Future of Africa Plenary: How do we make this the 'African Century'?
Hear from our inspirational Delegate Speakers
Speakers
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Joan Rukundo NalubegaFounder/CEOJoan Rukundo Nalubega
Founder/CEO
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Rowida TariqEducation project coordinatorRowida Tariq
Education project coordinator
Rowida Tariq is a dedicated Sudanese humanitarian advocate. She began her work with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) setting up education programs for refugees from Tigray, providing safe learning spaces for more than 7,000 children, and leading the Education in Emergency response program following the war in Sudan, which provided over 45,000 children with access to education, psychosocial support, and life skills.
She was instrumental in launching NRC’s first youth project in Sudan, providing 3,000 young people with vocational training, coaching and mentoring, literacy, and leadership opportunities. Beyond her work in Sudan, she led youth-focused earthquake response initiatives in Syria to strengthen the participation of displaced youth.
Rowida is deeply passionate about youth empowerment and social movements, striving to equip young people with the tools to become agents of change in crisis settings. She is currently leading the POWER project in Sudan.
“I believe education is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for building resilience in young people facing crisis. I am driven to create safe learning spaces and empower youth to become agents of positive change in their communities.”
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Sandra ShokoInnovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem BuilderSandra Shoko
Innovation & Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builder
Ropafadzo Sandra Shoko, widely known as The StartupBae, is a Zimbabwean lawyer, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem builder, and public policy practitioner committed to advancing Africa's growth by enabling young people and their entrepreneurial ideas to thrive.
Her work spans the journey from entrepreneur to ecosystem builder. She has designed startup incubation programmes, created pathways connecting young entrepreneurs to skills and markets, led hackathons and pitch platforms, and built partnerships across universities, government, development organisations and the private sector. Her work has expanded digital and STEM access to 2,985 rural students, connected 300 rural and differently-abled entrepreneurs to markets through the JOINA e-commerce platform. She founded Founders Friday to strengthen peer-to-peer support among entrepreneurs.
At continental level, Sandra serves on the Alliance for Entrepreneurial Universities in Africa and is a thought leader shaping how science, tech and innovation should support.
Sandra is a Mandela Rhodes Scholar, 2025 Mandela Washington Fellow and was recognised among the Top 100 Female Lawyers in Africa in 2024. She holds a Master's in Comparative Law and Business in Africa from the University of Cape Town, where her research examined what effective SME frameworks under the AfCFTA could look like, and is completing a Master of Public Policy at the University of Oxford where she focuses on designing policies that unlock science, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across Africa.Having once been a young entrepreneur herself, Sandra's ambition is deeply personal, to help build an Africa where ideating, innovating and enterprising are not luxuries, and where African talent has the institutions, capital, markets and networks needed to thrive.
She is also an active Rotaractor and founder of Mentor Me Please, a non-profit providing mentorship to children in homes and orphanages. -
Keleadile RudaEnergy Engineer and Project ManagerKeleadile Ruda
Energy Engineer and Project Manager
Keleadile Ruda is a Renewable Energy Engineer and Project Management professional with over eight years of experience advancing Botswana's energy transition through the development and delivery of solar PV infrastructure, clean energy solutions, and sustainable development initiatives. Her expertise spans utility-scale and commercial renewable energy projects, technical advisory services, energy efficiency, regulatory engagement, and stakeholder management across the public and private sectors.
Throughout her career, Keleadile has successfully coordinated multidisciplinary stakeholders including EPC contractors, financiers, government institutions, regulators, and development partners to deliver impactful energy projects that support economic growth and decarbonization objectives. She is particularly passionate about the intersection of energy, industrial development, and investment, with a focus on enabling sustainable infrastructure that drives inclusive growth across Africa.
Beyond her technical and project leadership roles, Keleadile is a co-founder of Women in Energy Botswana, and is a recognized advocate for women's participation in STEM and the energy sector and has been listed by the African Energy Chamber among the Top 20 Under 40 Energy Women Rising Stars, 2025. Keleadile actively contributes to regional and international dialogues on clean energy, sustainability, and climate resilience and is an alumnus of the African School of Regulation through the African Women in Energy Regulation Leadership Program, and the Africa Climate Academy through the Climate Finance Training. Her work continues to champion innovation, collaboration, and investment in Africa's evolving energy landscape.
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Mohamed DhaouafiCEOMohamed Dhaouafi
CEO
Mohamed Dhaouafi is the Founder and CEO of Cure Bionics, the first and only certified prosthetic technology company in MEA region developing accessible prosthetics and rehabilitation technologies.
He is an electronics and embedded systems engineer by training with masters in management of NGOs.
He has been recognized by Forbes Middle East as 30U30, MIT Technology Review as U35 Innovators, and TIME magazine Next Generation Leader, as well as an OBAMA Foundation Africa Leader, for his work in healthcare innovation.Mohamed is focused on making advanced assistive technologies more accessible across Africa and emerging markets.
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Tom OsbornFounder & CEOTom Osborn
Founder & CEO