2025 Speakers

Makhtar Diop is the Managing Director of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a position he has held since March 2021. Previously, he was the World Bank’s Vice President for Infrastructure. Prior to that, Mr Diop served for six years as the World Bank’s Vice President for Africa. An economist by training, he began his career in the banking sector before joining the IMF and then the World Bank. He was also Minister of Economy and Finance of Senegal.

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.

Manuel António Tiago Dias has served as Governor of the National Bank of Angola (BNA) since June 19, 2023, following his appointment by the President of the Republic and confirmation by the National Assembly. With nearly three decades of experience at the central bank, he is recognized for his expertise in monetary policy, economic governance, and institutional management.

As Governor, Dr. Tiago Dias has prioritized stabilizing the foreign exchange market, reducing inflation to single digits, and strengthening the credibility and independence of the BNA. Under his leadership, the central bank continues to implement reforms aimed at improving monetary transmission, promoting credit to the productive sector, and consolidating Angola’s financial stability amid a challenging global economic context.

He previously served as Vice-Governor of the BNA from 2016 to 2023, where he contributed to key monetary and exchange rate policy decisions and oversaw the implementation of macroeconomic stabilization measures. Earlier in his career, he was successively Head of Division, Deputy Director, and Director of the Department of Studies and Statistics, roles through which he developed a deep understanding of Angola’s financial system and economic structure.

Mr. Tiago Dias joined the National Bank of Angola in 1997 after completing his Master’s degree in Economic Sciences at the University of Bordeaux I in France. His research focused on the stratification of the urban labor market in Luanda (1993-1996). He also holds a degree in Economics from the University of Lille I, where he began his academic and professional training.

Known for his technical competence and approachable leadership style, he has built a reputation as a dedicated public servant committed to monetary stability, institutional transparency, and the modernization of Angola’s financial system.

Emmanuel Mpawe Tutuba is the 8th Governor of the Bank of Tanzania, in office since January 2023 after being appointed by President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Born in 1973 in Kigoma Region, he holds an MBA from Mzumbe University. Before becoming Governor, he served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, and has sat on more than ten local, regional, and international boards and committees over his career.

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.

Ethiopis Tafara is IFC’s regional Vice President for Africa. In this capacity, he oversees all investment and advisory operations in a region with a committed portfolio of $17 billion and nearly 800 staff working to expand the private sector’s role in addressing urgent development challenges in the financial, manufacturing, agribusiness and services, and infrastructure industries.

Previously, Mr. Tafara served as the Vice President, Chief Risk, Legal & Sustainability Officer and Partnerships for the World Bank Group’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), where he was responsible for the supervision and oversight of MIGA’s Finance and Risk Management Group, the Economics & Sustainability Group, and the Legal Affairs & Claims Group, in addition to overseeing MIGA Partnerships.

Prior to this, Mr. Tafara served as Vice President and General Counsel for IFC where he was responsible for non-financial risk management, including the Legal, Compliance and ESG functions. In that role, he was named as Financial Times Global GC 25 in 2018.

Prior to joining IFC, Mr. Tafara served as the Director of the Office of International Affairs at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. He practiced as a regulatory lawyer for close to 20 years, focusing on international securities regulation and cross-border law enforcement litigation. Mr. Tafara was the recipient of the prestigious Chairman’s Award and has been recognized for his work on facilitating cross-border investor access by promoting mutual recognition of comparable regulation.

Mr. Tafara also held leadership positions in several international bodies, including as the Vice Chairman of the Board of the International Organizations for Securities Commissions, the Chairman of the Public Interest Oversight Board Monitoring Group, and the SEC Deputy to both the Financial Stability Board and the IFRS Foundation Monitoring Board.

In 2019, he was appointed as a Public Governor on the Board of Governors for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and has also served as Vice Chair of the Trustees of the International Valuation Standards Council.

Mr. Tafara holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and an AB from Princeton University. Mr. Tafara is a US national of Ethiopian origin. He grew up in Ethiopia and Italy and speaks Amharic, French, Italian, and Spanish, in addition to English.

Mustafa Rawji studied at Babson College in Boston, Massachusetts from where he obtained a Master’s degree in finance. He had his first professional experiences at Calyon Bank in Geneva, Switzerland, followed by Crédit Agricole in Paris, France.

In 2002, he participated in the creation of Rawbank. Two years later, he took the initiative to acquire additional international banking experience and joined HSBC in Dubai, where he worked for five years as a sales executive in the Corporate, Investment & Merchant Banking department.

In September 2009, he joined Rawbank as Deputy Secretary General. He also served as Chairman of the Credit Committee, a role he assumes until this day.
In 2013, he successively held the positions of Director of Strategic Development and Vice-president of the Management Committee.

In July 2015, he was appointed Deputy Managing Director in charge of support and infrastructure.
Since May 2020, he has assumed the position of CEO.

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 CEO of Baobab Group, a leading provider of inclusive finance in Africa. Since 2019, he has led a seven-country platform serving 1.6 million customers—including more than 600,000 active small businesses—through digital channels, agent networks, and branches. Baobab disburses over $1.2 billion in new loans annually, manages more than $1 billion in assets, and employs 4,000 people.

He previously led SME Banking at Equity Group Holdings (Kenya) and held several CEO and Board-level roles with the ProCredit Banking Group in Eastern Europe, Africa, and Latin America. He began his career at the EBRD’s Russia Small Business Fund. His focus throughout has been on how finance can drive economic transformation and deliver better outcomes for all. Philip holds a Master’s degree in Economics from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

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  

Jeremy Awori is the Group CEO of Ecobank. He brings with him more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry, including nearly ten years as Managing Director of Absa Bank Kenya Plc. Prior to joining Absa, he held senior positions at Standard Chartered Bank in the Middle East and Africa. His extensive expertise, skills and industry know-how make him a valuable asset to the Ecobank Group.

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.

Nasser Seddiqi has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Casablanca Stock Exchange since January 19, 2026, following his appointment by the Board of Directors in December 2025. With 25 years of experience in financial regulation, asset management, and market governance, he previously served as Head of Business Lines at the Moroccan Capital Market Authority (AMMC), where he oversaw markets, issuers, and asset management, while also leading initiatives on sustainable finance and the derivatives market.

He notably chaired the Derivatives Market Coordination Committee (2022–2025) and represented Morocco within international organizations such as IOSCO and IFREFI. A graduate in French State-certified public accounting, he also holds a certificate for capital markets regulators from Harvard Law School.

Dr. Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze is an applied economist and policymaker who served as Rwanda’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Resources and later Minister of Trade and Industry between 2020 and 2024, shaping national policies on agricultural productivity and economic growth. He is also an Associate Professor of Agricultural Economics, whose research focuses on improving productivity and market access for smallholder farmers, bridging research and policy to advance food security and rural transformation.

In government, he championed investment, export expansion, private sector development, and regional value chain integration, actively engaging in platforms such as the Commonwealth Trade Ministers’ Meeting and initiatives aligned with the AfCFTA. He has also held legislative and political leadership roles, advocating for transparency, accountability, and evidence-based policymaking.

Dr. James Mworia is the Group CEO and Managing Director of Centum Investment Company Plc, East Africa’s leading listed investment company. Under his transformative leadership, Centum has grown from an asset base of just USD 40 million to over USD 400 million—without shareholder dilution—delivering strong investor returns and over USD 40 million  in dividends.

Dr. Mworia is the visionary architect of TRIFIC (The Regional Financial & Innovation Centre), Kenya’s first Services Special Economic Zone and one of only three International Financial Centers in Africa recognized by the World Alliance of International Financial Centers (WAIFC). As part of Centum’s portfolio, TRIFIC has positioned Kenya as a premier destination for global finance and outsourcing services.

Over his distinguished career, Dr. Mworia has successfully scaled businesses across banking, asset management, bottling, automotive, education, housing, green energy, and industrial real estate. Centum companies have accounted for over 20% of Kenya’s private equity exits, with a USD-based internal rate of return (IRR) averaging 21%.

He currently serves as the Chairman of Sidian Bank, which Centum acquired as a small lender and has since grown into a leading bank focused on empowering Kenyan enterprises and SMEs. He previously served on the board of the Nairobi Securities Exchange, contributing to the governance and modernization of Kenya’s capital markets.

Dr. Mworia is also deeply committed to environmental conservation. As Chair of The Nature Conservancy Africa Council, he helped launch the USD 1 billion Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) to fund long-term biodiversity and climate efforts in Kenya. He serves on the boards of  Loldaiga Conservancies.

A strong advocate for education and youth empowerment, Dr. Mworia personally funds the Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund at Machakos University, providing scholarships to over 200 bright, underprivileged STEM students. Through Ajiry, a Centum initiative in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, over 20,000 Kenyan youth have gained employment and digital skills.

In recognition of his national impact, Dr. Mworia was awarded the Moran of the Burning Spear by the President of Kenya in December 2024—one of the country’s highest civilian honors.

Olivier is an MSc Economics graduate from SOAS, the School of Oriental Studies of the University of London; he holds a Master’s in Business Administration from ESCP Business School and completed INSEAD’s International Directors Program. 

He has 28 years of banking and financial services experience covering trade finance,  infrastructure and telecom finance as well as corporate finance and sovereign debt advisory services, all Africa-related :  

• General Secretary, AFIS – Africa Financial Summit, a platform bringing together key stakeholders and leaders, public and private, from Africa’s financial services industry.
• Founder and Managing Partner of Mokka Capital, a Paris-based financial advisory firm dedicated to African corporate clients. Focus on capital raise and debt restructuring for private and sovereign clients across various industry sectors: financial services, private equity, agribusiness and natural resources.  Strategic advisor to family-owned businesses and various African financial institutions. 
• Former Managing Director, First Bank of Nigeria UK’s French branch.  
• Held Management roles at IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, as Africa Sector Lead for Telecoms, Media & Technology Finance, IFC Region Head for the Central Africa region and Client Lead in the Financial Institutions Group for West & Central Africa. 
• Established and managed the regional merchant banking operations of Belgolaise Bank (Fortis Group) for West Africa after working with ING Bank on soft/agri commodities. 
• Current Board Directorships with prominent African financial institutions: Bank of Africa Group (16 countries footprint), Rawbank (DRC’s premier bank) and Activa Insurance Group as well as Enko Private Equity Fund.
• Investment Funds : Senior Advisor to Enko Capital for the launch of an Africa Impact Credit Fund and previous Fund Advisory Committee roles with Africinvest (Funds II and III) and Horizon, a South African tech fund. 

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.

Cristina Lourenço, graduated in Management, from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences, London (United Kingdom), in 2012, having completed a Master’s in Investment Management, from Pace University, Lubin School of Business, New York (United States of America), in 2014 after a brief stay at BAI’s Investment Banking Department in 2012.

Returned to Luanda, in 2014, and began her professional career at the Angola Debt and Securities Exchange (BODIVA) and integrated the Trading Department where she worked as a market analyst, she was also responsible for training the first trading technicians for regulated markets.

In 2016, embraced a new challenge at the Ministry of Finance, more specifically implementing and structuring the Technical Unit for Monitoring Projects with External Financing (UTAP) where, in her role as Deputy General Director, her main task was to assess the degree of impact and preparation of investment projects financed by external resources, as well as ensuring their good physical and financial execution.

Currently, she holds the position of Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the market surveillance and audit after 4 year of assuming the position of Executive Director and Member of the Board of Directors of BODIVA, being responsible for the Finance and Assets and Communication and Exchange Departments

El-Hassana, an Ivorian national, is a product of both the American and British banking systems and boasts over 20 years’ experience working with leading institutions such as Citibank and Standard Chartered Bank in cities including Abidjan, Douala, Yaoundé and Lagos.

When he was promoted to Director, Metals & Mining at Standard Chartered Bank Shanghai in China, he made the deliberate choice to remain in Africa, accepting the position of Managing Director of Banque Atlantique Sénégal. During his tenure, he executed a series of innovative and high-impact transactions, culminating in the largest financial deal ever completed on the Dakar market — the structuring and successful arrangement of a CFA 250 billion (approx. USD 400 million) facility for the Government of Senegal in just 45 days.

In 2015, he decided to leave his position as bank CEO to embark on an entrepreneurial journey and pursue his lifelong dream: the creation of a fully African-owned bank within the UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union) region. Three years later, through determination and vision, MANSA BANK was born — established with a fully paid-up capital of CFA 15,707,650,000, entirely held by UEMOA investors.

El-Hassana holds a postgraduate degree from the University of Oxford in Strategy and Innovation, and a Master’s in Business Management from Paris IX-Dauphine University. He also earned a certificate in “Creating Shared Value” from Harvard Business School, as well as a Master’s in Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of Abidjan.

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.      

Thierry joined MCB in October 2019 as Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB). Prior to joining the Bank, he accumulated extensive experience in Corporate and Investment Banking over the last 35 years, holding leading positions within Crédit Agricole Group in Eastern and Central Europe, Asia, and North Africa. He has a solid track record in managing large teams and senior bankers in a multicultural environment. Thierry has been CEO of MCB Ltd since January 2024.

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.

A statistician-economist and financial engineer, Mr. KONE has gained extensive professional experience primarily in North America (Canada) and Africa. Prior to joining AFG Holding, he held several strategic positions at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, one of the largest pension funds in North America. Within the Ecobank Group, he led the investment teams of the asset management division, before overseeing commercial activities in the Treasury Department as well as the development and distribution of market products in the WAEMU region and Cape Verde.

Karim holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris, a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering from Université Laval (Canada), and a State Engineering degree in Statistics and Economics from INSEA in Rabat. He also holds CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and FRM (Financial Risk Manager) certifications, as well as several executive certifications in strategy, asset management, leadership, and management, obtained notably from HEC Paris and the Wharton Business School.

Dr. George Agyekum Donkor is the President of the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID), and the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a position he has occupied since 2020. EBID is a regional international financial institution owned by the fifteen (15) West African States.

Dr. Donkor had previously held the position of Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services, for seven (7) years and prior to that, Head of Legal / Compliance Division for four (4) years in the same institution. His professional areas of interest include corporate law, leadership, change management, and improvement.

A lawyer by profession and a development banker by training, Dr. Donkor’s illustrious career, which spans three decades, has been marked by outstanding success. He focuses on implementing change to drive progress not only in the West African Sub-Region but also to stimulate a wider international impact through regional integration and engagement.

Under his visionary leadership, EBID has, and continues to achieve a wide range of remarkable successes. These successes include securing two major incremental upgrades of the Bank’s credit rating by Moody’s and Fitch Ratings, the attainment of Green Climate Fund accreditation, improvement in the financial and operational performance, tripling the loan book within six (6) years and earning the historic position as the first development finance institution to issue a Green, Social and Sustainable Bond Listing on one of Africa’s most vibrant regional stock exchanges, Bourse de Valeurs Regional (BRVM) in 2024.

The Bank has also won numerous awards, which include “2024 Financial Institution of the Year” at the Africa Sustainability Awards and the “Most Innovative Operation” for the year 2025 at the BRVM Awards.

Dr. Donkor is a distinguished academic, and holds numerous academic qualifications, which include a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) and a Master of Applied Business Research (MABR) degree, both from the SBS Swiss Business School, Zurich, Switzerland. He also holds an Executive MBA from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is an alumnus of Harvard University.

He is a Council Member of the University of Ghana and former Chairman of the Investment Committee of the University Council. He is also a Board Member of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), ASKY Airlines, Labianca Company Limited, WAICA Re-Insurance, among others. He was an adjunct lecturer in the Department of Finance at the School of Business of the University for Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Ghana, and currently a Visiting Faculty Member at the Regent University of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana. He has published extensively in the areas of development finance and strategic management.

Dr. Donkor has been recognised with many awards, notable among which are the recent “Distinguished 2026 African Development Finance Leadership Award – Regional Integration & Economic Transformation”, at the 16^th Edition of the African Leadership Awards (ABLA) held at the historic House of Lords, London,  United Kingdom, “2025 CEO of CEOs” (Ghana CEO Vision and Awards), twice the winner of the “CEO of the year -Africa” 2023 & 2025, (Ghana CEO Vision and Awards), “2023 Development Champion Award”, at the Rebranding African Forum, Brussels, Belgium, “2022 Prix de la Foundation Award” at the prestigious Crans Montana Forum, Geneva, Switzerland. His name has been featured four consecutive times among the top 100 personalities transforming Africa by Financial Afrik, a renowned international magazine.

Dr. Donkor is the Chancellor of NiBS University in Ghana. He is also the current Honorary President of the Global Network for Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID), which is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Donkor is a Public Speaker and Resource Person at numerous international conferences and fora.

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.

Bydon is a banking and finance senior executive who has over 27 years of experience in auditing, accounting, finance and banking. He has vast experience in leading large organizations, strategy development and execution, as well as business transformation and has worked in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia.

He is currently the CEO of FirstRand’s Broader Africa operations, having previously served as CFO and CEO of FNB Zambia. He is passionate about people development, customer experience and adding value to society.

Bydon is a proud father of four sons, who he spends as much time with as possible. He is a certified Chartered Accountant and holds a master’s degree in business administration.

Mark-Alexandre DOUMBA has been the Minister of Digital Economy, Digitalization, and Innovation of the Gabonese Republic since May 2025. In this capacity, he leads the country’s national digital transformation strategy, with a strong focus on modernizing and digitalizing public services, promoting digital inclusion, fostering technological innovation, and building a competitive digital economy. He previously served as Minister of Economy and Participations.

Prior to joining the government, he worked in investment, development finance, and digital transformation, leading initiatives across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. He notably co-founded the first licensed neobank in Central Africa, regulated by the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), and contributed to the creation of the Green Climate Fund.

Mark-Alexandre DOUMBA holds degrees from George Washington University, the London School of Economics, and Harvard Kennedy School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Africa Policy Journal.
He is also a Foundry Fellow at MIT and was named a Young Global Leader 2025 by the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Richard LOWE is one of the founding figures of the African insurance industry. A graduate of ESSEC Paris (Class of 1980), he led the Cameroonian operations of a major French insurance group for 17 years before turning to entrepreneurship. In 1998, convinced that Africa deserved world-class insurance institutions built on its own soil, he founded ACTIVA Group in Douala, Cameroon.

What began as a single operation is today one of the most significant insurance groups in Sub-Saharan Africa, operating through 10 insurance companies across seven countries, alongside a reinsurance company, a technology subsidiary, a financial holding, and a European office in Paris. IFC (World Bank Group) and PROPARCO (Agence Française de Développement) count among its strategic shareholders.

His ambition has always reached beyond his own Group. In 2007, he founded GLOBUS, the first pan-African insurance intermediation network, present in 49 countries. He also served as President of FANAF from 1996 to 2002. His work has earned him CEO of the Year (OAA, 2018) and Insurer of the Year (Financial Afrik, 2021).

Richard LOWE’s legacy is architectural: nearly three decades spent building the institutions, networks, and partnerships that underpin African insurance today.

Patty Karuaihe-Martin is the Chief Executive Officer of Namibia National Reinsurance Corporation Ltd (NamibRe). She has over 28 years of professional experience in the financial sector, including at PWC, where she served as Partner/Director of Tax and Advisory Services. She has worked and served on various boards of public institutions in the fields of finance, telecommunications, water, transport, and electricity.

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.

Omar Bekkali joined AfricInvest in 2010, and cumulates 13 years’ combined experience in private equity and investment banking, with a focus on key areas of expertise: financial sector, electronic payment, IT services, and renewable energy in both North and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Prior to AfricInvest, Omar worked within the Structured Finance department of Natixis, on syndicated loans in Project Finance, Real Estate and LBO sectors.

Omar graduated from Grenoble Ecole de Management with a Master degree and holds a Law degree from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne.

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. 

Vasco João Mendes Januário, married, Angolan national, was born on October 
18, 1986.

He was appointed Executive Director of the Capital Markets Commission in 
2024 by Presidential Order No. 308/24 of December 26.
At the Ministry of Finance, he held the position of Advisor to the Secretary of 
State for Finance and Treasury. He was also a member of the Supervisory 
Board of the Angola Sovereign Fund and the Remuneration Committee of the 
Savings and Credit Bank.

At CMC, he was Director of the Office of Studies and Strategy, Head of Division 
of the Department of Studies, Strategy, and Market Development, and Senior 
Technician in the same department.

He also worked in banking, having held the position of Transaction Monitoring 
Technician in the Compliance Department of Banco Millennium Atlântico and 
Transaction Monitoring Technician in the Compliance Department of the same 
bank.

He holds a Master’s degree in Finance from the Catholic University of Porto 
in Portugal and a degree in Accounting and Administration from the Catholic 
University of Angola.

Henry Mascot est cofondateur et CEO de Curacel, une infrastructure d’assurance moderne qui protège des millions de personnes sur les marchés émergents. Sous sa direction, Curacel a levé 3,5 millions de dollars auprès d’investisseurs de renom tels que Y Combinator, Tencent et Google, et réuni une équipe de 40 personnes qui repensent l’assurance.

Avant Curacel, Henry a dirigé la croissance (ventes et produit) chez 54Gene, la “23andMe africaine” soutenue par Y Combinator, qui a levé 94,7 M$. Il y a piloté les partenariats avec les prestataires de santé et l’expansion de l’entreprise. Il a également contribué au développement d’AmplifyPay, première passerelle de paiements récurrents au Nigeria (rachetée par Carbon), en menant les initiatives de croissance avec des banques majeures comme GTBank, Zenith Bank et Access Bank.

Diplômé en ingénierie et de la Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) Africa, Henry est passionné par la création de technologies qui élargissent l’accès aux services financiers et de santé dans les marchés sous-desservis.

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.

Mohamed Ali is a partner at Deloitte Francophone Africa. He is the leader of the Financial Services Industry. He graduated from a High Business School and specializes in audit and consulting. Mohamed Ali has several years of experience in the financial sector (banking, insurance, and other financial services). He specializes in supporting the deployment of transformation projects, defining strategies, redesigning information systems, human capital, operational and commercial efficiency, and risk management.

With over twenty years of experience in the ICT markets in Africa, Diaretou Madina Gaye Dieng has held strategic positions within the Orange Group. She joined Schneider Electric in 2024, where she will lead the company in sixty countries.

Before joining Schneider Electric, Diaretou Madina Gaye Dieng held several leadership roles within the Sonatel Group, covering five countries under the Orange brand (Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone). She joined Sonatel in 2004 as Director of Marketing and Communications for the B2B (Business to Business) unit.

Within Sonatel, she successively served as Director of Sales for commercial and government clients in the B2B unit, then as Director of Strategy and Business Development. In 2016, she was appointed CEO of Sonatel Business Solutions at Orange Sénégal.

Diaretou Madina Gaye Dieng holds a master’s degree in Management Information Systems obtained in 1999 from Centrale Lille Engineering School, and a postgraduate degree in Information Systems Management obtained in 2000 from HEC Paris. She is also an alumni of the Harvard Business School Executive Education.

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. 

About Rowan Gordon

After completing his articles at Deloitte, Rowan was employed at Standard Bank for 6 years where he worked in the corporate finance, leveraged buyout and private equity areas within the bank. Following this role, he joined Credit Management Solutions, where he was primarily responsible for managing the corporate debt advisory business. Rowan exited CMS in 2006 when the business was sold.

Rowan has been controlling shareholder and Chief Executive Officer of the Nimble Group since April 2009.  The Group has grown from 30 people to over 2000 people, servicing and investing in consumer and corporate special opportunities. Nimble Group has operations in 6 different cities in Africa – Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Windhoek, Gaborone and Nairobi. 

Rowan has worked actively with the International Finance Corporation since it acquired an equity stake in Nimble Group in 2019, seeding Funding Facilities to develop the market in NPL’s in sub-Saharan Africa.  The early successes have allowed Nimble Group to access local capital markets and bank debt facilities, which operate alongside the IFC.

Rowan has extensive experience in credit, consulting, outsourced collections management, distressed debt investing, debt restructuring, corporate finance, private equity and venture capital.  He has successfully built Nimble Group into a substantial business servicing most of the largest credit granters in Southern Africa.

Rowan has been actively involved in establishing Peak Child, an Early Childhood Development organisation, assisting children from 2 to 6 years old, in their most formative years to prepare them for formal schooling.  Rowan is a passionate fly fisherman who loves exploring untouched parts of the world, and an amateur runner looking for the next international event.  

Sidy DIAKHOUMPA est actuellement Associé au sein du département Consulting de Mazars Sénégal, en charge notamment du conseil au secteur financier qui regroupe les entreprises du secteur bancaire, les établissements de microfinance, les sociétés d’assurance et de réassurance, les sociétés de gestion et d’intermédiation ainsi que les autres acteurs du marché financier (Bourse régionale, régulateurs, etc…).

Sidy a rejoint le cabinet Mazars en janvier 2018 après avoir acquis une riche expérience dans le domaine bancaire, ayant travaillé pendant une dizaine d’années au sein du Groupe Crédit Agricole, d’abord à la Direction des risques Groupe en charge du suivi des filiales internationales, puis à l’Inspection Générale de la filiale LCL pendant 6 ans et finalement pendant 2 ans en charge d’un portefeuille de clients grands Corporate dans les départements des Hauts-de seine et des Yvelines.

Grâce à ses différentes expériences, Sidy possède aujourd’hui une solide expertise et maîtrise de la réglementation bancaire (Dispositifs prudentiels, exigences du régulateur), de l’activité d’exploitation bancaire (gestion d’un portefeuille de clients, mise en place de financements, etc….) ainsi que de l’organisation des établissements de crédit en zone UMOA et à l’international.

Passionate about finance and driven by a desire to contribute to the economic development of the CEMAC zone, Gilles began his career as a lecturer in corporate finance at the École Supérieure de Gestion et d’Administration des Entreprises (ESGAE) in Brazzaville, his alma mater. His academic commitment reflects his deep conviction that knowledge and its transmission are the pillars of a solid and sustainable financial ecosystem.
In 2010, he joined Ecobank Congo, where he spent nine years as an asset and liability manager (ALM officer) in the Treasury Department. Building on this expertise, he continued his career progression by joining the United Bank for Africa (UBA) group in 2019 as Treasury Director. This experience reinforced his understanding of the financial challenges facing the region’s economies and fuelled his ambition to create solutions tailored to the financing needs of businesses and governments.
It was with this ambition that he founded the L’Archer group at the end of 2020. First with L’Archer Securities, which has established itself as a key player, then with the subsidiary L’Archer Asset Management, which now aims to have a portfolio of assets estimated at 65 billion CFA francs by 2026.

Manal Bernoussi, founder of Leaders On Purpose, based in Morocco, is an international MC, moderator, and host of the award-winning Leaders On Purpose podcast. She is an engineer graduated from INSA Lyon and NUS Singapore and holds an MBA from Columbia University and Africa Business School.

With over 18 years of experience in finance and consulting, Manal has held executive positions, notably at Casablanca Finance City, where she contributed to positioning the financial hub on strategic topics such as fintech and sustainable finance.

She has been recognized among Morocco’s 50 Inspiring Women by Challenge magazine and received the Special Jury Prize at the EMEC Influence Awards for the Leaders On Purpose podcast. She was also named among the 100 Most Impactful Voices in Africa by ABCD Africa and awarded the Voice of Transformation award by Industrie du Maroc Magazine.
Most recently, she has been nominated by the African Business Chamber for the AfBC Creative, Media & Entertainment Industry Excellence Awards.

Manal is also a keynote speaker and moderator at international events. Her work is driven by a commitment to fostering authentic and impactful conversations on leadership, innovation, and personal development. Through Leaders On Purpose, she gives a voice to leaders shaping the future with purpose.

Julians Amboko is a communications professional focused on public finance and capital markets. Currently, he serves as an Editorial Consultant at Nation Media Group. He has published on Africa macroeconomics with the London School of Economics Business Review, the World Economic Forum and the Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development.  He is an International Monetary Fund (IMF) Journalism Fellsow & a Research Fellow at Strathmore University’s Tax Research Centre

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.

_________________________________________________________________________________

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.