Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)
Abike Dabiri-Erewa
Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)
Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON, has been described as a sterling Nigerian amazon, an outstandingly brilliant broadcaster who later transmitted to an outstandingly brilliant parliamentarian. A compassionate, fair, firm respected and courageous leader. Mama Diaspora ,as she is fondly called, pioneered efforts in putting Nigerian Diaspora Affairs on the front burner. As pioneer Chairman House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, her major spotlight was in her advocacy for fairness and justice abroad, anywhere in the world.
Before her foray into Politics, she served at the NTA for 15 years, where she was fondly called ” Mother Teresa of the Tube , for using television to change lives. After serving three times in Parliament, she voluntarily decided not to seek re-election.
She later served as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora form 2016 and now she is the pioneer Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) a position she is serving with diligence, effectiveness and passion.
Deidre White
CEO, Pyxera Global
Deidre White
CEO, Pyxera Global
Deirdre White is a globally recognized leader in building multi-sector partnerships to address the world’s most pressing challenges. Since joining PYXERA Global in 2002, the organization has transformed into the leading organization for convening and maximizing social impact through strong and strategic partnerships. Widely cited as a thought leader at the intersection of international development and corporate citizenship, Deirdre is a member of the Board of Directors for the Coalition for Racial and Ethnic Equity in Development (CREED), on the Advisory Council for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and on the Leadership Council of Better World Leadership. She previously served on the Advisory Board of MIT Ideas Global Challenge and the MIT PKG Public Service Center, and on the Boards of Directors for IMPACT 2030, Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA), and the US Center for Citizen Diplomacy.
Deirdre’s expertise spans private, public, and social sector experiences. She began her career in the private sector, working with Welt International, a niche consultancy engaged in non-conventional means (barter and countertrade) of financing international trade ventures. She later expanded her private sector experience as a Senior Manager in the Public Sector Practice at Arthur D. Little, Inc., leading post-privatization restructuring efforts for large manufacturing enterprises in Russia and Ukraine. She also led projects focused on strategy and organization for USAID, the US Trade and Development Agency, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, along with numerous government agencies across Eurasia. In addition, Deirdre served as an organizational development advisor to several of the largest Eurasian private firms.
Denim Richards
Founder/CEO, Opulent Entertainment Group, Actor, producer
Denim Richards
Founder/CEO, Opulent Entertainment Group, Actor, producer
Denim Richards is a dynamic and captivating speaker with over 10 years of experience, combining authenticity and passion to inspire audiences worldwide. With a unique ability to connect through storytelling and personal insights, he empowers listeners to embrace resilience, purpose, and creativity. His engaging presence leaves a lasting impact, motivating individuals to unlock their fullest potential.
Dr. Courtney Cash
President of the World Shoe Fund
Dr. Courtney Cash
President of the World Shoe Fund
Dr. Courtney Cash is president of the World Shoe Fund, where he served as the lead strategist in the development of the World Shoe social enterprise. Dr. Cash is also the founder of Simply Strategic Consulting, with almost 30 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, ministry, and consulting. His work has helped to expand the capacity of nonprofits to impact thousands of people in more than 50 countries through strategic planning, storytelling, donor engagement, and impact collaborations. Dr. Cash is a seminary-trained nonprofit and ministry leader with degrees and certifications in Education, Leadership, and Business. Dr. Cash also currently serves as Executive in Residence at the Berry College Campbell School of Business, where he mentors young entrepreneurs and teaches courses in Social Entrepreneurship and Nonprofit Management. Currently, his research is focused on the development of multi-sectoral social enterprise models, market-based solutions for scaling the work of nonprofits, and the use of collective impact strategies to address major social challenges in local communities and larger international ecosystems.
Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme
Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet International
Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme
Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet International
Emmanuel “Manny” Ohonme serves as the Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Samaritan’s Feet International, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to giving hope by giving new shoes to those in need. Additionally, he is the Founder and Chairman of World Shoe, Inc., a multinational social enterprise focused on manufacturing innovative footwear in Africa. Manny grew up in Nigeria and received his first pair of tennis shoes at the age of nine from a Good Samaritan” visiting his country. Those shoes became a symbol of hope as he earned a college basketball scholarship in the U.S. and began a career in the technology industry. Manny never forgot the children of his homeland or the Good Samaritan” who encouraged him to believe in his dreams. In 2003, Manny and his wife, Tracie, founded Samaritan’s Feet and distributed more than 11 million pairs of shoes in 113 countries and over 625 U.S. cities. Manny has leveraged his success and unique perspective to drive social impact on a visionary scale. Manny is committed to the betterment of communities worldwide and wants to repay that encouraging gift he received at the age of nine by giving hope through the gift of shoes to those in need around the world.
H.E. José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva
Prime Minister of Cabo Verde
H.E. José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva
Prime Minister of Cabo Verde
His Excellency Jose Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva is the fifth Prime Minister of the
Republic of Cabo Verde and is also President of Movement for Democracy (MPD), the
country’s majority party.
Since becoming the head of government in April 2016, Prime Minister Correia e Silva
has led Cabo Verde along the path of sustained economic growth and critical political
reform. Early domestic indicators of success include: Significant surges in GDP growth
with corresponding reductions in public debt; a rapid influx of foreign direct investment
and tourism activity; declining unemployment rates; and expanded educational and
entrepreneurial opportunities for citizens. The Prime Minister has also championed a
pragmatic, regional approach to problem-solving and forged unprecedented partnerships
with municipal leaders.
Internationally, Prime Minister Correia e Silva has been instrumental in building Cabo
Verde’s reputation as the historic crossroads of Africa, the Americas, and Europe while
simultaneously strengthening its emerging strategic value for transatlantic collaboration.
In July 2018, Cabo Verde presided over the annual Summit of the Community of
Portuguese Speaking Countries and will lead the Community for the next two years.
Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Mr. Correia e Silva was the Mayor of Praia, Cabo’s
Verde largest city and capital. During his two terms and eight years in office, Praia
experienced an economic and cultural renaissance, ultimately leading to his reception of
the 2015 African Mayor Award.
Mr. Correia e Silva began his professional career in 1989 at Banco de Cabo Verde, the
country’s central bank, where he rose to the position of Managing Director. He was later
appointed Deputy Minister of Finance and soon thereafter Minister of Finance, the
youngest person to hold that position. In 2001, he was first elected as a member of the
National Assembly representing MPD and became Minority Leader in 2008.
The Prime Minister has a degree in Business Organization and Management from
Technical University of Lisbon, School of Economics. He also taught for nearly a
decade at University of Jean Piaget, the first private institution of higher education
established in Cabo Verde. He is married to Elsa Correia e Silva and they have two
children.
panelists
Yohannes Assefa
Director at Stalwart Management Consultancy Services LLC, African Diaspora Network Executive Leadership Council Member
Yohannes Assefa
Director at Stalwart Management Consultancy Services LLC, African Diaspora Network Executive Leadership Council Member
Mr. Assefa is an attorney and international development expert with over 20 years of experience in the United States and Africa (Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Mali). Mr. Assefa specializes in trade facilitation, trade policy (WTO), regional integration, business enabling environmental reform, structured trade/finance, investment/finance facilitation and market system development. Mr. Assefa served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Addis Ababa University Faculty of Law (2011), and Adjunct Professor of International Business at The George Washington University (2013–2015).
Yaw Bediako
CEO, Yemaachi Biotech
Yaw Bediako
CEO, Yemaachi Biotech
Yaw Bediako is a Ghanaian immunologist and biotech entrepreneur with a PhD from Northwestern University in the United States and post-doctoral fellowships in Kenya and London. In 2020, Yaw founded Yemaachi Biotech to increase the representation of African data in oncology drug discovery. Yaw is a 2021 Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellow (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation), a fellow of the Ghana Young Academy and an affiliate member of the African Academy of Sciences. In 2022, Yaw was recognized as one of the top 40 under 40 business people in Ghana, and in January of 2023, was selected as one of the 100 most influential Africans by the New African magazine.
Vincent Okungu
Senior Researcher, University of Nairobi
Vincent Okungu
Senior Researcher, University of Nairobi
Okungu is a Calestous Juma Fellow and a career Health Economist serving in various technical leadership roles to advise on and produce policy documentation and presentations on health sector financing, planning, and evaluation. His research interests are focused around sustainable health financing, healthcare equity and access, and value for money. As a researcher, some of his notable achievements include forecasting costs for national strategy deployment and financing for sustainable public health interventions in Rwanda; improving the potential of domestic mobilization of resources and planning health expenditure using the cost model and sustainability plan (Kenya & Rwanda); and co-authored and produced a comprehensive global report on care quality improvements, policy reviews and evaluations. He consults for African governments and international agencies on innovative financing and policy formulation.
