Citizen by Zikoko

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Adebukola Benjamin

Head of Media & Communication, Chess in Slums Africa

Adebukola Benjamin is Head of Media & Communications at Chess in Slums Africa, a social impact initiative that empowers vulnerable children through chess, education, and mentorship. Since joining in 2018, she has led the organization’s digital presence, growing its community to over 150,000 followers across multiple platforms. Adebukola drives strategic storytelling to amplify voices that are often excluded. She has directly enhanced fundraising efforts, strengthened support for the organization’s mission, and created opportunities for inclusion through diverse stakeholder engagement. As a strong believer in the principle of UBUNTU, “I am because we are,” Adebukola is committed to driving social change through collaboration, storytelling, and youth empowerment.

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Nabilah Usman

Broadcast Journalist

Nabilah Usman is a broadcast journalist and General Manager at Radio Now 95.3FM, Lagos, where she co-hosts Now Breakfast, a flagship drive-time show focused on governance, policy, and public accountability. She previously hosted Pivotal, a national television programme by Daria Media exploring innovative solutions to Nigeria’s pressing challenges, and served as Associate Producer for The Candidates 2023 and Open Square, advancing legislative transparency and civic dialogue. Nabilah serves on the board of the Centre for Climate Action, Innovation and Engagement. Beyond broadcasting, she contributes to Africa’s literary and civic spaces, co-editing Twaweza and previously leading programme development at the African Writers Development Trust.

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Eromosele Adene

Director, ABENOL Foundation

Eromosele Adene, popularly known as Eromz is a prominent Nigerian nation-builder and community strategist dedicated to engineering “Social Mobility Engines” bridging the country’s underserved populations to life transforming opportunites. As the Director of the ABENOL Foundation, he leads high-impact interventions ranging from large-scale medical crowdfunding, having raised over tens of millions of Naira for pediatric surgeries last year alone, to the Legacy WASH initiative, which provides sustained menstrual hygiene support to thousands of secondary school students. Recognized for his ability to bridge the gap between grassroots activism and institutional accountability, Eromz is currently spearheading the UESS National Tour, a 5 year 20-university tour designed to equip 100,000 undergraduates with the essential skills and “Class-Bridges” required for global employability and recognition. An alumnus of Babcock University, his work is characterized by a “Data-First” approach to impact, utilizing rigorous monitoring and evaluation to turn awareness into tangible, systemic pressure.

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Kadaria Ahmed

Journalist & Media Entrepreneur

Kadaria Ahmed is a distinguished Nigerian-British journalist and media entrepreneur. She serves on the Board of Trustees of the International Press Institute Nigeria and as Treasurer to the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria and she has been listed among the five most influential figures in Nigerian media. As Executive Director of Daria Media and Managing Director of Radio Now 95.3 FM, she leads platforms dedicated to factual, citizen-focused journalism promoting accountability, inclusion, and nation-building. Her work—supported by the Ford Foundation, PLAC, and the MacArthur Foundation—has advanced public service journalism that confronts inequality, identity politics, and poor governance. Kadaria is recognised as Nigeria’s foremost broadcast interviewer, having produced and anchored influential national debates and documentaries. Her interviews with leading political, business, and civic figures often shape policy conversations and serve as journalistic reference material. She began her career at the BBC in London, working across the African Service and the BBC World Service newsroom. She later served as the pioneer Editor of NEXT newspaper, which redefined investigative journalism in Nigeria. A Chevening Scholar, she holds an M.A. in Television from Goldsmiths’ College, University of London, and a B.A. in Mass Communication from Bayero University Kano.

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Ayomide Akinbode

Founder, HistoryVille

Ayomide Akinbode is the founder of HistoryVille, Nigeria’s foremost online history magazine, which has grown into a trusted platform for history enthusiasts through engaging articles, discussions, and public history advocacy. Driven by a passion for preserving and sharing the stories of the past, Akinbode has earned recognition as an influential voice in history journalism and historical storytelling in Nigeria.

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Ikemesit Effiong

Lawyer

Ikemesit Effiong is a lawyer and strategic advisor specialising in the intersection of corporate governance, political risk, and public policy across Sub-Saharan Africa. He has served as an outside consultant to four Nigerian governorship races and advised multinationals—including MTN, Multichoice, British American Tobacco, and Coca-Cola—on regulatory compliance, corporate communications, and CSR strategy. Governments and global brands leverage his network across business, diplomacy, and civil society to navigate Nigeria’s complex operating environment and deepen their developmental footprint.

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Tomiwa Aladekomo

CEO, Big Cabal Media

Tomiwa Aladekomo is the Chief Executive Officer at Big Cabal Media (BCM), where he oversees the development and business operations of TechCabal and Zikoko – two of the most prominent online platforms for Technology and youth-focused content in Nigeria. At BCM, Tomiwa is instrumental in building the next generation of African media brands and developing compelling original content that captures the essence of African stories. An experienced business executive, Tomiwa Aladekomo has built a wealth of experience working extensively in the media and marketing industry across Nigeria and North America. He has successfully led BCM through a transformative journey that has positioned it as one of the most exciting new media companies in Africa.

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Anita Eboigbe

COO, Big Cabal Media

Anita Eboigbe is the Chief Operating Officer of Big Cabal Media, publishers of TechCabal and Zikoko. She is a communications expert, researcher, journalist and media business operator. Anita is actively committed to growing the African media industry through research for business development and guiding execution. Her work focuses on improving the industry by creating workable roadmaps and leading strategic direction.

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Ufuoma Nnamdi-Udeh

Executive Director Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria

<table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Ufuoma Nnamdi-Udeh is the Executive Director of Enough is Enough (EiE) Nigeria, a leading civic engagement and good-governance organisation. At the helm of EiE from January 2026, she leads national campaigns that amplify citizen voice, strengthen accountability, and deepen democratic participation across Nigeria. Ufuoma has been central to high-impact initiatives like #OfficeOfTheCitizen, #RSVP (Register | Select | Vote | Protect) and the grassroots #myLGA project, mobilising citizens to demand transparency and responsive governance. Under her leadership, EiE continues to shape public discourse on issues such as electoral integrity and public policy. Previously, she rose through EiE’s programmes team and has experience in strategic project design, advocacy, and civic education.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

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Funmilola Sanya

Editor at BellaNaija

Funmilola Sanya is an Editor at BellaNaija, where she tells stories that celebrate people, culture, and the creative voices shaping Africa. Her work spans features, interviews, and cultural coverage: spotlighting creatives, documenting festivals, and exploring the intersections of identity, creativity, and everyday African life. Her work highlights innovation, progress, and the people creating change. A storyteller at heart, Funmilola believes everyone is a walking story waiting to be told. She’s drawn to narratives that reflect the richness and everyday realities of the continent and has a knack for making them feel warm, relatable, and deeply human.

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Ganiu Oloruntade

Senior Editor at Techcabal

<table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Ganiu Oloruntade is a Senior Editor at TechCabal, Africa’s leading technology publication. In his current role, he leads a team of talented reporters covering important stories across five key verticals: Money, Policy and Enterprise, Life and Work, Startups and Emerging Technologies. He joined TechCabal as a Reporter and wrote about startups, policy, and government.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

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Douglas Kendyson

Founder & CEO, Selar

Douglas Kendyson is the Founder & CEO of Selar, Africa’s leading platform for digital entrepreneurs. He worked at Flutterwave and Paystack, two of Africa’s most successful billion-dollar fintech startup. He brings deep experience in fintech and online payments. Since launching Selar in 2016, he has helped over 2 million users monetise digital products, paying out more than $10 million to African creators. Douglas is passionate about empowering entrepreneurs to build sustainable online businesses and is shaping the future of work across the continent through digital commerce.

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Oswald Osaretin Guobadia

Senior Policy Adviser and Digital Strategy Leader

Oswald Osaretin Guobadia is a senior policy adviser and digital strategy leader with over 25 years building infrastructure and shaping transformative policy across Africa. In his career on the continent and now as Managing Partner at DigitA, Oswald has guided projects and policy innovations that have created impact in countries across Africa, helping to set the pace for inclusive digital development and entrepreneurial growth. He has led the rollout of innovative platforms, such as the UNDP Africa timbuktoo Policy approach and national innovation and entrepreneurship strategies. Oswald’s advisory reach includes serving presidential offices, leading government agencies, collaborating with multilateral partners, and forging public–private partnerships to help build resilient infrastructure and regulatory frameworks. As Senior Special Assistant on Digital Transformation to the President of Nigeria, he steered Nigeria’s largest startup policy rollout, including the acclaimed Nigeria Startup Act—widely recognized as a benchmark for digital economies. He has shared his insights at TEDx, the United Nations General Assembly, BBC Africa, CNBC Africa, and the Wharton Africa Business Forum, and has graced numerous influential panels and stages globally. Oswald is also an entrepreneur, board member, published author, and tireless champion for African innovation. He believes, “the next startup to impact the world will start in an African village.”

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Gbenga Sesan

Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative

Gbenga Sesan is the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative, a pan-African social enterprise working on digital inclusion and digital rights, with offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A 2008 Ashoka Fellow, he served on Nigeria’s Presidential Committees for Harmonization of the Information Technology, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Sectors (2006) and the Roadmap for the Achievement of Accelerated Universal Broadband Infrastructure and Services Provision (2013). He served as Vice Chair of the African Technical Advisory Committee for the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, was appointed to the inaugural High-Level Leadership Panel of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) by UN Secretary- General António Guterres in August 2022, is a member of the International Panel on the Information Environment’s Scientific Panel on Global Standards for AI Auditing, and serves on the Standard Organisation of Nigeria’s National Technical Committee on Digitally Delivered Services.

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Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie

Anchor & National Correspondent, Arise News

Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie is a Nigerian journalist, historian, and lawyer with a strong focus on governance, lawmaking, and national security. She brings a rare interdisciplinary perspective to public affairs reporting, combining legal analysis, historical context, and investigative storytelling to illuminate Nigeria’s democratic institutions. With extensive experience covering the National Assembly and public policy, Adesuwa is known for uncovering untold stories behind legislation, power, and statecraft, connecting past decisions to present consequences. Her work translates complex constitutional and legislative issues into clear, compelling narratives that deepen public understanding and accountability. She is an Anchor and National Assembly Correspondent for ARISE News and produces and hosts Untold Stories with Adesuwa Program as well as the Bad Natives Podcast.

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Chiamaka Dike

Broadcast Journalist, BBC Africa

Chiamaka Dike is a broadcast journalist and producer with BBC News Africa, contributing to Focus on Africa, the BBC’s flagship television programme and podcast bringing African perspectives to major political, economic, and social developments across the continent and beyond. Her work focuses on delivering accurate, context-driven journalism that makes complex developments accessible to global audiences.

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Ibijoke Faborode

Founder & CEO, ElectHER

Ibijoke Faborode is a social entrepreneur and governance strategist advancing inclusive institutions and economic systems across Africa. She is the Founder & CEO of ElectHER, a pan-African organisation strengthening gender-responsive governance, and Founder of the Africa Female Founders Collective (AFFC), a platform expanding capital access and data visibility for women-led ventures. As Strategic Lead of the ElectHER Policy & Research Center, she drives policy design, data innovation, and institutional reform initiatives. Under her leadership, ElectHER has produced 40+ research publications, launched Hernalytics- a gender-responsive election data platform, and supported legislative reforms, including co-drafting Nigeria’s Independent Candidacy Bill in the 10th assembly. Recognised as a BBC 100 Women Honoree, Ibijoke speaks globally on governance innovation, data systems design, and building resilient institutions that unlock inclusive growth across emerging markets.

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Chika Agu

Journalist

Chika is a multimedia journalist reporting on issues of national and global significance. Across digital platforms, he translates complex political and socio-economic stories into accessible and engaging conversations for audiences who might not typically follow hard news, bridging the gap between public affairs and everyday citizens. He has worked across radio at leading stations including The Beat FM and Radio Now, and has occasionally hosted Pivotal on Channels TV. His work has included moderating national conversations, interviewing federal lawmakers on Open Square, and engaging political aspirants on The Candidates, always with a focus on clarity, accountability, and informed civic dialogue.

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Samson Toromade

Storytelling and Community Lead, Archiving

Samson Toromade is a journalist with a decade of work in Nigeria’s media space, focused on making sense of social and political issues for everyday people. Archiving is on a mission to recapture lost Nigerian history. We digitise old newspapers and magazines, making them accessible to everyone. Our collections offer a window into the past, giving people the tools to explore, learn, and connect history with the present.

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Amaka Okechukwu Opara

Founding Partner, WEAV Capital

Amaka is an investment professional with over 18 years of experience in finance and investments. She is the Founding Partner of WEAV Capital, a mission-driven venture capital-fund that invests in gender-smart companies spearheading innovation in the future of climate,future of finance, and the future of work. She previously worked at the WorldBank on private sector development, directly managing a portfolio of over $1.3 billion in projects across Sub-Saharan Africa. She has extensive experience in funding and providing technical assistance to entrepreneurs, business incubators, and venture capital firms in Sub-Saharan Africa. She sits on the board of several companies.

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Zia Yusuf

Audience editor, TechCabal

Zia Yusuf is an Audience Editor at TechCabal. During the day, she spends her time writing stories about the people and startups that make up Africa’s tech ecosystem, and thinking up ways these stories can get to the people who need to read them. When she’s off the clock, she consumes film, fiction and too much tea.

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Adesuwa Imasekha

Project Officer, Media in Gender, CJID

Adesuwa Imasekha is an executive leader and investment strategist with nearly two decades of experience spanning capital, governance, and inclusive development across Africa. She is the Group Chief Executive of TAI Corp, where she leads strategic investments in energy transition and digital infrastructure, and serves as Director of Technology, Energy & Infrastructure for an Africa-focused credit fund overseeing capital deployment into high-impact sectors. She is also the Founder and President of Women Impacting Nigeria (WIN), a leading civic empowerment platform mobilising women to engage governance systems and drive accountability. Adesuwa is widely recognised for her work advancing ESG, digital equity, and institutional accountability, and is a frequent contributor to policy and economic development dialogues across Africa.

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Joachim MacEbong

Political Risk Analyst

Joachim is a political risk analyst and data science professional with 15 years of experience analysing governance, policy, and economic issues across West Africa. He has a proven ability to translate data-driven insights into actionable recommendations for governments, international organisations, and private sector clients. He has also completed an MSc in Data Science with a focus on applying Data Science to solve Africa’s complex development challenges. He is frequently featured in local and international media, providing expert commentary on Nigerian politics and policy.

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Cynthia Mbamalu

Director of Programs, Yiaga Africa

Cynthia Onyinye Mbamalu is a human and gender rights advocate with 19 years ofexperience promoting democracy, youth and women’s political inclusion, legislative and policy reforms, electoral integrity, human rights and transformational leadership. A lawyer with an LLM in Comparative Constitutional Law from Central European University (CEU), she co-founded Yiaga Africa and serves as its Director of Programs, leading initiatives in democratic practice, political inclusion, gender equality, and electoral integrity in Nigeria and Africa. She has led and participated in election observation missions in multiple African countries and the USA. She spearheads the #WatchingTheVote project, a data-driven initiative for election integrity. A founding leader of the Not Too Young to Run movement, she helped lower the constitutional age for contesting elections in Nigeria. As an experienced and certified community organiser, she manages the Community Organising program for young people in Nigeria and West Africa, she mentors youth, and hosts the UnAmplified Podcast on democracy and development in Africa. She is an alumna of executive programs at Harvard Kennedy School of Government, CEU, University of South Africa (UNISA), and the University of Cape Town. She is a member of the Board of Amnesty International Nigeria, amongst others.

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WHO SHAPES
THE NIGERIAN LIFE?

WHAT TO EXPECT

Schedule of Activities

Opening Remarks

Opening Remarks

Keynote Speech

Keynote Speech

The Citizen Exhibition Walkthrough

The Citizen Exhibition Walkthrough

Panel 1: Innovation Under Pressure: How Politics Shapes What Can Be Built in Nigeria

Panel 1: Innovation Under Pressure: How Politics Shapes What Can Be Built in Nigeria

Fireside Chat : Rebuilding Trust: Media, Democracy and the Nigerian Citizen

Fireside Chat : Rebuilding Trust: Media, Democracy and the Nigerian Citizen

The Citizen Report Launch

The Citizen Report Launch

Intermission / Partner Segment

Intermission / Partner Segment

Fireside chat 2: YIAGA Africa x Citizen

Fireside chat 2: YIAGA Africa x Citizen

Panel 2: The Nigerian Life–Then, Now, and What Changed

Panel 2: The Nigerian Life–Then, Now, and What Changed

Panel 3: Representation: Women, Youth, and the Cost of Exclusion

Panel 3: Representation: Women, Youth, and the Cost of Exclusion

Break/Networking

Break/Networking

Community Chat

Community Chat

Panel 4: From Awareness to Pressure: How Accountability Actually Works in Nigeria

Panel 4: From Awareness to Pressure: How Accountability Actually Works in Nigeria

Audience Plenary

Audience Plenary

Closing Remarks

Closing Remarks

SPEAKERS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GALLERY

WHO SHAPESTHE NIGERIAN LIFE?

WHAT TO EXPECT

Schedule of Activities

Opening Remarks

Opening Remarks

Keynote Speech

Keynote Speech

The Citizen Exhibition Walkthrough

The Citizen Exhibition Walkthrough

Panel 1: Innovation Under Pressure: How Politics Shapes What Can Be Built in Nigeria

Panel 1: Innovation Under Pressure: How Politics Shapes What Can Be Built in Nigeria

Fireside Chat : Rebuilding Trust: Media, Democracy and the Nigerian Citizen

Fireside Chat : Rebuilding Trust: Media, Democracy and the Nigerian Citizen

The Citizen Report Launch

The Citizen Report Launch

Intermission / Partner Segment

Intermission / Partner Segment

Fireside chat 2: YIAGA Africa x Citizen

Fireside chat 2: YIAGA Africa x Citizen

Panel 2: The Nigerian Life–Then, Now, and What Changed

Panel 2: The Nigerian Life–Then, Now, and What Changed

Panel 3: Representation: Women, Youth, and the Cost of Exclusion

Panel 3: Representation: Women, Youth, and the Cost of Exclusion

Break/Networking

Break/Networking

Community Chat

Community Chat

Panel 4: From Awareness to Pressure: How Accountability Actually Works in Nigeria

Panel 4: From Awareness to Pressure: How Accountability Actually Works in Nigeria

Audience Plenary

Audience Plenary

Closing Remarks

Closing Remarks

SPEAKERS

Speaker One

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

GALLERY

WHO SHAPES
THE NIGERIAN LIFE?