growth opportunities, strengthen stakeholder relationships and deliver sustainable value.

Gabriel currently serves as Chief Export Development Officer at the 24 Hours Authority under the Office of the President of the Republic of Ghana, where he leads strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating Ghana’s export transformation agenda. He works across government, industry, development partners and the private sector to drive export competitiveness, expand market access, strengthen value-added production and position Ghanaian enterprises for opportunities in regional and global markets. His work contributes to Ghana’s economic transformation through increased exports, industrial growth, job creation and foreign exchange generation.

He also serves as an Advisory Member of the Presidential Committee on Accelerated Export Development, a high-level national body chaired by the President of the Republic of Ghana. The committee advises on the policy, institutional reforms and strategic interventions required to accelerate export-led growth, diversify Ghana’s export base and strengthen the country’s position as a competitive export hub.

Before joining government, Gabriel held senior leadership positions with Diageo, including Executive Director of Environment, Social and Governance for North America, Head of Society for Africa, and regional leadership roles in public policy, corporate relations, sustainability and employee engagement across Southeast Asia. He worked closely with governments, regulators, industry leaders and development partners to shape policy outcomes, advance responsible business practices and unlock sustainable growth across multiple markets.

Earlier in his career, Gabriel served as Corporate Relations Director for Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC and Corporate Affairs Director for Unilever Ghana. Across these roles, he built a reputation for strategic leadership in government relations, stakeholder engagement, sustainability, reputation management and public policy advocacy. His contributions have earned local and international recognition for excellence in corporate affairs, sustainability leadership and responsible business.

His expertise spans international trade and export development, public policy and regulatory affairs, sustainability and ESG, government relations, strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, crisis management, corporate governance and organizational transformation.

Gabriel holds a Bachelor of Science in Land Economy from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, and a Master’s degree in International Relations from the University of Leicester. He has also completed executive education at Harvard Business School and the University of Oxford, with a focus on shared value creation and sustainable business leadership.

An enthusiastic traveler, Gabriel has visited more than 80 countries across six continents, enriching his understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures.

Darius Jones

Founder & CEO
National Black Empowerment Council

Darius Jones is the Founder and CEO of the National Black Empowerment Council (NBEC), a national and global network connecting Black leaders across government, business, education, philanthropy, and civic life.

Under his leadership, NBEC convenes elected officials, business executives, university presidents, diplomats, and civic leaders to build partnerships and advance shared opportunities in the United States and abroad. His work is grounded in the belief that lasting progress requires strong institutions, strategic relationships, and Black leadership positioned to shape consequential decisions.

La’Kerri Jackson

Global Director of Social Impact
UPS

La’Kerri Jackson leads UPS’s global strategy to drive economic growth for underserved entrepreneurs and small businesses and advance youth empowerment worldwide. She also leads UPS’s Women Exporters Program, a transformative global initiative helping entrepreneurs—both women and men—break barriers to poverty by accessing and thriving in global markets. Through this work, La’Kerri is helping to shape business as a force for inclusive economic growth.

With more than 36 years of cross-functional experience spanning social impact, business development, customer service, finance, legal, human resources, corporate affairs, U.S. operations and security, La’Kerri has built a career defined by impactful leadership and transformative initiatives. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Leadership Studies, an ABA-approved Paralegal Certification and an honorary Doctor of Divinity.

In 2025, La’Kerri was recognized as a Top 100 Corporate Impact Leader by We Make Change in partnership with the Blue Earth Summit and received the Alonzo Herndon Innovation Entrepreneurship Award from the Urban League of Greater Atlanta.

In addition to her corporate leadership, La’Kerri is the founder of The African Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative, a personal venture expanding access to capital for women entrepreneurs across Africa. Since launching in 2023, the initiative and its partners have mobilized more than $334,000 in financing, helping thousands of women entrepreneurs scale their businesses, uplift their families and transform their communities.

A passionate mentor and empowerment champion, La’Kerri supports emerging leaders and entrepreneurs through leadership development and capacity-building programs. She has served as a featured mentor in initiatives including the Atlanta Hawks’ SheLeads program.

She serves on several boards and councils, including as Co-Chair of the Corporate Council for CARE International, advancing efforts to alleviate poverty and expand opportunity globally.

Beyond her professional endeavors, La’Kerri enjoys family, travel and sharing her expertise to empower others. At the heart of all she does is a deep commitment to lifting others up, breaking barriers and developing the next generation of leaders.

Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah

Policy Architect and Social Impact Strategist
“THE CROWN Act Champion”

Dr. Adjoa B. Asamoah served as Principal Consultant for the Asantehene’s U.S. Royal Visit and is an accomplished executive, lifelong Pan-African and internationally sought-after leader who has worked across sectors for nearly three decades. An award-winning social impact strategist and history-making policy architect, she is known globally as “THE CROWN Act Champion.” She conceptualized and developed the national legislative and coalition-building strategies for the groundbreaking CROWN Act movement, which she continues to lead nationwide. She has also crafted legislation to address historic inequities, including spearheading the victory to codify the nation’s first Office of African American Affairs.

As an adjunct professor, Dr. Asamoah has taught African history, African American Studies and psychology. She also teaches civics, inclusive policymaking, diversity as an organizational asset and tailored topics for institutions including the Congressional Black Caucus Institute, where she has served as faculty. A veteran corporate consultant, she coaches Fortune 500 executives on race and enterprise risk management, purpose-driven marketing and corporate social responsibility. Her work draws on cultural intelligence and behavioral insights to design winning campaigns, create sustainable systems change and anticipate consumer behavior.

Dr. Asamoah served as National Advisor for Black Engagement for the 2020 Biden-Harris Campaign and as Black Engagement Director for the 59th Presidential Inaugural Committee. A longtime advisor to senior local, state and federal officials, she also served as Senior Advisor for Racial Equity to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia L. Fudge—the only woman to have held that title in the federal government. Earlier, she served as Senior Policy Advisor in the District of Columbia’s Executive Office of the Mayor, leading the economic empowerment portfolio.

She provides subject-matter expertise as an appointee to boards, commissions and committees for organizations including the U.S. Small Business Administration, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the DC Commission for Women, Temple University, the DC Commission on African American Affairs and the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Incorporated. She has also been appointed by several superintendents to the District of Columbia’s State Title I Committee of Practitioners and has been nominated and reelected chair for 11 consecutive years.

Dr. Asamoah was voted Advocate of the Year by Women in Government Relations and has been recognized among the 100 most influential Black people by The Root, one of the most powerful women by Marie Claire and International Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. Her honors also include recognition from the NAACP, the National Bar Association, Temple University, Howard University and other leading institutions. She has co-hosted programming on SiriusXM, written for multiple publications and hosted events for organizations including BET. EBONY named her among the 100 most powerful people globally for her social impact work and featured her on a special-edition cover.

A two-time graduate of Temple University, Dr. Asamoah earned bachelor’s degrees in psychology and African American Studies and a master’s degree in educational psychology. She holds a post-master’s certificate in applied behavior analysis from Saint Joseph’s University, studied abroad at the University of Ghana at Legon and completed the University of Pennsylvania Equity Institute for Doctoral Students. She earned her doctoral degree in Leadership: Education Administration and Policy Studies from The George Washington University.

Oni Chukwu

Partner, Ironleaf Capital
Founder and Global Chair, AfricaPlan Foundation

Oni Chukwu is a Nigerian-born technology entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist. He is a Partner at Ironleaf Capital, a U.S.-based private equity firm focused on technology-enabled healthcare businesses, following a career building and leading global technology companies as a CEO and CFO. He has served on the boards of U.S. public and private-equity-backed technology companies and is a member of the Board of Advisors of Yale Ventures, Yale University’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Oni is also Founder and Global Chair of AfricaPlan Foundation, which he established to create pathways into technology careers and entrepreneurship for underserved African youth, particularly university graduates in Nigeria. Through AfricaPlan, he is focused on connecting Africa’s extraordinary young talent with technology skills, mentorship and employment opportunities in the global economy.

Oni holds an MBA and an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of New Haven, where he has also served as a longtime Trustee.

Dr. Laila Macharia

Founding Director
Aspen Institute’s Africa Initiative

Raised in Kenya, Namibia and Somalia, Dr. Laila Macharia is Founding Director of the Aspen Institute’s Africa Initiative based in Nairobi. An award-winning investor, she is Vice President at Imaginable Futures, the education investment arm of the Omidyar Group, and Vice Chair of Centum, East Africa’s oldest listed investment holding company.

A serial entrepreneur and investor, she is also Co-Founder and Chair of the Africa Digital Media Institute and AI Academy. From its base in Nairobi, the institute is Eastern Africa’s premier learn-and-work creative technology community and has trained more than 25,000 students from some 40 countries over the last decade.

She is also Chair of Absa Life Assurance Kenya.

Macharia was honored in 2021 as one of the Top 100 Kenyans, became a Fellow of the Aspen Global Leadership Network’s Africa Leadership Initiative in 2010, and was named one of the Top 20 Women to Watch in Africa by The Times of London in 2012.