Olamide Jolaoso is a data & analytics thought leader based in Lagos, Nigeria, renowned for his innovative contributions to the global data landscape. He was named one of the Top 100 Innovators in Data and Analytics by Corinium Global Intelligence.
As the founder of The DataMind-Mindset, he has empowered over 3,000 individuals, helping them chart successful careers in data science. Olamide is passionate about nurturing the next generation of data professionals.
In the final category, The Business and Innovation Award, Oluwafemi Adeola Adedipe, a graduate of the University of Southampton emerged as the winner. Oluwafemi is an entrepreneur focusing on financial access for underserved businesses across Nigeria’s informal sector.
He is the founder of StreetCred and Pistis Finserve, Pistis Sustainability Essay Competition as well as the Pistis Young Scholars Programme, a leadership development platform for high achieving students.
His companies have collectively provided more than N1 Billion (approx. $2.5 million) in loans to more than 10,000 women traders, artisans, and street vendors across Nigeria, serving customers from 34 business locations.
Paris Petgrave is the Founder and CEO of ‘We Love Work’, a disruptive hiring app that assesses organisational culture and predicts job applicants that are the best fit. Paris is also the founding partner of ‘Rare Seed Capital’, an angel led investment fund that invests in high growth tech start-ups with diverse teams.
Paris has worked with a number of large multinational organisations including Barclays, PWC, Virgin, Deloitte, Walmart and the NHS.
Peter Ogbu Okwoche is a broadcaster and has been in the broadcasting industry for 25 years, with over 14years of them spent at BBC.
He joined one of Nigeria's leading publications, Hints Magazine in February 1996. And in 2002, he resumed active broadcasting at Rhythm 93.7 FM.
While at Rhythm, he presented numerous programmes including the breakfast show, Morning Drive. In 2004, Peter's talents were snapped up by the world's leading broadcasting organisation the British Broadcasting Corporation.
Prepare for career opportunities with hundreds of video tutorials and training courses on a wide array of software applications and professional development topics.
Professor Duro Oni is a cultural guru and distinguished scholar.
Rafiu Akinpelu Olaore is the founder of YEDIS, an NGO empowering youth through entrepreneurship education. He has impacted over 200,000 individuals globally and spoken at 31 local and 15 international forums, including the One Young World Summit and UN conferences. Rafiu holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship from the University of Essex and an MBA from Ekiti State University. He’s a recipient of numerous awards, including the British Council’s 2024 Professional Training Prize.
Samson Igoche Attah is a co-founder at Aiivon Innoation Hub, Abuja.
SANDRA ITU is the CEO of Leyi Ush, a fashion brand that offers emerging and established designers space in its studio to showcase their merchandise and grow their brands. She is a certified Fashion Stylist from the School of Style, California and University of the Arts, London.
In 2016, she was nominated for the Future Awards Africa Prize for Fashion and in 2017, chosen as one of the 50 "Future Leaders: Young People to Watch" in Cross River.
Sarah Kuponiyi is a social health entrepreneur, public health expert, and advocate for gender equality and menstrual health equity. As Founder/CEO of Alora Reusable Pads, she has distributed 20,000+ eco-friendly pads. Through the AWA Initiative, she has provided SRH education to 15,000+ adolescents. A Chevening Scholar and Mandela Washington Fellow, she researches menstrual health policy and integrates Femtech solutions to drive health equity in Nigeria.