Profiles

Kingsley Kweku Nkansah Asah

Board Secretary, Rep Advisory Board

West Region

Language: English

Mr. Asah is a Business Executive with over 25 years of strategic business development expertise and has supported the successful development of businesses locally (Ghana) and internationally. Executive Board Director and Secretary for many successful businesses including the Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS). He is a founding partner and the Country Director (Ghana) of Vobiss Solutions Ltd, the first company to introduce “Utelco” business concept in Ghana. Vobiss is Headquartered in Ghana and has operations in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom (UK). Mr. Asah played a key Executive role in the development and expansion of the operations of Vobiss within the Energy and Telecommunication sectors of Ghana. As Country Director, Mr. Asah is responsible for all stakeholder engagement and has been instrumental in securing the agreements with all the various utility and regulatory stakeholders in Ghana, namely, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) and National Communication Authority (NCA). Mr. Asah’s corporate leadership at Vobiss has contributed to the over USD 25 million valuation growth of the company from a near-zero base capital investment in 2009. Mr. Asah is Vobiss’ lead in its branding and expansion program in Africa, the company is now prospecting opportunities in the U.S.A Utelco sector. He played a team lead coordinator role with Vobiss’ international consulting partner in the development of the long-term ICT and Digital Transformation Strategies for ECG. Mr. Asah’s business interests include Real Estate Community Housing Development in Ghana. Mr. Asah is the Founder and executive Chairman – of Eximia Development Limited (Ghana), Freehands Motors (Ghana & USA) and Divine Crest Solutions (Ghana). He partners and serves on several Corporate and Social organization Boards which include: Vobiss Solutions Ltd (Ghana), C&W Telecoms Ltd. (Ghana),Iklick Communication Lt (Ghana), JVG Group Ltd. (Ghana), P-Tel Ltd. (Ghana), Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS), and Ghana Deaf Sports Federation (GDSF) – Supporting the development of persons with Deaf Disability through sports.

Dr. M’zée Fula-Ngenge

Central Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Languages: English & Portuguese

M’zée is a leading Global Development Economist, specializing in trade and sustainable development policy issues, as well as in international economic relations, which span across a wide range of developing African nations. M’zée’s credentials include Executive Chairman of JFPI Corporation, Africa’s largest private economic empowerment conglomerate as well as Partner and Senior Board Member of True Equity Group (TEG), an international mergers and acquisitions firm.

An experienced Mining Engineer, he is Africa’s highest-ranking diamond official and is the Chairman of the African Diamond Council (ADC), the continent’s official diamond governing body, which unifies African nations responsible for producing more than half of the world’s diamond output. In this capacity, he serves as a professional international liaison to both the public and private sector. As a trusted powerbroker within the global diamond industry, Dr. Ngenge also administers the African Diamond Producers Association (APDA), the African International Diamond Exchange (AIDEX), the African Diamond Manufacturers Association (ADMA) and the African Diamond Trust Fund (ADTF), where he serves as Head of the Board of Trustees & Executive Committee. Through these formidable derivative bodies of the African Diamond Council (ADC), this bold industry reformer has effectively introduced progressive diamond legislation, impressively presided over, and has successfully provided strategic direction to an African diamond industry that contributes more than US$9 billion in annual revenues to the African continent’s economy.

Known for his assertive advocacy of pan-Africanism, M’zée’s attention to detail and his uncompromising ethics, positions him to staunchly defend the rights of Africans and the Diaspora to ensure that their voices are universally heard. M’zée is also active in the non-profit world. He is widely sought-after for his efforts to effectively provide assurances to corporate social responsibility activities such as environmental and social impact initiatives, including youth and women Empowerment strategies.

Mr. Judson Wendell Addy RTD

APSS Founder and Chairman Emeritus

Diaspora Member

APSS Advisory Board

Language: English

Mr. Judson Wendell Addy, the founding Chairman of the Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS), is a distinguished figure in the landscape of Pan-African economic development. A visionary leader with a passion for fostering collaboration and economic growth, Mr. Addy played a pivotal role in establishing APSS as a prominent force in advocating for a conducive business environment in Africa. He is founding member of PACCI in 2009, and key contributor to the formal establishment of the Africa Business Council (AfBC). Mr. Addy also played an important role in establishing the Consumers International Regional Office in Africa (CI-ROAF).

Throughout his tenure as Chairman, Mr. Addy demonstrated unwavering commitment to the principles of APSS, seeking to convene stakeholders from the private sector, public sector, civil society, labor, and academia to drive positive change across the continent. His leadership laid the foundation for APSS’s mission to advocate for favorable governance, legal, regulatory, and policy environments, aligning business practices with the protocols of regional economic communities and the AfCFTA. Additionally, he supports an APSS initiative under an Africa Education Trust Fund to tailor Academia/TVET skill sets to meet the job demands for business/industry and government. Under Mr. Addy’s guidance, APSS became a facilitator and catalyst, sparking initiatives that would propel the implementation of protocols, ultimately contributing to the Africa we want. His tenure witnessed the establishment of critical frameworks, including the Private Sector Bill of Rights, emphasizing ethical business practices and collaboration with regional bodies. As Mr. Addy gracefully hands over the baton to Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, his legacy remains integral to the fabric of APSS. His visionary leadership has left an indelible mark on the organization, setting the stage for continued success in the pursuit of a vibrant, collaborative, and prosperous African private sector even as he continues to serve on the Advisory board of APSS.

Benjamin Acheampong

APSS Co-founder and Diaspora Member

APSS Advisory Board

Language: English

Benjamin Acheampong is a Certified and an Experienced Business Advisor with over 15 years demonstrated history of working in the private sector. Strong, decisive and dynamic business development leader and capacity building professional skilled in negotiation, process improvement, lean operation, financial management, strategic management, leadership, business planning, team building, sales and ability to develop and execute plans that achieve desired outcomes while maintaining profitability. He has featured in newspapers like Business24, Stateman, Ghanaweb, M.N.I. International and African Voices TV as a business and management expert. Being a part of an international consulting and business advisory team who for the past 12 years have advised, trained and coached entrepreneurs, small and medium size business owners, business executives, government officials, bankers, lawyers, real estate developers, therapists, technological consultants, coaches and Church leaders who need help in learning how to successfully own and operate a business and increased revenue and performance from 20% to 100% within matter of months.

An inspirational business leader with great passion and enthusiasm for the development of the African Continent and the diaspora have steered couple of international conferences recently being 2 Africa Private Sector Summit and OWIT Nigeria Women In Trade Conference in Abuja, Nigeria. He serves as an advisory board member of University of Hull Business School (HUBS), member of Chartered Institute of Leadership and Management, United Kingdom, Certified Member of Institute of Business Advisors Australia, Certified Member of Mindspace Associates, a member of Institute of Administrative Management, United Kingdom, Business Consultant at Andy Davidson Associates and Greater Care Services UK. He is the Founder & CEO, Wealth Masters Group International, Founder & Director, B.A.I Prodigy Investment Company in Zambia, Group President/ Ceo of Uwa Africa Group, Co -Chairman of Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS) and a Convener, Africa and Caribbean Achievers’ Summit (AAS).

Adeyinka Adeyemi

Diaspora Member

APSS Advisory Board

Language: English

Adeyinka Adeyemi is the Managing Partner at The Grey Factor Group LLC, a Consulting firm based in the United States and with operational offices in London, Lagos and Johannesburg. He was a Senior Adviser at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, where he led Trade Policy Advocacy and variously headed the Regional Integration and Infrastructure Cluster and was the Focal Point for NEPAD. He led the project to harmonize policies, laws and regulations on infrastructure investment in Africa as well as domestication of the PIDA model law on infrastructure investment in Africa. He was educated at the Universities of Ibadan and Lagos as well as Harvard University, where he was a Fellow (Press, Politics and Public Policy). Adeyemi was the UN Bureau Chief of Pan African News Agency; Partner at Dawkins, Adeyemi LLC in Washington DC, and President and Chief Strategist at ImageDynamics Communications Ltd. in New York where he handled highly sensitive projects which returned countries to the negotiating table. A former Adjunct Professor of Political Science at the Stonybrook University, New York, he is the co-author of “Enhancing domestic revenue collection for development: technology, incentives and tax compliance in Ethiopia” (2015); “A Media Handbook for HIV Vaccine Trial in Africa” (UNAIDS 2000); “The Nigerian Press Under the Military: Persecution, Resilience and Political Crisis (19831993)” (Harvard University 1995); “Winking in the dark: Agenda 2063 and the communication imperative” (ECA, 2015). He also produced various documentaries including “The gods must be angry” on the impact of climate change in Africa; “Water: an African story” on the paradox of the Nile River in Ethiopia and “Nigeria: World Citizen”, about Nigeria’s leadership role in global peacekeeping.

Gerald Ferguson Burns Cooper

Diaspora Member

APSS Advisory Board

Language: English

Mr. Cooper, President of Maritime Cooper Associates in Reston, Virginia, boasts over 50 years of experience in maritime affairs, international commerce, and the shipping and steel industries. Since 1999, he has played a crucial role as an Executive Advisor/Consultant to the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR), based in Virginia, USA. His contributions to making the Liberian registry the world’s largest began when he became Liberia’s youngest-ever Commissioner of Maritime Affairs in 1975. Apart from his significant contributions to LISCR, Cooper holds various leadership roles. Notably, he is the Inaugural Chair of the Episcopal Church of Liberia Development Society in Monrovia, Liberia, and a Board Member and past Chair of the William VS Tubman University Foundation in California, USA, since 2009. Cooper is also actively involved in shaping the future landscape of business advocacy as the Inaugural Chairperson of Trinity Agro Corporation at Cuttington University, Suacoco, Bong County, Liberia. His entrepreneurial skills were evident from 1980 to 1997, where Cooper utilized his private sector experience to establish a Shipping Consultancy Firm and develop industrial infrastructure in Liberia, including the first ship recycling, steel rolling mill, and an integrated oxygen plant. Cooper’s global impact extends to international maritime conventions and organizations, where he represented Liberia, notably as Chairperson of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) African Group. He played a key role in transforming the IMO into a global maritime regulatory authority. Educated in Liberia, Switzerland, and the USA, Cooper is a graduate of the Institute auf dem Rosenberg in Switzerland, Hartwick College in New York, and Drew University in New Jersey. His commitment to philanthropy is evident through his support for charities, including Marylanders for Progress (Liberia) Inc. As a family man, Cooper is married with six children and grandchildren, and he currently resides in Reston, VA, USA. In recognition of his exceptional contributions, the Government of Liberia has honored him with prestigious awards, including the Knight Grand Commander and the Grand Band Star of Africa.

Assoc. Prof. Nakijoba Rosemary

East Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Languages: English

Assoc. Professor Nakijoba Rosemary currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts, and Humanities at Muteesa I Royal University in Uganda. Her profile can be viewed at www.mru.ac.ug. Rosemary obtained her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Development Studies at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cape Town, South Africa, her M.A Development Studies at Uganda Martyr’s University (UMU) in Uganda, and a Bachelor’s Degree in the same field at Ndejje University (NDU), Uganda. Rosemary has supervised and mentored postgraduate and undergraduate research students at various Universities in Uganda since 2014 to date. She has written and published works on various social and contemporary development issues in peer-reviewed academic journals. Her ORCID is number   https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6300-6659.

She is an alumnus of the National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) in Johannesburg, South Africa; the Social Sciences Research Council (SSRC), New York as well as the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS). She serves as an Executive Committee member of the Uganda Irish Alumni Association (UIAA) under the Irish Embassy in Uganda.

Rosemary served in the NGO sector as Deputy Director at Kitovu Mobile AIDS Organization in Uganda and has engaged in community consulting at local and international levels with a number of organizations. She is a strong disability and Gender advocate. In the recent past, Rosemary has contributed articles in the State of Uganda’s Population Reports (SUPRE) and recommended policy interventions on some of the pressing issues that Uganda needs to pay attention to in order to address some of the challenges posed by population dynamics and the development nexus.

Pheona Nabaasa Wall

East Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Languages: English

Pheona Wall is Senior Counsel, Advocate, Commissioner of Oaths, Arbitrator, and certified Insolvency Practitioner with a bachelor’s degree in law, a Diploma in Legal Practice, and an MBA in Management. She is a governance expert and an institutional development expert with over 17 years’ experience in the water, telecom, and legal sectors. She currently serves as the CEO of the League of East African Directors. She is passionate about Regional Trade and is a Director of the East African Business Council. She is the immediate past President of the Uganda Law Society, the General Secretary of the Pan African Lawyers Union, and a Council Member of the Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association. Pheona has also served as a Council Member of the Judiciary Council and sat on the ICAMEK and CADER Arbitration Center Boards and is currently the Vice Chairperson of the Advisory Council of Efficacy Methodology, an African Policy Think Tank. For 9 years she served as the Head of Legal at National Water and Sewerage Corporation and served as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the Kampala International University for five years.

She is a member of the Arbitration and Africa Regional Forum of the International Bar Association. Pheona is an executive leadership coach who trains Boards in Governance under the Institute for Corporate Governance Uganda, CEOs under the CEO Summit, and young leaders under the Fidelis Leadership Institute (which she founded in 2019) Pheona was awarded the Hague Institute for Innovations in Law’s “2018 Talent to Watch” award and is a two-time awardee of the New Vision 40 under 40 award for 2018 and 2020 and the French German Elysees Peace and Reconciliation Award in 2021 for her efforts in fighting for the Rule of Law in Uganda. She was awarded as one of Africa’s Top 50 Leaders by the African Law Tech Festival in 2020.

Dr. Eng. Sherif El-Gabaly

North Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Language: English / Arabic

Dr. Eng. Sherif El-Gabaly is the Chairman of Board of the Egyptian Chamber of Chemical Industries (FEI), Chairman of Environmental Compliance Office Steering Committee. Dr. Sherif was graduated from Faculty of Engineering – Cairo University majored in Chemical Engineering, got his PhD from the Higher Institute of Chemical Technology, Sophia in fertilizers processing. In the present time He is the Chairman of Polyserve Group (A large conglomerate based in Egypt and involved in the production of Fertilizers, Trading, agriculture and logistics). During the 70’s he was a research engineer in the Industrial Organization of Arab League States after that he joined DOW Chemical and last position held was General Manager for North East Africa.

He organized and coordinated bilateral and multilateral cooperation between international organizations & business associations tackling regional / national trade, industrial development & energy reform policies. Dr. Sherif has a wide effective activities and participation with many industry, trade and scientific associations. He is the Chairman of Egyptian exporter’s association / Federation of Egyptian Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Africa committee – Federation of Egyptian Industries, Chairman of Egypt- Korea Business Council, Chairman of Egypt – Malaysia Business Council, Chairman of Egypt – Indonesia Business Council, Member of board of Egypt – China Business Council, Member of board of Egypt – Ethiopia Business Council, Member of board of Egypt – Spain Business Council, Member board of Industry Committee, Egyptian academy of sciences, Member of board of Egyptian Businessmen Association (EBA), Ex-Chairman of the board of the Egyptian Association for Fertilizers Traders and Distributors, Ex- Member of board the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, Ex- Chairman of Sadat City Investment Association, Ex- Member of the board and Executive Committee of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, Ex- Member of the board of the Egyptian Holding Company for Metallurgy.

Dr. Eugenia Xoliswa Kula (DBL, MBA)

South Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Language: English 

Dr. Eugenia Kula has extensive corporate executive and board experience in organisations such as Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Eskom, Oil & Gas, Proudly South Africa, Council on Built Environment, Metro Municipality, Compensation Fund, Cricket South Africa. Property Regulator, Pension Fund, and Business Member Organisations. Eugenia has worked with 8 cabinet Ministers in her board career in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), chairing various boards and committees.

As the Chair of Transformation at Estate Agency Affairs Board (EAAB) she pioneered and authored Chapter 4 on Transformation in the Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2019, which is said to be the first legislation of its kind in South Africa. In government Eugenia also led the policy development and transformation of the FET Sector and contributed to the FET Act, Skills Development Act and Skills Levy Act.

She was also a member of the Presidential Working Group, BRICS Business Council in South Africa and Brazil, USA–Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC and FACOC in China 2018. She represented South Africa in the UN Women Commission on the Status of Women conference in New York in 2016 and was later part of the selection panel for the UN Women SADC Advisory Board. She was a judge for the Inaugural Premier Business Awards and has won various Empowerment Awards. She is a published author of Personal Strategy – 7 Steps to Self-Mastery and Transforming Cricket SA through Social Justice and Nation Building. Dr Kula obtained a Doctorate in Business Leadership (DBL) in Corporate Governance from University of South Africa (UNISA) SBL, an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Strategy from Oxford Brookes, Oxford, UK, Board Leadership Certificate from Gordon Institute of Business (GIBS), Executive Certificates from Geneva Institute of Leadership and Public Policy, International Training Centre of the ILO (ITC ILO) in Turin, Italy, and HR Executive Certificate from HIDA in Japan.

Otsile Mphela, MR

South Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Language: English

He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bafenyi African Group, a diversified infrastructure and industrial group of companies. Bafenyi Solutions (Pty) Limited, Amefika Home Boutiques, Bafenyi Asphalt, Bafenyi Energy, Amefika Luxury Brands, SieMatic SA and Washindi Investments UAE are among the subsidiaries of Bafenyi African Group.

Otsile is the GIZ Manager Training Programme Alumni, an imperative international cooperation programme supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The training programme included a trade mission to Germany, whereby Otsile stayed for two weeks and successfully signed an exclusive agreement with the global luxury kitchens brand called SieMatic.

Otsile has also been nominated and voted into the Executive Board of the SAAMF (South African Association of Managers Forum), which was recently born out of a dynamic collaboration under the theme “Partnering in Business with Germany”. HE also serves as the Chairperson of the Subcommittee: Exports, Imports and FDIs in the association. Otsile is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Development Studies at the University of South Africa, he has also undergone other programmes such as Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production through the NCPC-SA (National Cleaner Production Centre). He is currently undergoing the UNIDO’s IP (Industrial Parks) Training with 3 Courses: Industrial Park Planning and Development; Industrial Park Financing and Investment Facilitation; Sustainable Operation and Management of Industrial Parks. He also completed a course in Construction Management with the UCT (University of  Cape Town) during the hard lockdowns.

Otunba Bimbola Ashiru

 West Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Languages: English

Otunba Bimbola Ashiru is a highly accomplished professional with a graduate degree in Marketing, Purchasing & Supply, a Masters’ Degree in Strategic Management, and holds the designation of Chartered Banker. His illustrious career includes key roles in various institutions, culminating in his last position as the Group Head of Public Sector at Stanbic IBTC Bank. As a Fellow of prestigious institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, and Chartered Institute of Commerce of Nigeria, he brings a wealth of expertise to his endeavors.

Notably, Otunba Ashiru served as the Honorable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State for two terms from 2011 to 2018. His impactful leadership led to a remarkable 1,279.84% increase in internally generated revenue for the state. Under his guidance, Ogun State attracted over 300 factories/companies with a cumulative investment profile of about N691.77 Billion in 2014, earning it the top position in Nigeria according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. He played a pivotal role in Ogun State becoming a hub for Manufacturing Foreign Direct Investment between 2011 and 2016.

During his tenure, Ogun State achieved recognition from the World Bank Group, ranking among the top five states in terms of ease of doing business in Nigeria, a significant improvement from its 36th position in 2010. Otunba Ashiru facilitated the establishment of a One-Stop Shop Investment Center (OSSIC) within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, streamlining procedures for potential investors. Currently, Otunba Bimbola Ashiru serves as the Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, a conglomerate jointly owned by the six southwestern states of Nigeria, a position he assumed in May 2020. In his personal life, he is happily married to Olukemi Ashiru, a lawyer, and they are blessed with two lovely children.

Dr. Adama Gaye

 West Region Member

APSS Advisory Board

Languages: English & French

Vice-president of a US-based Energy multinational, is a reknowned Senegalese writer and author of various books on Africa. As a private sector operator, he facilitated important business deals on infrastructures and investments across Africa. He has partnered with key international players. Gaye has been a Director of Communication of ECOWAS, one of Africa’s Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Editor of the London-based West Africa Magazine. Along with Teresa May and Seb Coe, he was among the London Olympics successful bidding team for the 2012 Games. Gaye has been a regular guest, commenting and avalyzing African Affairs, on CNN, The BBC, Aljazeera, France24 and diverse African media. He holds various degrees from the universities of Dakar, The Paris Sorbonne, Oxford, Geneva, in addition to being at Fellow at Stanford, Beijing, and the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University. Well networked across Africa and beyond, Adama is the Convener of a leading School of leadership, politics, policy and governance established in Senegal on a model initiated in Nigeria by Dr. Obiagely Ezekwesili, former Africa World Bank Vice-president and Nigeria Minister of Éducation.

Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman

West Region

CEO – Africa Private Sector Summit

In Attendance – APSS Advisory Board

Language: English

Lucy has almost four decades’ experience in executive, non-executive and consulting or advisory roles that traverse the private, public and nonprofit sectors in Nigeria, including sub-regional, continental and global professional networks and multilateral agencies.

She had a 10-year tenure as CEO of FITC Nigeria, a non profit special purpose professional services firm with membership consisting of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and all deposit money banks registered in Nigeria, serving a network of 1,570 stakeholders in Africa as at 2019. Prior to FITC, she had a vibrant consulting career at PricewaterhouseCoopers [PwC Nigeria]’s Business Advisory Performance Improvement Practice and before that, worked with four major banks in Nigeria and a state owned development finance institution, also in Nigeria.

Lucy has served on boards, think tanks, jury panels and multilateral missions. She is also an accomplished author of several professional articles on policy applicable to Nigeria and Africa. Her latest book titled African Leaders’ Tete A Tete: Navigating Entity Design and Prioritization for Systemic Outcomes, released in October 2022, was well received and led to her invitation to the African Private Sector Summit (APSS) LBG, as CEO .

Lucy has a Doctorate in Business Administration from University of Phoenix, Arizona USA, an MBA and a B.Sc. in Business Administration, from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria and an International Director Certification in Corporate Governance, from INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France. She is a recipient of several premium recognitions and honours at home and abroad, including the International Society for Performance Improvement [ISPI]’s highest individual award, the Thomas F. Gilbert Distinguished Professional Achievement Award of 2019.

Lucy enjoys traveling and has visited over a third of Africa’s countries, as well as countries on four other continents.

Kingsley Kweku Nkansah Asah

Board Secretary

West Region

Language: English

Mr. Asah is a Business Executive with over 25 years of strategic business development expertise and has supported the successful development of businesses locally (Ghana) and internationally. Executive Board Director and Secretary for many successful businesses including the Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS). He is a founding partner and the Country Director (Ghana) of Vobiss Solutions Ltd, the first company to introduce “Utelco” business concept in Ghana. Vobiss is Headquartered in Ghana and has operations in Nigeria and in the United Kingdom (UK). Mr. Asah played a key Executive role in the development and expansion of the operations of Vobiss within the Energy and Telecommunication sectors of Ghana. As Country Director, Mr. Asah is responsible for all stakeholder engagement and has been instrumental in securing the agreements with all the various utility and regulatory stakeholders in Ghana, namely, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) and National Communication Authority (NCA). Mr. Asah’s corporate leadership at Vobiss has contributed to the over USD 25 million valuation growth of the company from a near-zero base capital investment in 2009. Mr. Asah is Vobiss’ lead in its branding and expansion program in Africa, the company is now prospecting opportunities in the U.S.A Utelco sector. He played a team lead coordinator role with Vobiss’ international consulting partner in the development of the long-term ICT and Digital Transformation Strategies for ECG. Mr. Asah’s business interests include Real Estate Community Housing Development in Ghana. Mr. Asah is the Founder and executive Chairman – of Eximia Development Limited (Ghana), Freehands Motors (Ghana & USA) and Divine Crest Solutions (Ghana). He partners and serves on several Corporate and Social organization Boards which include: Vobiss Solutions Ltd (Ghana), C&W Telecoms Ltd. (Ghana),Iklick Communication Lt (Ghana), JVG Group Ltd. (Ghana), P-Tel Ltd. (Ghana), Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS), and Ghana Deaf Sports Federation (GDSF) – Supporting the development of persons with Deaf Disability through sports.

Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman

West Region

CEO – Africa Private Sector Summit (APSS)

Lucy has almost four decades’ experience in executive, non-executive and consulting or advisory roles that traverse the private, public, and nonprofit sectors in Nigeria, including sub-regional, continental, and global professional networks and multilateral agencies.

She had a 10-year tenure as CEO of FITC Nigeria, a nonprofit special purpose professional services firm with membership consisting of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and all deposit money banks registered in Nigeria, serving a network of 1,570 stakeholders in Africa as at 2019. Before FITC, she had a vibrant consulting career at PricewaterhouseCoopers [PwC Nigeria]’s Business Advisory Performance Improvement Practice, and before that, worked with four major banks in Nigeria and a state-owned development finance institution, also in Nigeria.

Lucy has served on boards, think tanks, jury panels, and multilateral missions. She is also an accomplished author of several professional articles on policy applicable to Nigeria and Africa. Her latest book titled African Leaders’ Tete A Tete: Navigating Entity Design and Prioritization for Systemic Outcomes, released in October 2022, was well received and led to her invitation to the African Private Sector Summit (APSS) LBG, as CEO.

Lucy has a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Arizona USA, an MBA and a B.Sc. in Business Administration, from Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria, and an International Director Certification in Corporate Governance, from INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France. She is a recipient of several premium recognitions and honors at home and abroad, including the International Society for Performance Improvement [ISPI]’s highest individual award, the Thomas F. Gilbert Distinguished Professional Achievement Award of 2019.

Lucy enjoys traveling and has visited over a third of Africa’s countries, as well as countries on four other continents.

Barrister Dacleu Ntamack

Central Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Languages: English & French

Barrister Dacleu Ntamack, Lawyer at the Rwandan Bar and member of the East Africa Law Chamber. After brilliant studies in business law at the University of Yaoundé II Soa, she decided to open a firm specializing in training engineering, which she ran with an iron fist for almost 10 years.

Feeling that her potential was not being fully exploited, she embarked on a professional conversion that led her to become a lawyer. She is one of the Founder associates of M&D Law Firm. To date, she has assisted several private sector companies. Her expertise covers investment law, intellectual property, consumer protection, and competition law. She is also an accredited trainer for several professional groups.

In addition to her professional role, she has a very active community life. She is the founder of WLS, women in legal sciences, an association that encourages women to produce in the legal field. She is also a member of WOLEP, an international network of lawyers, and a member of WPMC, Women for Peace, mediation, and Conflict Prevention.

Mary Concilia Anchang,

Central Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Language: English and French

Mary Concilia Anchang, is one of the most contemporary lawyers in the Central African region. She is passionate, vibrant and very engaging. Widely traveled with a diverse cultural background. She is a senior partner at Onambele, Anchang & Associates. In the past 30 years of practice, she has demonstrated consistency and resilience in her work. A seasoned intellectual property lawyer and International Arbitrator, she became the pioneer African Intellectual (OAPI) Property Attorney, accredited to practice within 17 Countries in 1994.

In 2003, she co-founded the National Committee of the International Chamber of Trade and Commerce (ICC-Cameroon). A past member of the International Court of Arbitration, ICC-WBO Paris, She hails as, the pioneer African female court member of the ICC, since the court`s creation in 1923. She combines the practice of law with the vision to forge Africa’s economic renaissance through Public, Private, and Partnerships (PPP). She is convinced that Africa`s business model, should be designed by Africans to optimize impact.

In 2015, she created, The African Chamber of Trade and Commerce (ACC), an interactive advocacy networking vehicle to consolidate businesses. The initiative “The International Forum for cotton, textiles and accessories” is globally recognized under the acronym, “FICOTA” to address sustainability in the African cotton and textiles value and supply chains. Additionally, she cofounded “The African Fashion Project (AFP) to incubate on the challenges in the African textiles market. Mary is a permanent member of the private sector advisory committee (PSAC} of the International Cotton Advisory Committee. (ICAC) since 2023.

Akunna Cook

Diaspora Member

APSS Executive Board

Language: English

Akunna Cook is an accomplished diplomat, strategist, and visionary creator and executive producer.  In 2022, Akunna founded Next Narrative Africa, a media production company telling African stories for global impact.  She is also the Principal Consultant at Drake Road Strategies, a strategy consultancy she founded in 2019 to advise individuals and organizations on public policy strategy and advocacy. Akunna served in the Biden-Harris Administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs.  In that role, she oversaw the U.S. bilateral relationships with the countries of Southern Africa. Additionally, she led a global State Department team responsible for economic, multilateral engagement, and democracy and governance policy for sub-Saharan Africa.  Earlier in her career, Akunna was the founding executive director of the Black Economic Alliance, a non-partisan organization focused on driving economic progress in the black community through policy development, advocacy, and supporting candidates for office. Akunna also practiced law at Covington & Burling LLP, where she advised a variety of clients on public policy and corporate governance.

Before practicing law, Ms. Cook served for almost ten years as a career diplomat with the State Department. Akunna is a graduate of the Yale Law School,the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and is a summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Howard University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and business administration. Akunna is first and foremost a mom of two teenaged children. She is proud of her Abia State, Nigerian heritage and her Somerset, New Jersey roots.

Amb. Davisha L Johnson

Diaspora Member

APSS Executive Board

Language: English

Ambassador Davisha L Johnson is a millennial entrepreneur, mother of four, and a political consultant. Born in Houston, Texas, raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, schooled in Atlanta, Georgia, studied architecture at Morris Brown College and Southern Polytechnic State University, and studied construction management at the University of Houston, earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Georgia State University, then established D.L. Johnson Consulting Agency focused on political campaigns for minority and women candidates being awarded as the Top 40 Under 40 by the American Association of Political Consultants in 2020. Ambassador Johnson has created several successful initiatives such as the Ghana Investment Tour, Global Black History Honors, Women’s Empowerment Sunday Brunch, and African Women’s Empowerment Summit (AWES).

She was also an event planner for former US Presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders and campaign manager for the first Nigerian American elected to Federal Office in US History in 2020. In 2021, Ambassador Johnson expanded her business to Ghana where she co-founded Partner With Africa focused on AfCFTA and the Diaspora, founded the African Women in Agriculture Alliance (AWIAA), expanded the US-based Cooperative Executive Management Team focused on Cannabis and Hemp in Black communities GLOBALLY, member of the ACE Health Foundation’s ACE Global Leaders of Excellence Network, Advisory Board Member of the Africa Youth International Forum, and Executive Board Member of the African Private Sector Summit (APSS).

Dr. Jeannine Uwimana-Nicol

East Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Languages: English & French

Dr. Jeannine Uwimana-Nicol, a Senior Researcher at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa, also holds a visiting Senior Lecturer position at the University of Rwanda’s School of Public Health. With a Ph.D. in Health Policy and Systems Strengthening, she has received postgraduate training in Health Economics, International Community Health, and Biostatistics. Her expertise spans Epidemiology, Infectious Diseases, Maternal and Child Health, Public Health Nutrition, Evidence Synthesis in Public Health, and Research Methods. Over the past 11 years, Dr. Uwimana-Nicol has excelled in research and academia, contributing to over 20 peer-reviewed publications and leading diverse global research projects. Collaborations include work with the Ministry of Health in Rwanda, WHO, UNICEF, and EGPAF. She actively participates in scientific committees and networks, such as the WHO working group on TB and HIV and the WHO technical group on Integrated Non-Communicable Diseases and Communicable Diseases.

Beyond her professional role, Dr. Uwimana-Nicol is a committed social entrepreneur. She co-founded the Pan Africa Christian AIDS Network (PACANET) in 2001 and established the NGO Hands of Hope for Africa International in 2009. This NGO, located in a rural area of South Africa, focuses on improving Maternal and Child Health care through awareness, education, and skills development.In 2015, Dr. Uwimana-Nicol founded the Africa Arise Christian Network, a Pan-African network fostering dialogue, empowerment, and consultancy to address the continent’s sustainable development goals. She is also a founding member of the African Women in Business Network and serves on the APSS board, showcasing her dedication to both professional and social initiatives in alignment with the African continent’s purpose.

Jaswinder (Jas) Bedi

East Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Languages: English 

Jas, a 1984 textiles graduate, boasts executive business courses from Harvard Business School, IMD, and IIM. Recognized by the Kenyan Government, he received the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) medal in 2012, becoming a finalist in the 2016 Africa CEO Forum Awards and Sikh CEO of the Year. In 2017, he earned the Elder of the Burning Spear (EBS), and in 2023, Desh Bhagat University honored him with a Doctor of Philosophy.

Currently, Jas holds pivotal roles: Chairman of KEPROBA, KEPSA, Vice Chairman of EABC, and key positions in BIL, FSUL, and global organizations like YPO and P4G.His service includes Vice Chairman of KEPSA (2021-2023), ACTIF Chairman (2005-2019), EPC Chairman (2016-2019), and ITMF . Jas tirelessly develops export opportunities in EAC, COMESA, SADC, AfCFTA, USA, and the EU. Beyond lobbying, he explores new markets, exemplified by diversifying Kenya’s exports into China, aligning with the vision of Brand Kenya, Export Kenyan & Build Kenya.

Mr. Dennis Karera

East Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Languages: English

Dennis Karera is a business entrepreneur in Rwanda with many years of outstanding and diversified experience in Real estate development. He has developed and owns properties in Kigali, and is the Managing Director of Park View Courts, Crowne Conference Hall, and an outstanding Apart-Hotel facility in Kigali. He is also the Managing Director of Kigali Height Development Company a Kigali-based Real Estate Company currently doing mixed-use development. In addition, he is the former Chairman of the Rwanda Hospitality Association. He is professionally a graduate of Criminology from the University of Cambridge United Kingdom, a retired senior civil servant, and a seasoned business operator in the East African Region. He is the Honorary Consul of the Ghana Consulate in Rwanda, as well as the Vice Chair, the East African Business Council representing Rwanda. The Business Council is the apex body of the private sector and from the Seven East African Partner States.

Dennis Karera also doubles as the Focal Point of the EABC to the AfCFTA where he has actively represented the EAC private sector at the continental level. He has supported in advocating for the private sector’s voice in AfCFTA matters specifically in ensuring the private sector is involved or consulted in decision-making. He has proactively engaged Development Partners and he has successfully managed to support in securing funding to undertake training for businesses in the EAC with hands-on knowledge of the AfCFTA protocols and how the private sector can take advantage of the opportunities it presents. Dennis Karera has won various awards including accolades in recognition for his contribution to regional and continental integration.

Prof. Sam Ndoga

 South Region

Africa Private Sector Summit Co Founder & Member, 

Executive Board

Prof. Sam Ndoga is a Leadership Development consultant, Extraordinary Research Professor at the University of Pretoria, an adjunct faculty at International Leadership University, Associate Faculty at the Centre for Creative Leadership (USA), May & Co (Germany). He is  Board Chair at Prowess Investment Managers, and Director at Afrishift Solutions, AfriTrust Capital, and J Life International. Sam is also a co-founder of Africa Private Sector Summit [APSS] and Young Professionals Platform.

He specializes in leadership and organisational development, focusing on the variant process items for each stage of evolvement. As an academic and practitioner, Sam has extensive continental and global experience working with Governments, Corporates, NGOs and Religious institutions. . His focus has been on personal and professional development for maximum impartation, synergies towards a high-impact team, and envisioning and implementing longevity in organisational effectiveness. This includes all aspects of corporate governance, ethics, change management, critical thinking and strategy execution.

With nearly 20 years’ experience in Leadership consultancy, training, and coaching, and a footprint in over 32 African countries, Sam is proficient in prominent executive leadership assessment tools, conducting international workshops, presentations at international conferences, and academic presentations and publications. Because of his commitment to Afrocentric perspectives, Sam specializes in leadership curricular development with the view to providing contextually relevant training material based on current research toward best practices.

Mamotake Matekane

South Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Languages: English 

Mamotake Matekane built her career in Marketing and Corporate Communications over 13 years working in a conglomerate of diverse companies and has over the years built experience and expertise in corporate governance, project and investment management. She established her family company, the first privately owned airline in Lesotho, in 2016. A 5-star hotel, a pharmaceutical company, and the development of an independent city within the Kingdom of Lesotho under special economic zones are some of her pioneer projects. She has served on multiple and diverse boards that range from State Owned Enterprises, financial service providers, women led and focused foundations and investment groups. Mamotake is fully committed to serving communities through social impact projects that help develop and enhance women and children’s skills and knowledge.

With experience in industries such as mining, aviation, hospitality, construction, and pharmaceuticals, she has now diversified to markets outside of Lesotho with the same industries. Her Foundation, LadyM Foundation has impacted on many lives and continues to support programs that improve the lives of women and children. Mamotake is part of the AWEC Cohort 6 and mentors 5 mentees in different industries.

Mamotake holds a B. Com Accounting degree and qualifications in Project Management from the Wits Business School, and in Investment Management from the University of Cape Town. She motivates her mentees and a community of women in Africa to invest in knowledge and skills. She believes the APSS is an important platforms to be utilized to create awareness on how to create wealth in Africa for Africans through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Chabuka J. Kawesha

South Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Language: English

Chabuka is a Private Sector Development promoter, an Economic Regulation and Corporate Governance advisor. He also serves as a Commercial Diplomat. He holds work experience in the energy-Petroleum Sub-sector, energy-Electricity Sub-sector and Telecommunications – Information Communications & Technology (ICT) Sub-sector. A holder of a doctorate (DBA) in Business Administration – Telecommunications Management from Atlantic International University, USA, he’s also Fellow – Institute of Directors (IoD) and an IFC/World Bank trained Corporate Governance Practitioner. Professional accréditations include Civil & Commercial Mediator and Arbitrator; with membership in the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Group, UK and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb), Zambia.

Chabuka has served and retired as Chairperson – Pensions and Insurance Authority (PIA), Chairperson – National Institute for Industrial and Scientific Research (NISIR), Chairperson-Lusaka Business and Technical College (LBTC), Member – National Digital Migration Taskforce (NDMT), Chairperson – Financial Sector Development Plan (FSDP) II Payment Systems Working Group, Bank of Zambia and Member Audit Committee at Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC). Chabuka is the current Vice President (Southern Block) – Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PACCI). He is the Immediate Past President – Zambia Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) and Immediate Past Chairperson – Zambia Private Sector Alliance (ZPSA). Chabuka enjoys humanitarian work under Rotary International (Member since 1996) and is a recognized Paul Harris Fellow (PHF).

Ngozi Egbuna

West Region Member

APSS Executive Board

Languages: English

Ngozi Egbuna is a visiting Professor of International Banking, Finance and Trade at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria. She retired as Director General of the West African Monetary Institute where she was on Secondment from the Central Bank of Nigeria. An astute economist with over three decades of strategic and focused leadership in central banking, economic research, monetary policy formulation and financial/economic integrationin the West African sub region. Vast knowledge of the economies of West Africa with a track record of implementing innovative solutions that yielded sustainable economic growth and development across the sub-region.

Her accomplishments includes the facilitation of the Afrieximbank sponsored  “Linkage of Payment System” infrastructure in the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), which will enable trade within the member states to quote and trade within the region in their local currencies. She is an author of several books and academic papers as well as a life member of the Nigerian Economic Society and fellow of the Nigerian Statistical Association amongst others.

Dayo-Dunmoye, Adedayo

West Region

Director Projects– Africa Private Sector Summit

In Attendance – Executive Board

Language: English

With over 15 years of experience in the Energy sector, Dayo is a seasoned entrepreneur renowned for his strategic acumen and analytical prowess. He garnered substantial expertise during his tenure at Shell Energy, fostering a passion for business development and innovation. Educated with a postgraduate degree in Transportation Management & Planning from the University of Lagos, Dayo recognizes the pivotal role of continental connectivity in advancing Africa’s economy. His investment in water transportation, which established an efficient route reducing travel time from 4 hours to 35 minutes, underscores his commitment to practical solutions.

Further enhancing his capabilities, he earned an MBA from African Leadership University School of Business. Dayo’s focus on democratizing entrepreneurial prospects for African youth drives his consultancy role, where he blends his proficiency in Energy and Transport with strategic and creative thinking.

Since 2021, Dayo has contributed as an Executive at the Africa Private Sector Summit,  heading the Blue Economy desk. Additionally, he served as the acting Chairman Organizing Committee for the APSS-PSF Golden Business Forum 2023, a pivotal annual private sector event held in Kigali, Rwanda. He is currently the Director Projects at APSS. Dayo’s trajectory exemplifies the transformative power of strategic vision, innovative thinking, and cross-sector expertise. His narrative inspires aspirants seeking to enact positive change in their industries and communities.

Fortunate Kwiringira

East Region

Director Technical – Africa Private Sector Summit

In Attendance – APSS Executive Board

Language: English

Fortunate is passionate about a better Africa. His work on policy areas directly relating to private sector growth has always been a pan-African agenda and not only a deliverable. Fortunate is a Management Consultant with 15 years of experience managing projects, undertaking consultancies, and leading teams to deliver on complex projects. His project management experiences include investment mapping and building investment deal pipelines; capacity building; and institutional strengthening. He has undertaken policy work in the areas of the automotive sector, rules of origin, as well as legal aid sector. He has undertaken work in industrial sector studies (feasibility, policy, recalibration, etc.), institutional reviews (capacity assessments, capacity building, training manual development, performance assessments for funding, etc.); infrastructure studies (environmental & social impact assessments – Water, Roads, Markets, Sewer lines, Hydro Projects, etc.); Project evaluation, Assessments, and Surveys (several); and diverse project implementation experience.

Work experience covers Uganda; Rwanda; Kenya; Tanzania; Burundi; Ethiopia; Djibouti; Zambia; Madagascar; Guinea; Niger; Vietnam; Japan, South Sudan, Egypt, and India. He has worked with/for FCDO  Uganda; GoU (MLHUD; OPM Uganda); IFC-GBF; World Bank/MoH Uganda; PSF Uganda; PSF Rwanda; GoK (Automotive Policy); GoR (NCST; MINICOM); EAC, COMESA Secretariats; Manufacturers Associations (Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda); JICA; Lake State – South Sudan; AUC; GIZ; and several CSOs.

Fortunate holds a Master of Management Studies in Project Planning and Management; a Post Graduate Diploma in Project Planning and Management; a Post Graduate Certificate in Research Methods and writing Skills; a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences; and a Diploma in Education Secondary.