Meet the Impact and Innovation Board (IIB)
Nanko Madu, Senior Programmes Manager
Nanko Madu is an ecosystem builder with extensive experience in project management as well as economic development and entrepreneurship. She is a Senior Programme Manager at AfriLabs. Nanko leads the AfriLabs Capacity Building programme (ACBP) targeted at strengthening the capacities of technology and innovation hubs within the Pan-African ecosystem. She has a professional track record in the deployment of capacity building and improvement strategies targeted at professionals and particularly SMEs, and a wealth of experience in the design and implementation of high-profile interventions that targeted at human and economic development. In the past, she worked as a consultant for the World Bank on one of its projects; Youth Enterprise With Innovation In Nigeria (YouWiN!), where she led the design of a large-scale training program for over 40,000 SMEs. She was part of the team that designed and implemented a 12-billion naira (~75 Million USD) grant targeted at 1,500 innovative ideas conceptualized by youths in Nigeria.
David Coleman, Founder & CEO, Cole Collective
David is a serial entrepreneur who is currently the founder of Cole Collective, a brand engagement consultancy and Council of Local Experts (COLE), an entrepreneurship training and development company. Previously he was the CMO of Hubtel, which is among Ghana's leading fintech companies. David is a highly experienced, data-driven leader with a strong record of success developing sustainable corporate strategies and accelerating business growth and market share in both new and established ventures. He has helped set up and support dozens of local startups and commercial initiatives. David is passionate about implementing tactical and creative solutions that create brand differentiation and improve competitive advantage, that can push revenues and profits to new levels. He is notably accomplished in emerging markets, gaining buy-in to execute bold initiatives that produce bottom-line results.
Sesinam Dagadu, the founder of SnooCODE
Before returning to Ghana in late 2013 Sesinam (or Ses) was working with the British Metropolitan Police under the Digital and Electronics Forensic Service (DEFS), where he built cutting-edge electronic tools and worked on some of the most high-profile cases in modern Met history. He also has a past building mission critical, life-saving equipment in the automotive and military sectors for Jaguar Land Rover and the US and British Militaries respectively. He was born in Burma Camp, Accra, and has previously lived in Israel and London. Ses holds an MEng in Engineering and Business Management from Warwick University.
Onyekachi Wambu, Executive Director at the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD)
Onyekachi Wambu is the Executive Director at the African Foundation for Development (AFFORD),an influential UK registered charity/social enterprise that drives the entrepreneurial agenda and capacity of the African Diaspora. For over 25 years, their mission has been to enhance diaspora contributions to Africa's development. AFFORD has put the issue of migration and development on the policy agenda. It has developed an unrivalled knowledge and expertise on issues impacting on the African diaspora such as remittances, brain drain, skills transfers, circular migration, etc to drive economic growth and social development. He has been involved with AFFORD for nearly 15 years, with a proven track record working with the African diaspora and harnessing their expertise in policy debates, lobbying, field projects, capacity building activities as well as consultancy services. He has worked extensively as a journalist and documentary maker – writing widely on African and the global diaspora; having made presentations at the UN and AU, where he is a respected voice on African affairs.
Juha Kunnas, Head of Product, Vakava Technologies Ltd Oy & Chairman, Vakava Africa Ltd
My mission in Vakava is to develop smart, sustainable, transparent and affordable cold chain solutions in Africa to avoid post-harvesting losses and enable better earnings especially for small-scale farmers and shops.
Obaro M. Osah, AGM, SME South, SME Group, Bank of Industry
Obaro is a seasoned and professional Banker with over twenty years’ experience in the banking and financial services industry, spanning International Operations, Trade Services, Treasury Operations, Correspondent Banking, Customer Service, Relationship Management and Business Development. He has worked with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), NNB International Bank, Unity Bank, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA PLC) and now with the Bank of Industry. He is the Head of the Banks SME Operations in the southern Nigeria. Prior to this appointment in October 2020, he was the Regional Manager in charge of the South East Region and the Regional Manager, Lagos Region. His responsibilities include the Growth and Development of the MSME businesses in line with the National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) that focuses on the impactful/preferred sectors on the Nigerian Economy. His experience thus covers the nation’s Southern geographical Regions and her rich and diverse endowments/comparative advantage products coupled with unique businesses focused areas in the quest by the Bank of Industry (BOI) to make positive impact and transform the Nigerian Industrial sector. He is a graduate of Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos and holds an MBA from the University of Nigeria. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
DIGILOGIC Impact and Innovation Board will provide a strong input in the achieving.
DIGILOGIC goals with respect to various aspects:
- Mentor DIGILOGIC innovators and support their solutions uptake.
- Design DIGILOGIC co-creation labs.
- Strengthen the collaboration among Digital Innovation Hubs at regional and international level, beyond DIGILOGIC project.
- Support the involvement of companies and investors needed to launch relevant Challenges.
- Create the link with African diaspora associations to develop further opportunities of collaboration and innovation