Webinars

Idrissa Mamoud Tarawallie is the Head of Sierra Leone Country Programme at International IDEA. He is an international development management specialist, a programme manager, a researcher and an educator with more than 15 years’ progressive experience in governance systems strengthening, elections and capacity development interventions for national agencies and civil society organizations in the West African sub-region. His career path has combined international development and programme management with higher education teaching and research, public sector governance reform and behaviour change communication in developing and fragile contexts.  In his academic career, Idrissa has taught a postgraduate course in Violent Conflict and Development at the London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) as a graduate teaching assistant. In Sierra Leone, he has taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the department of Political Science, Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone, including Comparative Politics and Politics of Development.  In international development management career, Idrissa was Country Director for BBC Media Action in Sierra Leone from 2019 to 2022 and was Team Leader for the DFID (now FCDO) funded civil society election participation support programme – ‘The Standing Together for Free Fair and Peace Elections in Sierra Leone (2017-2018). He has worked in elections and peace promotion processes in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria and speaks English and other local West African dialects fluently. Through a consultancy with DIA (with an EU funded project), he led the development of the Strategic Plans  of  the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) in 2019/2020 and the National Elections Watch (NEW) in 2021 – the biggest civil society elections observation group in Sierra Leone.   Idrissa holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA, honours) in Political Science from the University of Sierra Leone, Master of Art (MA) in Politics and Governance from the Institute of Development Policy and Management (IDPM), University of Manchester, and a PhD and Development Studies from SOAS – University of London.

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Olusegun Medupin doesn’t just talk about change — he builds the infrastructure for it. With over 17 years on the frontlines of youth development and gender justice across Nigeria and Africa, he has designed programs that have reached more than 12 million young people, and helped shape national policy at the highest levels — including the National Youth Policy and the FCT Youth Development Policy 2024. As Deputy Executive Director at YouthHubAfrica, Olusegun oversees programs and operations that create platforms for young people to step into leadership and drive development in their own communities — across health, education, governance, and job creation. He works through and with youth coalitions, groups, networks, and organisations across the continent, backing young people with the tools, skills, and spaces they need to lead. A RiseUP Fellow and Lagos Business School alumnus, Olusegun trains. He mentors. He builds systems that live beyond projects and activities. His north star: a Nigeria — and an Africa — where every young person, especially every girl, has a fair shot.

Dr. Ignatius Emeka Onyekwere is a Nigerian peacebuilding practitioner and policy adviser with over 25 years of experience advancing peace, security, and inclusive governance across West Africa. He holds a PhD in Peace Studies, a Master of Arts in Conflict Resolution, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methods for Social Sciences from the University of Bradford, as well as a Bachelor of Technology in Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Nigeria. Dr Onyekwere brings strong leadership in managing cross-functional teams and deep technical expertise in peacebuilding, human security analysis, resilience building, conflict early warning and response systems, security sector reform, governance and conflict sensitivity programming. He has worked with a wide range of international organisations and development partners, including the United Nations Development Programme, the European Union, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding, Economic Community of West African States, United Nations Development Programme, United States Agency for International Development, United States Institute of Peace, the African Development Bank, Fund for Peace, and Greenpeace Africa. He has held several high-level advisory roles, including Senior Consultant with the Fund for Peace under a USIP-funded multilateralism project, consultant to the African Development Bank on the Rwanda Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment, and Senior Consultant with Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCS Impact), Netherlands, where he provided technical advisory on counterterrorism and peacebuilding. He also served as Conflict Sensitivity Advisor for the Global Affairs Canada Field Support Services Project in Nigeria.

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Dr. Olajumoke Ganiyat Jenyo is a seasoned development and security professional with over 12 years of progressive experience in peace support operations (PSO), gender mainstreaming, humanitarian affairs, migration, and socio-economic development. Her expertise lies at the intersection of policy, training, and operational delivery, with particular focus on gender in PSO and the civilian dimension of peace support operations, including protection of civilians, gender-responsive programming, and multi-stakeholder coordination in complex mission environments. She is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Strategic Research and Studies at the National Defence College (NDC), Nigeria, where she began her career in 2014 as an Assistant Research Fellow in the Department of Conflict, Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Studies (DCPHS) and rose through the ranks to her current position. She served as Head of the Department from September 2022 to December 2025, providing strategic leadership for the design and delivery of academic module 8 (the Peace Support Operations Module) for NDC Course Participant Courses 31, 32 and 33, and coordinating high-level trainings, simulations, and policy-oriented engagements for senior military and civilian participants. In December 2025, she was appointed Training Coordinator at the NDC, with responsibility for overseeing institutional training programmes and strengthening capacity development delivery. Dr. Olajumoke has administered and facilitated several high-level courses and programmes. Notably, she coordinated the Abridged ECOWAS Senior Mission Leaders Course (February 2026) and has led and contributed to multiple regional and institutional trainings on peace support operations, protection of civilians, gender in security operations, and integrated mission planning. She also led the NDC team to facilitate the Peace Support Operations training package at the Naval War College Nigeria for Courses 5, 6, and 7, further strengthening joint operational capacity and inter-institutional collaboration.

Dr. Kashema Bahago is an Economist and Researcher with experience in development and management consulting, having managed research projects across their full cycle, from conceptualisation through implementation, stakeholder engagement and project closeout. He maintains a growing portfolio of peer-reviewed articles and policy papers. He is a 2024 graduate of the School of Politics, Policy and Governance, a 2026 Agora Policy Fellow, and a 2020 International Energy Fellow who worked on energy policy. He is also skilled in developing strategic plans that strengthen government institutions’ capacity to fulfil their mandates in accordance with their enabling legislation. Most specifically, he developed a five-year strategic plan for the Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council, Nigeria’s seed sector regulator.

David Opeyemi Oke is the Vice President of World Trade Center Lagos, and a member of the Advisory Council on Trade Services at the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA). He is a seasoned policy strategist, trade expert, and development leader with nearly two decades of experience across Africa. He has led and contributed to policy design and development initiatives spanning trade and economic governance, youth development, migration, and internet governance, working with both public and private institutions in countries including Uganda, Benin Republic, Sierra Leone, Liberia, DRC, and Madagascar. Previously, he served as Head of Trade Services at World Trade Center Abuja, founded Equip Africa Integrated Development Initiative, and was Director General (Nigeria) of the Global Council for the Promotion of International Trade (GCPIT). He has also served as Director General of a leading chamber of commerce in Lagos and played a key role in supporting the domestication of the AfCFTA. He is the Founder and Global President of CELA, Convener of the Emerging African Leaders Summit, and an alumnus of SPPG Africa.

Dr. Stephanie E. Effevottu is a researcher and development practitioner with a doctorate in History (Development Studies) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She currently lectures at the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, University of Ibadan Distance Learning Centre. Her research interests span interdisciplinary areas, including religion, peacebuilding, migration, youth, gender, and sexuality studies. She has contributed significantly to discourse in these areas through academic publications and community-based projects. Aside from her academic engagement, she is a global youth leader and peacebuilding practitioner committed to advancing women and youth empowerment. She possesses over eight years of experience in non-governmental organisation (NGO) settings, which have enabled her to gain an insight into advancing development solutions to fostering engagement in peace, security, and development issues.

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Zigwai Tagwai is a development professional and humanitarian activist focused on issues relating to public policy, gender, civic participation, and peacebuilding. She holds a Master in International Affairs and Diplomacy, a bachelor degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, and a certificate in Public Leadership and policy from the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG). Zigwai is the founder of Zaza Development Initiative, a non-governmental, non-political, and not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating a sustainable Africa through civic education, mentorship, capacity building, advocacy, and community engagement. She is an alumna of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Emerging Leaders Program and the Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the U.S. Government. She is a Rotary Positive Peace Activator promoting sustainable peace, a member of Generation Democracy and Women Democracy Network. She also served as a mentor/coach for the Nigeria Jubilee Fellowship program, a Federal Government of Nigeria initiative co-funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Women’s Policy Action Lab an Initiative of the Office of the Speaker House of Representative and Gender Mobile Initiative.

Dr. Pooja Gupta is a technology strategist, AI leader, and digital transformation expert with over a decade of experience delivering impactful solutions across Africa, India, and global markets. She currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of BGS Group Zambia and is an Executive Advisory Board Member at IA Forum, USA.

Her expertise spans artificial intelligence, fintech systems, digital identity, e-governance, and large-scale public sector platforms. She has contributed to national digital initiatives, policy advisory, and implementation of AI-driven solutions aligned with inclusive and ethical innovation.

A recognized speaker, mentor, and award-winning leader, Dr. Gupta is deeply committed to empowering youth and women in technology. She continues to champion responsible AI adoption and capacity building, shaping Africa’s digital future through leadership, innovation, and impact.

Recipient of Zambia Glow Woman of the Year 2026 Award, she continues to inspire through her leadership journey—balancing her role as a mother of three with her commitment to driving meaningful, sustainable impact in the technology ecosystem

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Bolu Michael-Biyi is an international development professional, AI literacy consultant, and global thought leader at the intersection of technology, policy, and social transformation. He currently serves as Knowledge Management Advisor at Canadian Crossroads International in Eswatini and is the Founder and Executive Director of Code24 AI, an AI education and capacity-building organization advancing responsible and practical use of artificial intelligence to solve problems.

Trained in Psychology at Covenant University, where he served as the 4th Students’ Union President, Bolu went on to earn a second degree in Law from Swansea University (UK) and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex (UK). His work experience spans North America, Europe, and Africa, serving with leading institutions including the African Union and Steelcase.

A Mandela Washington Fellow, African Union Youth Fellow, Atlas Corps Fellow, LEAP Africa Scholar, Savvy Fellow, Steelcase Social Innovation Fellow and Author of 11 books, Bolu is a recipient of multiple awards for leadership, innovation, and impact. He is widely recognized for his influential writing on governance, public policy and social development issues, as well as his commentary and analysis on global affairs across television platforms.