2024 speakers

H.E. Nadia Fettah, appointed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI on October 7, 2021, is the first woman appointed to this position in the Kingdom of Morocco. Born in 1971, H.E. Nadia Fettah was the Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, Air Transport, and Social Economy between 2019 and 2021. A high school graduate from the “Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales” in Paris in 1994, H.E. Nadia Fettah started her career as a consultant in one of the largest financial studies offices before founding an investment fund in Morocco, which she managed for five years. 

After managing a Moroccan insurance company, H.E. Nadia Fettah accompanied a global holding corporate in developing its capital in Africa and the Middle East. In 2017, H.E. Nadia Fettah was Chief Executive Manager of a group of companies in Africa before being appointed as Minister. 

In parallel to her ministerial mission, H.E. Nadia Fettah is active in the associative field, as she was one of the founders of the Women’s Club, members of the boards of directors, as well as the global network “Women Corporate Directors.” H.E. Nadia Fettah was crowned the 2018 title of “The Best Contracting Director” at the African level during a continental meeting organized in Abidjan.

Amir Ben Yahmed graduated from INSEEC in 1993. After working for the investment banking and brokerage firm, Gruntal & co, based in New York City, he quickly joined Jeune Afrique Media Group where he has been managing the company and leading its development program.  In 2012, he founded the Africa CEO Forum, which within a few years has become the largest annual gathering of the African private sector.

Dr Sidi Ould Tah, a Mauritanian, became the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group. He took office on 1 September 2025, for an initial five-year term, with the objective of repositioning the Bank to act with greater agility, accountability and proximity to its clients, in the service of Africa’s economic transformation.

He has begun this repositioning around his strategic vision, the “Four Cardinal Points”: Unlock Africa’s Capital Power; Rebuild Africa’s Financial Sovereignty; Turn Demographics into a Dividend; Build Resilient Infrastructure and Competitive Value Chains. At its heart is the New African Financial Architecture for Development (NAFAD) — resting on subsidiarity, complementarity, coordination and risk transformation.

NAFAD aims at mobilising the continent’s own resources, alongside those of the Bank Group’s partners, to help close Africa’s estimated $400 billion annual development financing gap.

Since taking office, this vision has translated into action: the seventeenth replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF-17), the Bank Group’s concessional window, concluded in December 2025 with a record $11 billion mobilised. The African Union Summit endorsed NAFAD in February 2026; and in Brazzaville in May 2026, the Board of Governors Four Cardinal Points made the Four Cardinal Points the institution’s strategic direction.

An economist and development finance leader with extensive public-sector and multilateral experience, Dr Sidi Ould Tah served as President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) from 2015 to 2025, during which the institution moved from unrated to AAA/Aa1/AA+ credit ratings. He also served as Mauritania’s Minister of Economy and Finance from 2008 to 2015.

Dr Sidi Ould Tah holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, France. He is fluent in Arabic, French and English, and has a working knowledge of Portuguese and Spanish.

Jean-Claude Kassi BROU is the Governor of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), appointed by the Conference of Heads of State and Government of UEMOA and sworn in on 8 July 2022.

From March 2018 to 2022, he served as President of the ECOWAS Commission. In 2012, he was Minister of Industry and Mines of Côte d’Ivoire. In 2010, he joined the World Bank as Resident Representative in Chad, after serving in 2009 as Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo on macroeconomics, private sector development, and public enterprise reform.

At BCEAO, he held several senior positions: Special Advisor to the Governor (2007‑2008), General Controller and Director of the Department of Economic and Monetary Studies (2006‑2007), Director of Studies (2003‑2006), and Director of International Relations (2000‑2003).

In Côte d’Ivoire, he was Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister and President of the National Investment Committee (1996‑1999), following his role as Economic and Financial Advisor to the Prime Minister (1991‑1995).

He began his career at the IMF in 1982, serving as Senior Economist for Guinea-Bissau, Togo, Cape Verde, and Senegal, before becoming Resident Representative in Senegal eight years later.

A polyglot, he speaks French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish. He is married with two children.

Aivo Handriatiana ANDRIANARIVELO was appointed Governor of Banky Foiben’i Madagasikara by the Council of Ministers on 04 January 2023, after working for 30 years as an economist in banking and finance. An economist with in-depth knowledge of capital markets and a specialist in banking operations, he also has solid experience in business management, project diagnosis and set-up and financing, as well as in the management of public and private funds. Before becoming Governor of BFM, Aivo Andrianarivelo worked as an Executive Director and member of the Board of Directors of the International Monetary Fund, representing 23 countries in Africa II. He gained previous experience at bank level, then with Catholic Relief Services as Finance Director. He then became Managing Director and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Fonds de Portage et de Privatisation, a company that manages and sells shares on behalf of the Malagasy government. He then served as a technical adviser in the office of the Minister of Economy and Finance, prior to his position as Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). A graduate in economics and banking techniques, he has also completed a number of training programmes in foreign exchange, money markets, foreign exchange, capital markets, project structuring, management and leadership.

Serge EKUE takes office as President of the West African Development Bank (BOAD) in 2020.

Prior to joining BOAD, Serge EKUE had headed Natixis’ Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) activities for the UK in London since 2016. He combined this responsibility with that of Market Solutions for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Serge Ekue was also head of the Africa and Russia Departments at Natixis.

A recognized expert in Financial and Capital Markets, Serge EKUE headed Natixis’ Markets Activities for the Asia-Pacific region for almost six years (2010-2016) before taking over as Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong-based bank. He has over twenty years’ experience in International Finance, Structured Finance and Capital Markets, having exercised these broad responsibilities worldwide.

He holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris, a DESS in Banking and Finance from Paris V, and a diploma from the Institut d’Études Politiques in Bordeaux, and has extensive international experience.

Dr. Yamungu M. Kayandabila serves as Deputy Governor of the Bank of Tanzania (BoT), responsible for economic and financial policies. A seasoned economist and public-sector leader, he plays a central role in shaping Tanzania’s macroeconomic strategy, monetary policy implementation, and financial-sector reforms.

In his current capacity, Dr. Kayandabila oversees the coordination of monetary and fiscal policy frameworks to sustain growth, maintain price stability, and promote financial inclusion. Speaking on behalf of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee in 2025, he highlighted the country’s solid economic performance – marked by 5.5 percent growth in 2024 – driven by agriculture, finance, mining, and construction.

A strong advocate for innovation in financial services, Dr. Kayandabila has called for new financing models to empower small- and medium-scale miners, whose limited access to capital constrains productivity and sectoral growth. Under his leadership, the Bank has intensified collaboration with institutions such as Afreximbank to expand project financing, credit guarantees, and tailored capital solutions for Tanzania’s real economy.

Before his appointment as Deputy Governor, Dr. Kayandabila built extensive experience across the Tanzanian financial system and academia, contributing to the development of economic policy and regulatory capacity. His work continues to focus on enhancing the resilience of the financial sector, strengthening monetary transmission mechanisms, and supporting sustainable, inclusive economic transformation.

Dr. Kayandabila is widely respected for his analytical rigor, pragmatic leadership, and commitment to aligning financial innovation with Tanzania’s national development goals.

Philip Sigwart is Group Chief Executive Officer of Baobab Group, a leading provider of inclusive financial services in Africa. Since 2019, he has led the Group’s transformation and growth across a seven-country platform serving 1.6 million customers, of whom more than 600,000 are active micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses. Roughly half of Baobab’s customers are women, and around 70 per cent were unbanked before joining the Group.

Baobab delivers credit, savings, payments and insurance through a hybrid model combining digital channels, agent networks and branches. The Group disburses more than USD 1.2 billion in new loans annually, manages over USD 1.3 billion in assets, mobilises substantial local-currency deposits, and employs more than 4,000 people.

Before joining Baobab, Philip was Group Head of SME Banking at Equity Bank in Kenya and held senior leadership roles with the ProCredit Group, including as CEO of its subsidiaries in Kosovo, Georgia and Congo DRC.

Following Baobab’s acquisition by Beltone Holding, part of the International Holding Company (IHC) ecosystem, Philip is leading the Group’s next phase: digital acceleration, deposit-led growth, and the transformation of Baobab into a broader African financial services platform serving underserved entrepreneurs at scale.

Jules Ngankam is the Group Chief Executive Officer of the African Guarantee Fund (AGF).

Under his leadership, AGF has expanded its operations in over 40 African countries, partnering with lending institutions to increase access to finance for Small and Medium Enterprises through AGF’s risk-sharing guarantees and capacity development assistance.

Jules has over 20 years of experience in banking and financial services. Prior to joining AGF, Jules worked with Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays PLC, in various roles including rates strategist, rates trader and treasury vice-president.

He holds Master’s Degrees in Business Administration, Statistics and Economics, Applied Mathematics, Applied Statistics as well as Computer Science. 

Jules is passionate about leveraging financial innovation to support financial inclusion and sustainable development. He firmly believes in supporting SMEs to fully realize their potential in driving economic growth, product innovation, regional development and job creation in Africa.

Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR is an investor, banker and philanthropist with a track record of major accomplishments in both for-profit and not-for-profit initiatives within Nigeria and beyond.

He co-founded Tengen Family Office and oversees a significant portfolio of investments and businesses in banking, finance, insurance, technology, real estate and energy. Through the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and its subsidiaries, the Africa Initiative for Governance and the Aig-Imoukhuede Institute, he is focused on building Nigeria’s next generation of government leaders, helping transform public sector effectiveness, and improving access to quality primary health care.

His career in banking and finance which spans over three decades in financial markets, investment banking, risk management, strategy and commercial banking has earned him international recognition. He was the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc between 2002 and 2013 where he led its transformation to a top five bank in Nigeria.

Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede was a member of Nigeria’s Banker’s Committee and in 2012, he led the banking sector’s’ voluntary adoption of the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles, an initiative that has since been emulated by several countries across the world. As Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidies, he is credited with saving Nigeria more than $6 billion in fraudulent petroleum subsidy claims.

He is the founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Financial Market Dealers Association and led the establishment of the FMDQ Securities Exchange. He was elected president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange Council in 2013, becoming the first African to earn the privilege of chairing two national exchange platforms. As president of the Exchange, he championed demutualisation, which was successfully completed in 2021.

He holds an Executive MBA jointly awarded by the London School of Economics, New York University and HEC Paris. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Benin and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. He received honorary degree from Olabisi Onabanjo University. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

He serves as Chairman of Enterprise NGR, a Nigerian financial and related professional services advocacy group. He was appointed a member of Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government International Advisory Board in 2017. His contributions towards universal health care for all Africans led to his appointment in 2011 as the first African co-chairman of the New York- based GBC Health, a private sector coalition against HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. He is a Board Member of the Aliko Dangote Foundation.

Ms. Coura Sène is one of West Africa’s leading business executives, with more than 20 years of experience in electronic money, telecommunications, and insurance. She currently serves as Regional Director and Board Member of Wave Digital Finance. Under her leadership, Wave has experienced remarkable growth in Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire and has become an increasingly prominent player across the French-speaking African region. In her role, she oversees business operations, licensing processes, and the overall business environment for Wave’s products and services.

Ms. Sène began her career as a software engineer and later became a project manager in the insurance sector in France, where she worked for over a decade. In 2012, she returned to Senegal to contribute to the country’s growth and innovation ecosystem, becoming a leading figure in Africa’s digital transformation. She has supported numerous organizations in their digitalization efforts through technical advisory services and was among the early advocates of digital financial services as a driver of financial inclusion within the WAEMU (UEMOA) region.

Ms. Sène holds a Master’s degree in Engineering from the prestigious Polytech Lille, University of Lille (France). She is passionate about technology, the digital economy, and the transformative potential of fintechs across the African continent.

She also serves as an Independent Director on the Board of Auchan Sénégal, one of the world’s leading retail groups. A strong advocate for women’s economic empowerment, she actively supports and contributes to initiatives that promote opportunities and inclusion for African women.

Mr. Benjelloun Touimi has extensive experience in the financial sector. He holds a Doctorate in Currency, Finance, and Banking from the University of Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne. He is the Deputy Managing Director and Board Member of BANK OF AFRICA, a Board Member of the Group’s European banking entities, and either Chairman of the Board or a Director of various Group companies in Morocco operating in investment banking, specialized financial services, and insurance. He also serves as a Board Member of RMA insurance company and its holding company, O Capital Group.

Additionally, he is a Board Member of the BMCE BANK Foundation for the Promotion of Education and Environmental Preservation, as well as the Othman Benjelloun Foundation.

He also serves on the Board of Directors of Proparco, the French development finance institution, and is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Casablanca Stock Exchange  

For over 15 years Erwan GELEBART has been at the heart of economic development in emerging countries, and he has successfully managed several fintech companies and financial institutions in Africa and Asia.

He is acclaimed for his visionary and innovative approach, having established electronic payment systems that serve more than 17 million active users across leading groups in Mali, Madagascar, and Pakistan.

In this role as CEO – Open Innovation & Fintech, he is overseeing the transformation of Axian Group’s fintech, with the ambition of supporting over 18 million mobile money customers while maintaining the Group’s position as an essential and innovative reference in the digital transformation of the continent.   

A graduate of the Mohammadia School of Engineers, Ouafae Mriouah began her career in organizational and digital transformation, first at BMCI before joining the CDG Group in 2000. There, she contributed to major projects, including the design and implementation of the IT master plan.

In 2006, she played a key role in the establishment of CDG Capital, the group’s investment bank, where she held various leadership positions in capital markets and asset management. In 2013, she was appointed CEO of CDG Capital Gestion, a subsidiary specializing in OPCVM management, while also serving as Deputy CEO of CDG Capital, overseeing all capital market and asset management activities.

In July 2023, leveraging her extensive experience and recognized leadership, Ouafae Mriouah was appointed CEO of Société Centrale de Réassurance, a strategic subsidiary of the CDG Group, with the mission of strengthening its position as a national and regional leader in the reinsurance sector.

Dr. Félix Edoh Kossi AMENOUNVE is the Chief Executive Officer of BRVM and the President of ASEA (Association of African Stock Exchanges). He holds a Doctorate in Administrative Sciences (Ph.D.), option Finance, obtained at Laval University in Canada in 1995. He is the architect of the major reforms of the WAEMU (UEMOA) financial market and is considered one of the most influential finance specialists in Africa.

Mr. Blaise Abel Ezo’o Engolo has served as Secretary General of the Inter-African Conference on Insurance Markets (CIMA) since December 2020, following his election by the fourteen member states of the Franc Zone. Headquartered in Libreville, Gabon, CIMA is the regional regulatory authority for the insurance industry across West and Central Africa.

With more than three decades of experience in the public financial administration of Cameroon and the African insurance sector, Mr. Ezo’o Engolo brings extensive regulatory and technical expertise to the role. Since taking office, he has been tasked with steering the implementation of key regional reforms, notably the increase in minimum share capital requirements for insurance companies, aimed at strengthening sectoral solvency and competitiveness within the CIMA zone.

Prior to his appointment, he served as Director of Insurance at the Ministry of Finance of Cameroon from 2015 to 2020, where he oversaw national insurance regulation and policy modernization. Concurrently, he chaired the Board of Directors of the Inter-African Conference on Insurance Markets Reinsurance Company (CICA-RE) beginning in 2019, after previously serving as its Administrator.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ezo’o Engolo has held several influential regional leadership roles, including Chairman of the CIMA Experts’ Committee, Administrator and Chair of the Board of CICA-RE, and Administrator and Audit and Risk Committee member at Africa Re. He has also presided over the Board of the International Insurance Institute (IIA) in Yaoundé, a leading center for professional training in insurance within the CIMA zone.

In parallel with his administrative career, he has been deeply involved in academic and professional training. He has lectured at the National School of Administration and Magistracy (ENAM) and the Advanced School of Mass Communication (ESSTIC) in Cameroon, and has chaired entrance and graduation juries at the International Insurance Institute (IIA).

A graduate of the Institute of Insurance of Tours (1988) and holder of a Post-graduate Diploma in Insurance (1989) from the François Rabelais University of Orléans-Tours (France), Mr. Ezo’o Engolo has built a distinguished career dedicated to the modernization, integration, and regulation of the African insurance sector.

As Secretary General of CIMA, he continues to promote stronger regional governance, enhanced financial soundness, and sustainable growth of the insurance market across West and Central Africa.

Abdeslam Alaoui Smaili is a visionary leader in the global payments industry, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of HPS, a fintech firm he co-founded in 1995. With over 30 years of experience, Abdeslam has driven HPS’s impressive growth, including its successful public listing, positioning the company as a pivotal player in the evolving digital payments landscape.

Abdeslam’s solid background in engineering and business management has enabled him to strategically guide HPS at the forefront of payment technology innovation. His leadership emphasizes adaptability and continuous technological advancement, resulting in secure, efficient, and accessible payment solutions that meet the diverse needs of global markets.

Renowned for his hands-on approach, Abdeslam is known for implementing complex payment solutions and crafting strategies that cater to the unique demands of various regions. His commitment to innovation and foresight has allowed HPS to anticipate and respond to rapid changes within the financial ecosystem.

A respected speaker at industry-leading conferences, Abdeslam is widely recognized as a thought leader in payments and fintech. He actively participates in global forums to advocate for best practices and regulatory frameworks that support financial innovation and inclusion, bridging the gap between emerging and established markets.

Abdeslam holds an engineering degree from Toulouse University and has completed executive programs at INSEAD and Harvard University. His leadership at HPS reflects his belief in the transformative power of technology in finance. Under his guidance, HPS has strengthened its competitive edge while contributing significantly to the global discourse on the future of digital payments.      

Mehdi Tazi est président de Cover Edge, société panafricaine d’insurtech et d’assistance issue de la transformation d’AXA Assistance Maroc, acquise par ASK Capital en 2022.

Sous sa direction, l’entreprise s’est profondément réinventée pour devenir un acteur de référence de l’assistance, de l’assurance voyage et de la micro-assurance en Afrique, grâce à une stratégie alliant innovation technologique et inclusion financière.

Depuis 2024, Cover Edge connaît une croissance soutenue, doublant à la fois ses effectifs et son chiffre d’affaires. Près de 40 % de ses revenus en réassurance proviennent désormais du continent africain, et une compagnie de réassurance a été ouverte à l’île Maurice pour accompagner le développement sur les marchés anglophones d’Afrique de l’Est.

Mehdi Tazi est également fondateur et président d’ASK Capital SA (depuis 2017), société d’investissement diversifiée, et président de Marsh Morocco, leader du courtage et du conseil en gestion des risques.

Il a précédemment dirigé SAHAM Assurance, d’abord comme directeur général (2011-2014), puis comme président-directeur général (2014-2017), contribuant à son expansion au Maroc et en Angola. De 2007 à 2010, il a occupé le poste de directeur général de Saham Assistance, développant une expertise reconnue dans les métiers de l’assistance et de l’assurance.

Diplômé d’un MBA de l’INSEAD (2004), Mehdi Tazi met son expérience et sa vision au service d’un objectif : bâtir un écosystème africain de l’assurance plus inclusif, innovant et connecté, capable d’accompagner durablement la croissance du continent.

Temi Popoola is the Group Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Exchange Group, having previously served as CEO of its subsidiary, Nigerian Exchange Limited. A Wall Street-trained investment banker, he began his career in London managing African energy assets before working as an equity derivatives trader at Bank of America Securities in New York.

He later led structured products at UBA and sales & trading at FCMB’s CSL Stockbrokers, advancing foreign investment into Nigeria. At Renaissance Capital, he rose to CEO for West Africa, driving revenue diversification.

An alumnus of the University of Lagos, MIT, and Harvard Business School, with a CFA charter. He serves on the Executive Committee of the African Securities Exchanges Association and chairs both Central Securities Clearing System and NG Clearing Limited, demonstrating his commitment to strengthening market infrastructure and transparency. His expertise spans investment, trading, banking, and global financial leadership.

Hana Tehelku is the Director General of the Ethiopian Capital Market Authority (ECMA), appointed in August 2024 to succeed Dr. Brook Taye. With more than a decade of experience in legal, regulatory, and prosecutorial affairs, she brings deep expertise in governance, economic law, and institutional reform to Ethiopia’s emerging financial ecosystem.

Before her appointment, Hana served as Legal Counsel at ECMA, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the Authority’s legal frameworks and enforcement systems. Between 2021 and 2024, she was Deputy Director General of the Economic Crime Directorate at the Ministry of Justice, leading national investigations and prosecutions of financial crimes. Prior to that, she was Team Lead at the Anti-Corruption Directorate, focusing on public enterprise offenses, and earlier served for over four years as a Public Prosecutor at the Federal Attorney General’s Office.

Her career began in 2013 as a Tax Attorney at the Ethiopian Customs and Revenue Authority, where she developed strong expertise in tax law and fiscal compliance.

Hana holds two master’s degrees: one in Law (Human Rights and Constitutional Law) from Addis Ababa University, and another in Community Development and Theology from the Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology. She also earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Mekelle University, specializing in administrative and international law.

Denis Charles Kouassi is a leading figure in social security management in Côte d’Ivoire. Currently the Director General of the Social Security Institution (IPS CNPS), he has built an impressive career marked by outstanding achievements and a forward-thinking vision.

A graduate in Economics in 1986, he joined the Ivorian Training Center for Social Security Executives (CIFOCSS), where he distinguished himself by graduating top of his class in 1988. His career began as a Research Officer, but his talent and leadership quickly led him to positions of greater responsibility. In 2014, he was appointed Director General of IPS CNPS.

Since taking office, Denis Charles Kouassi has driven a strong wave of modernization and performance within the institution. He spearheaded numerous initiatives that have made IPS CNPS a key player in social protection and a model of excellence in Côte d’Ivoire. Under his leadership, the institution was awarded the 2021 Public Administration Prize.

In 2024, he was named among the 100 most influential public figures by the Association of Lobbying and Public Affairs Advisors of Côte d’Ivoire (ACLAPCI). A true visionary, Denis Charles Kouassi has transformed IPS CNPS into a benchmark institution in the fields of social security and investment in Côte d’Ivoire. His innovative initiatives and proactive management have positioned the organization as a model for the rest of Africa and beyond.

Dr. Óscar Humberto Évora Santos has been serving as the Governor of Banco de Cabo Verde since January 4, 2021. Born on September 8, 1960, in Lém Ferreira, in the city of Praia, he is a Cape Verdean economist with a strong background in economic policy, public administration, and financial governance.

Before his appointment as Governor, Dr. Évora Santos held several leadership positions in the public sector. He served as Mayor of Praia from 2016 to 2020, after having been Councilor for Finance and Business at the Municipality of Praia between 2008 and 2016.

His earlier career was closely tied to Banco de Cabo Verde, which he first joined in 1991 as part of the Studies and Statistics Department. From 2002 to 2013, he served as Advisor, Coordinator of the Economic Studies Division, and member of the Monetary Policy Committee, contributing significantly to macroeconomic research and policy formulation.

Between 1994 and 2000, Dr. Évora Santos collaborated with international development institutions. He was appointed by the Government of Cabo Verde to work on a World Bank project aimed at restructuring the vocational training sector, and later became Coordinator of the Employment Promotion Project funded by the United Nations.

In addition to his public service, he has worked as a consultant and researcher, participating in several major studies, including the Evaluation of the Protocol for Decentralizing Social Promotion Services and the Evaluation of the Employment and Training Promotion Fund of the Employment and Vocational Training Institute (IEFP). He co-authored the White Paper on Vocational Training and Cabo Verde’s Strategic Plan for Vocational Training, and authored the study Analysis of the Impact of Cabo Verde’s Accession to the WTO. He also published works on GDP growth potential in Cabo Verde.

An experienced academic, Dr. Évora Santos has taught Economics at the Jean Piaget University, the Higher Institute of Economic and Business Sciences, and the Institute of Legal Studies. Beyond academia, he has been President of Cabo Verde’s Economists Association and President of the Cape Verdean Tae Kwon Do Federation.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economic Theory and Quantitative Methods and a Master’s degree in Economics (Business and Finance specialization) from the American University in Washington, D.C., USA.

EXPERIENCE OVERVIEW 
Tom Gitogo, Bsc Eng, BFP, FCPA, FKIM, CPS, MBA.

Tom is an accomplished Financial Services Professional with a rich experience and diverse 
Background.  He is the Group MD & CEO of British American Holdings PLC (Britam) and sits on several boards including CIB Bank and Housing Finance. 

Insurance Leadership in Kenya 
Before rejoining Britam, Tom was the Group CEO of listed CIC Insurance Group where he was in charge of the group’s businesses in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Malawi. 
Before CIC, Tom was the CEO of Pan Africa Life (now Sanlam Insurance) – which like CIC is 
also listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.  Tom had joined Sanlam from British 
American Insurance where he was the Finance and Strategy Director. 
He is the current Chairman of the Association of Kenya Insurers (AKI) www.akinsure.or.ke, 
the industry body that is charged with promoting the industry growth (raising awareness, 
lobbying and collaborating with regulators and other stakeholders). 

Other leadership Roles 
Tom is a member of the Steering Committee of the Insurance Development Forum (IDF) 
www.insdevforum.org, a global public-private partnership led by the international insurance industry and supported by multinational organisations.  Basically IDF aims to optimize and extend the use of insurance to build resilience and protection for people, communities and businesses that are vulnerable to disasters and their associated economic shocks. 
Tom also sits on the Board of UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate 
sustainability initiative, promoting responsible business practices. 
He is also the chairman of Endeavor Kenya http://kenya.endeavor.org, the Kenyan chapter of a leading Global Community that creates a multiplier effect by inspiring high-growth 
entrepreneurs to dream bigger – supporting and investing in them to scale faster. 
As a young man in the early 90s, Tom trained as a Chartered Accountant with 
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London where he worked for several years before re
joining PwC in Kenya. He trained as a Civil Engineer at the University of Nairobi before joining PwC as a Graduate Trainee and has an MBA in Strategic Management. 

Uzoma Dozie is one of Nigeria’s leaders in the financial sector and the last Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank, Nigeria.

An experienced Financial Advisor, Economist, Technologist and Entrepreneur, Dozie has led the way in implementing large-scale technology solutions to drive sustainable economic reform in Africa’s financial services sector for over twenty years.
Uzoma has since launched Sparkle, a mobile-first platform for Nigeria’s retail sector, combining his vision for using technology to power financial inclusion, at scale, with his extensive background in retail and financial services.

Uzoma is an advocate for financial inclusion, focussing on providing best-of-breed financial and non-financial solutions to the millions of unbanked across Africa. He is bullish on the need for widespread mobile adoption in the finance sector. He is passionate about leveraging technology to play a definitive role in the social development and transformation of the people and businesses on the continent. He believes that technology, along with good governance, as well as support and education for SMEs, has the power to push Africa forward and continues to work towards this goal.

Mustapha Mourahib is a Partner at Clifford Chance and co-head of the Africa Group. He is also the Managing Partner of the only Clifford Chance office in Africa, located in Casablanca. He has been involved in significant transactions across the African continent. He specializes in Mergers and Acquisitions, Private Equity, and project financing. 

Ms. Ambursa is the Executive Director, Commercial Banking Division. 

She has almost three decades of banking experience from Guaranty Trust Bank and Access Bank. Her experience spans across Transaction Banking Services, Public Sector, Private Banking, Commercial Banking and Corporate Finance. Prior to joining Access Bank in 2003, she was a Relationship Manager, Public Sector in Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. 

Ms. Ambursa graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from University of Jos and obtained a master’s degree in Law and Diplomacy from the same university. She subsequently attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology (‘MIT’) where she obtained a Master’s in Business Administration. She has attended several Executive Management Development Programmes in leading institutions, and is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School. She also sits on the Board of Access Bank Ghana as a Non-Executive director.

M. Bika est un expert-comptable de haut niveau, fort de plus de 16 ans d’expérience en audit, finance et gestion comptable. Avant de rejoindre le groupe L’Archer en 2025 comme Directeur Financier et Comptable, il a occupé pendant plus d’une décennie des fonctions de direction au sein du cabinet PwC Congo, où il a piloté des missions stratégiques d’audit, d’assistance comptable et de conformité pour des clients majeurs de la région.

Formé entre Brazzaville, Dakar et Paris, M. Bika est diplômé d’un MBA en Audit et Contrôle de gestion de l’ESG Paris, titulaire d’un diplôme supérieur de finance-comptabilité, et expert-comptable.

Reconnu pour son exigence, sa rigueur et sa vision structurante, il apporte au groupe L’Archer une expertise solide en pilotage budgétaire, optimisation des processus financiers et accompagnement stratégique. Il supervise aujourd’hui l’ensemble des fonctions financières du groupe, dans une dynamique de croissance et d’efficience à long terme.

M. Bika est également Président de la Commission Éthique et Déontologie de l’Ordre National des Experts-Comptables du Congo.

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Mr. Bika is a chartered accountant with over 16 years of experience in auditing, finance, and accounting management. Before joining the L’Archer Group in 2025 as Chief Financial and Accounting Officer, he held leadership roles for more than a decade at PwC Congo, where he led strategic audit, accounting support, and compliance assignments for major clients in the region.

Educated in Brazzaville, Dakar, and Paris, Mr. Bika holds an MBA in Audit and Management Control from ESG Paris, an advanced degree in finance and accounting, and is a certified chartered accountant.

Renowned for his high standards, rigor, and structured vision, he brings to the L’Archer Group strong expertise in budget management, financial process optimization, and strategic support. He currently oversees all financial functions of the group, driving long-term growth and efficiency.

Mr. Bika also serves as President of the Ethics and Professional Conduct Commission of the National Order of Chartered Accountants of Congo.

Aurélie M’Bida is economics editor at Jeune Afrique, in which capacity she is also co-presenter of the program le Grand invité RFI – Jeune Afrique. Having joined the JAMG group in 2018, she first held the position of Editor-in-Chief for the group’s exclusive premium newsletter, Africa Business+, then Head of the Finance section in Jeune Afrique, before assuming her current role. A graduate of IPJ – Paris Dauphine, she began her career as an international business lawyer after a master’s degree in international trade law.

Ramah Nyang, 38, has two decades of experience covering business and economic developments across Africa, interviewing chief executives, heads of state, and key policy makers.

He has broken a range of stories, including – most recently – the Kenyan state’s intent to break up East Africa’s biggest listed firm in December 2025. His work includes assessing how a volatile geopolitical environment and fast-changing trade policies are nudging African firms and policy makers to divest from US Dollar exposure, while raising intra-Africa trade flows. Detailed reporting on the world-beating performance of frontier stock markets, changes in monetary policy and the evolution of tax policy, are regular parts of his coverage. 

His work can be found on Bloomberg, and on  China Global Television Network (CGTN), where he’s an anchor and reporter for the channel’s week day Africa-focused business program. 

Gildas N’ZOUBA, qui cumule à ce jour près de vingt années d’expérience dans le secteur de l’assurance, est depuis mai 2021 Directeur Général de SUNU Assurances Vie Côte d’Ivoire. Il est également Directeur de la Zone Côte d’Ivoire, tout en assumant parallèlement depuis janvier 2021 les responsabilités de Président du Conseil d’Administration de SUNU Business Côte d’Ivoire GIE.

Titulaire d’un Master II en assurance et gestion des risques de l’École nationale d’assurance de Paris ainsi que d’un Executive MBA de HEC Paris, il est aussi diplômé en actuariat du Conservatoire national des arts et métiers en France.

Il débute sa carrière en avril 2005 comme consultant en stratégie et organisation puis rejoint le bureau parisien de Mercer deux ans plus tard comme consultant senior associé sur la « Practice Health and Benefits ». En 2010, c’est comme Directeur Central qu’il officie pour le compte de l’Union des Assurances du Gabon-Vie (UAG-Vie, membre du Groupe SUNU). De 2014 à 2016 il rejoint le Groupe Ogar comme Directeur Général d’Ogar assurances Togo et au terme de cette expérience, il retrouve le Groupe SUNU chez SUNU Assurances Vie Côte d’Ivoire, d’abord comme Directeur Central Opérationnel, puis Directeur Général Adjoint. Cumulativement à ses fonctions de Directeur Général Adjoint, il est également nommé Directeur du Programme de Transformation Digitale des activités d’assurances du Groupe SUNU, rôle assumé de janvier 2018 à décembre 2020.

Depuis mai 2021, il occupe les fonctions de Directeur Général de SUNU Assurances Vie Côte d’Ivoire. À la tête de SUNU Assurances Vie Côte d’Ivoire, première société d’assurance-Vie du marché ivoirien et de la zone CIMA qui compte 14 pays d’Afrique francophone des zones UEMOA et CEMAC. Il est entendu qu’il apporte le leadership nécessaire à la poursuite de la transformation de la société et d’en accélérer la croissance.

With over 18 years of experience in Europe and Africa, Sana leads the insurance practice in Deloitte for French-speaking Africa. She collaborates closely with both private and public organizations—including insurers and regulators—and specializes in strategic structuring and operational optimization. Sana also focuses on climate finance, leading major projects in partnership with local entities and international donors.

Souad El Ouazzani is a partner in our Mazars sustainable services practice. She is a CSR specialist with more then 17 years of experience providing sustainability services. She assists financial institutions and multinational corporations with the design and implementation of ESG strategies, actions plans, training programs, reporting and communication. She led ESG transformation projects covering a large variety of areas such as : climate change and decarbonation trajectories, natural resources consumption optimization, waste management and recycling, HR performances and social impact. Last, she also assisted key International Financial Institutions with the design and implementation of their development aid programs related to sustainable development in Africa.    

Aruoture “Rotus” Oddiri is the host of the Global Business Report on Arise News which is broadcast across the African continent and in the United Kingdom. 

He holds a Bachelors degree in Economics from the University of Houston and has spent over two decades working in Banking and Finance from JP Morgan in the United States to Financial Derivatives Company Limited under the tutelage of renowned Nigerian Economist Bismarck Rewane.

He enjoys discussions around macroeconomics and takes every opportunity he can to remind individuals to save and invest as much as they can to defeat the enemy of mankind which is inflation

Damien is the Lead Financial Advisory Partner in French-speaking Africa. With more than 27 years of experience, Damien has assisted several private and public actors in M&A and valuations projects in Africa across various industries.

Damien has notably carried out several M&A assistances in the financial sector, in the context of the divestment of European banking groups in Africa (Société Générale, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered Bank) or in the context of investments by private equity actors.

Damien is a French CPA. He first worked at Deloitte France between 1997 and 2009, then Deloitte Africa starting 2010.

Damien is a member of the Club Afrique of AFIC.

Gwendoline ABUNAW is the Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon, subsidiary of the leading Pan African financial services group present in 35 countries on the Continent. She is equally the Cluster Head for the CEMAC region covering 6 Ecobank affiliates including Cameroon, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville, Chad, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic. On June 2022, she became the first female President of the Cameroonian Banking and Financial Institutions’ Association known by its French acronym APECCAM, main entity representing all the banks and financial institutions in Cameroon.

Her tenure as Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon has been marked by the successful execution of Ecobank Group’s digital transformation strategy with outstanding results year-on-year. Her ascension unto the role of CEMAC Cluster Head overseeing all 6 countries and her leadership have made her a role model for women in the region. She was recently recognized as the Woman of the Year 2023 in the banking and finance sector of the CEMAC region at the African Finance Banking and Digital Summit in Brazzaville, Congo in January 2024.

With over 20 years of banking experience, she has occupied C-suite roles since 2011, including Head of Corporate Banking for Cameroon with coverage of 6 other countries in central Africa, Deputy Managing Director and later, Managing Director of Ecobank Cameroon. In addition to her role as Managing Director for Cameroon and the CEMAC region, she is also a board member at Ecobank Cameroon, Ecobank Chad and E-Process International (Ecobank Technology Service Provider); as well as chairperson of the boards for Pan African Savings and Loans (Microfinance member of Ecobank Group), EDC Investment Corporation (Investment Bank member of Ecobank Group) and EDC Assets Management.

Gwendoline ABUNAW is a holder of both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Banking and Finance from Buea University (Cameroon) and an MBA from the London Metropolitan University (UK). Prior to joining Ecobank Cameroon in 2011, she occupied several roles at both Standard Chartered Bank and Citibank.

Mrs. ABUNAW is also a frequent speaker at conferences covering a range of topics, from women in leadership/empowerment; innovation/ digital transformation in the financial sector as well as youth engagement and technology.

Franck Adjagba is an accomplished Financial Services Professional with 19 years of extensive experience in Business Development, Strategic Planning & Execution, Innovation & New Product Development. Prior to his current role, he was the Managing Director of AGF West Africa. Before joining AGF, Franck was the Country Managing Director of Alios Finance Burkina Faso, a Pan African Specialized Asset Finance Company, with a mix of prominent African and European investors. A Beninese national, Franck holds a Master’s Degree in Marketing & Management from the Institut Supérieur Européen de Gestion (France), a Master’s Degree in E-business & Strategy from Grenoble Graduate School of Business (France) and a FinTech Certificate from Said Business School, University of Oxford. Franck has a passion for FinTech Entrepreneurship and Investment as well as Sustainable Development initiatives in Africa.

Pascal Agboyibor, admitted to the Paris Bar and Managing Partner of ASAFO & CO., plays a key role in major economic and financial projects across Africa.  He is highly regarded for his expertise in projects and financing, particularly in the areas of energy, infrastructure and large integrated mining projects. He also regularly advises on project finance and capital markets transactions, including sovereign debt, on behalf of governments, multilateral financial institutions, lenders and private investors.

In addition, Pascal has also been instrumental in the development of OHADA law and the regulatory regimes of West African financial markets, in particular in developing securitisation in the region.

By co-founding ASAFO & CO. in 2019, he introduced a new player to the legal industry and the world of international law firms; ASAFO & CO. is the first international and pan-African law firm combining leading lawyers from several continents exclusively dedicated to Africa-related projects and cases, whose shared goal is to contribute to accelerating Africa’s economic transformation. 

Pascal has been ranked for several consecutive years in all major legal directories (Chambers & Partners, IFLR, Legal 500 EMEA) and since 2017, he has been consistently ranked #1 or #2 in the ranking of the most influential lawyers in Africa published by Africa Business Plus (Jeune Afrique). He was also recognised as Legal Innovator of the Year in 2014 in the Top 10 Innovative Lawyers in Europe ranking published by the Financial Times and in 2024 was among the Top 100 Most Influential Africans 2023 published by the New African.

Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede is the Managing Director of Coronation Asset Management, with a distinguished career spanning over 26 years in the financial services sector. A graduate of the University of Buckingham with a bachelor’s degree in business studies, he currently serves as President of the Fund Managers Association of Nigeria (FMAN), member of The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and is an Associate Member of the Institute of Directors in Nigeria and the UK.

Throughout his career, Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede has consistently delivered transformative results that have built client trust and set industry benchmarks. He is widely recognised for his expertise in wealth management, corporate banking, treasury, and capital markets. 

His career began at Fidelity Bank in 1997, with roles across Retail, Private, Commercial, and Public Sector Banking, and Treasury and Funds Management. He later held key positions at MBC International Bank Limited and First Bank Plc, leading teams in Commercial and Corporate Banking, specialising in Construction and Real Estate sectors.

At Coronation Merchant Bank, he led Capital Markets, driving growth across the bank’s Investment Banking, Asset Management, and Securities Brokerage businesses. Prior to joining Coronation, he was Director of Wealth Management at Marina Securities Limited, where he led business development and relationship management for high-value clients.

David Akinin is the Founder and CEO of Jabu, a fintech company transforming cash logistics and merchant payments across Southern Africa. Operating in Zambia, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast and the DRC, Jabu enables real-time cash digitization through smart safes, agency banking infrastructure, and interoperable B2B payment systems connected to banks, mobile money operators, and national financial switches.

Born in Venezuela and based in Zambia, David began his career at Google before launching multiple ventures across Africa. He is a former investment banker at Credit Suisse and previously co-founded Atenu, a construction company focused on housing and school development in Africa.

David holds degrees from the University of Chicago and UCT Graduate School of Business. He serves on the Board of the Payment Association of Zambia, and GS1 Namibia.

He currently serves as the Honorary Consul of Estonia in Namibia and holds the Knights Cross of the Order of the Civil Merit in Spain. He is a frequent speaker on fintech, African innovation, and digital infrastructure.

ASFAW ALEMU TESSEMA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, DASHEN BANK S.C. Asfaw Alemu, is the CEO of Dashen Bank S.C. one of the largest private banks in Ethiopia. He is a seasoned Banker with 35 plus years of experience in the industry. Before being appointed as a CEO of Dashen Bank in May 2015, he had served at different Senior Management positions in the Bank including Corporate Planning and Development Department Manager, Credit Department Manager and Vice President Operations. He has also led the Board Secretariat Office as a Board Secretary for eight consecutive years. Prior to joining Dashen Bank in 2005, Asfaw has worked in governmental, private and Non-Governmental Institutions including the Development Bank of Ethiopia as Project Officer, Canadian Physicians for Aid and Relief as Credit Specialist, Wegagen Bank S.C as Credit Analyst, Credit and Risk Management Department Manager and Vice President Credit and Risk Management. He was also a Vice President for Administration, Finance and Business Development at Unity University, a pioneer private university in the Country. In addition to his Current position as a CEO of the Bank, he is serving as a Board Director at Nyala Insurance Share Company, Ethswitch S.C., Ethiopian Bankers Association, Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, Debre Markos University and Ethiopian Quality Award. Asfaw holds an MA Degree in Economic Policy Management from University of Ghana and is a Certified Manager. He is married and a proud father of two daughters

Mumbi is a business leader with experience working across Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa and Uganda in Fintech and Edtech, and has an educational background in mechatronics engineering.
Based in Kenya, she currently serves as the General Manager at Tala, a fintech company that has disbursed over $5 billion in credit to more than 10 million customers across Kenya, Philippines, Mexico and India. She has also served in various capacities as a growth advisor for companies such as Mara, Ndovu, Moringa School, and Katapult among others. Prior to Tala, Mumbi led growth and expansion at Moringa School and was the founding director at Impact Africa Network. Mumbi is also passionate about catalysing startup ecosystems and is an angel and venture partner at Ralicap. 

Her work is guided by a passion in technology and startup ecosystems in emerging markets, their growth, inner workings, and optimisation and how this links to economic development.

Malek Atrissi, Telecel Group COO, is a distinguished leader with over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, recognized by his influential leadership and commitment to operational excellence. Throughout his career, he has held pivotal executive roles within multinational groups such as MTN, where he spearheaded major operational transformations. Additionally, he served as non-executive board member for various organizations, providing strategic oversight and governance expertise.

His tenure is marked by dynamic leadership and innovative strategies that have significantly boosted profitability and operational efficiency. Malek also pioneered the launch of the first network Dynamic Discount system for mobile networks and introduced the first Satellite-to-Mobile connectivity in Africa.