Professor Olu Akinyanju is the Founder and Chairman of Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria and established the iconic National Sickle Cell Centre, Lagos – the first of its kind in all of Africa. He is a World Health Organization Expert on Genomic Research and a past President (and now, Trustee) of the Nigerian Society for Haematology and Blood Transfusion. Akinyanju was conferred in 2006 by the President of the Federal Republicof Nigeria, with the National Honour of the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). A distinguished Nigerian of international stature, Akinyanju has received numerous awards spanning the academia, healthcare, philanthropy and culture.

Dr. Annette Ofunne Akinsete has been the CEO/National Director of Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria since 2013, where she continues to propel successful innovative strategies for the prevention, management, care and support of sickle cell disorder through – inter alia – Public Private Partnerships, Arts in Medicine and Family Support Systems. Annette Akinsete is a woman of many parts; she is – inter alia – a Consultant Public Health Physician, an astute Administrator, a Teacher and a Broadcaster. A distinguished Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, she was Director in the Public Health Department of the Federal Ministry of Health for many years, where she was known as “The Leader of Leaders”, and has represented the Federal Government of Nigeria at several multi-lateral and bilateral engagements all over the world. As a Public Health Physician, Akinsete has worked in every level of government in Nigeria – from local to State and to Federal levels. At global level, she has contributed to World Health Organisation (WHO) publications on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), served as WHO Fellow in Geneva and as UN Cares Facilitator at the United Nations HQ in New York. Dr. Akinsete, who is a member of several professional bodies, also serves as a Commissioner on the Nigeria NCDI Poverty Commission, an Adjunct Lecturer at the Eko University of Medicine and a member of the Board of the University of Ibadan Research Foundation. She is a key resource person for the West African Health Organisation and represents Women’s Board at the United Nations. A Chartered Management Consultant and a recipient of numerous awards, Akinsete continues to be involved in the formation of young girls as a Brownie Owl.

John Momoh (born 1st July 1957) is a Nigerian broadcast journalist and the Chairman and CEO of Channels TV, an independent and multiple award-winning 24-hour news and media television channel based in Lagos. He is widely recognized in Nigeria as a transformative industry pioneer with a 37-year-long career in news television broadcasting. He was appointed as the acting chairman of UNILAG Governing Council by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari on 21 August 2020.

Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo (born 4th February 1958) is a Nigerian politician and traditional aristocrat. He served as the first Executive Governor of Ekiti State from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2003 and represents the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Adebayo is a top chieftain of the All-Progressives Congress, APC, and served as the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment in Nigeria. Adebayo has extensive experience in a wide range of disputes & legal and advisory work. His more notable achievements have been in the areas of project finance, oil and gas, contract procurement, and business facilitation. He is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the International Bar Association (IBA). Adebayo is a keen sportsman and plays tennis, squash, and football.

Professor Muuta is Head of Department, Paediatrics, at the Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria. His professional interests are in Haematology and Oncology as well as in Medical Education, particularly curriculum development and assessment methods. He represents the Paediatrics Association of Nigeria on the board of SCFN.

Funso Sobande is an experienced and versatile banker, with about 24 years of cognate banking experience. He has worked in Senior Management positions in various local and International Banks in Nigeria. He is a registered Capital Markets Operator and has served in various committees such as the Technical Committee on the establishment of a secondary market for trading of Bonds. His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan, and a Master’s degree in Finance from Strathclyde University, Glasgow. He is a former President of the Money Market Association of Nigeria, now known as the FMDA. He has rendered financial consultancy services to clients, including the Central Bank of Liberia, Central Bank of Nigeria and worked briefly as Group Treasurer for the Flour Mills Group, and currently is an Executive Director with First Pension Custodian Nigeria Limited.

Mr. Chidi Ofong is a retired Diplomat, accomplished Economist and Business Administrator, has served the nation in several capacities as The Chief Executive Officer of the National Directorate of Employment.

Oladele Fajemirokun was born in Nigeria to Henry Oloyede Fajemirokun, a Nigerian millionaire and successful businessman. He had his secondary school education at ‘Gboluji Grammar School, Ile Oluji, Ondo State, then his tertiary education at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) where he earned a B.Sc in Business Economics. He also further went on to bag a Doctorate from the University of Los Angeles, USA. Coming from a wealthy background and with access to a lot of resources and finance, Dele cultivated and invested in several high-class companies in Nigeria, helping him secure an abundance of high-performance enterprises in key sectors of the economy ranging from insurance to telecommunications, oil and gas, agriculture, and manufacturing. He is currently the Chairman/Director of the board of the companies, and many others, totaling over forty.

Mr. Fola Adeola is the Chairman of Main One. He is an entrepreneur, private investor and philanthropist, and is founder and chairman of Fate Foundation, a charitable foundation promoting entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths. He was also the founder and pioneer Managing Director and Chief Executive of Guaranty Trust Bank, Nigeria for twelve years. Mr. Adeola has served on innumerable developmental initiatives within and outside Nigeria. He served in his persona capacity on the Blair Commission for Africa. He is a 2002 Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). He sits on the Board as a representative of Main Street Technologies Limited.

Tony Epelle attended St Gregory’s College, Ikoyi, Lagos between 1972 & 76 for his secondary school education. He proceeded to King’s College, Lagos for his Higher School Certificate (HSC). He also attended the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a BSc (Hons) degree in Economics in 1981. He is the Founder & pioneer Chief Executive of THE SAMUELSON CONSULTING GROUP, a multi-sectoral advisory, consulting, and project management group, set up in 1989. Tony is a Member of the Board of Governors of Royal Court Private School and the Proposed Clinton University; as well as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria and the Board of Trustees of The Albino Foundation.

Professor Christopher Olusanjo Bode is a distinguished paediatric surgeon and the incumbent Chief Medical Director, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). He graduated from the University of Ife (then Obafemi Awolowo University) where he obtained a MBChB degree in 1980. In 1992, he became a fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria as well as a fellow of the West African College of Surgeons. He recently also became a fellow of the Nigeria Academy of Medicine. He began his impeccable career at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos as a lecturer while also serving as a consultant paediatric surgeon to LUTH, prior to his appointment as Chief Medical Director, LUTH.

Mr. Justin Olabode Emanuel is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grand Cereals Limited. A Chartered Accountant per excellence, Mr. Emanuel is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW) and Member – Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Mr. Emanuel is a seasoned administrator and serves as the Chairman of the Board of many corporate organizations both local and international, some of which include: Borini Prono & Co. (Nigeria) Limited, Saipem (Nigeria) Limited, Hogg Robinson Nigeria Limited, Pan Oil & Communications Limited, U.K, Kolorkote Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Life & Provident Company Limited, Elevator Technologies Company Limited, amongst many others.

Mrs. Otaigbe is a retired Director of Nursing, Nigeria Ports Authority, Lagos and now Head of Dept - Genetic Counseling at the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria. She is a Trainer of Trainer per excellence and currently the Lead Genetic Counseling Trainer for counsellors all over Africa.

Toki Mabogunje is a Nigerian lawyer, broadcaster, poet and business consultant. She is the 3rd female president of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and the founder Toki Mabogunje & Co. Toki is a member of the governing council, the World Chamber of Federation. She is a law graduate from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife. She earned her LLM in International Business Law from the University of Exeter, England. Mabogunje was honored in 2014 as the Personality of the year for World Theater Day and Cultural Ambassador by NANTAP. Mabogunje started her career with Federal Ministry of Justice where she spent 9 years of her professional career. Later, she proceeded to Mercantile and Industrial as Senior State Counsel. She left legal industry for broadcasting and started her stint with Minaj Media Group as Group Head, Legal and Corporate Affairs from where she moved to New York to head the North American Directorate of the organization. She later became the president of the international subsidiary of the firm. She returned to Nigeria in 2000 to establish Toki Mabogunje & Co., Toki was appointed to the governing council of World Chamber of Federation (WCF). During the 131 Annual General Meeting of the LCCI, Toki was appointed as the 3rd female president of the organization. Before her election as the president of the LCCI, she served as the chairperson, Board of the Business Education Services and Training Unit of the same organization.

Oye Hassan-Odukale holds Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in Business Administration from the University of Houston, and has since 1994 held the position of Managing Director/ CEO of Leadway Assurance Company Limited, a foremost underwriting firm in Nigeria. His appointment was preceded by over 15 years of experience in insurance brokerage, underwriting, investments and general management. Mr. Hassan-Odukale is a recipient of the national honor, Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) and sits on the board of several blue-chip companies in Nigeria. He was a Non-Executive Director on the Board of First Bank of Nigeria Plc. between 1999 and 2010 and he is the current Chairman of FBN Bank (UK) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of FirstBank in the city of London. Mr. Hassan-Odukale is a Munich Re scholar, Securities and Exchange Commission accredited Investment Manager and Portfolio Advisor. He is married with children and enjoys listening to music, reading and travelling.

A public health specialist whose portfolio includes hereditary blood disorders including sickle cell disease and hemophilia, Dr.Sopekan is an advocate for equity and inclusivity. The Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria, and an articulate and goal-oriented professional with an objective to contribute his wealth of experience to disease control and prevention. Dr.Sopekan has contributed to many publications including “Implementing newborn screening for sickle cell disease as part of immunization programs in Nigeria: a feasibility study” and “Strategies to improve healthcare services for patients with sickle cell disease in Nigeria: The perspectives of stakeholders”

Mrs. Abiola Kudirat Ogunbiyi, (LL.M) MITPN is a woman on a change mission, a legal practitioner, founder and Managing Director of SJ Tours & amp; Allied Services Ltd. She is a committed member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Section on Business Law, Committee of Travel, Tourism and Hospitality (NBA-SBL), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Association of Tourism Practitioners of Nigeria (ATPN), Institute for Tourism Professionals of Nigeria (ITPN), a Director on the Board of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), Nigeria, Ghana Business Council (NGBC), and Basil International Schools (BIS).