Panelists
The Nordic Nigeria
Connect 2023
Digital Transformation
Digital Transformation as a Strategic Enabler For Societal Change
By the Embassy of Denmark in Abuja
Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos | 14th November 2023
Mr. Deepak Rao
Head of Consulting - Nokia Advanced Consulting Services
Deepak Rao leads the Consulting Practice under Advanced Consulting Services for Europe, MEA, and APJ regions. He has over 20 years of experience in the Telecom industry, blending Product Development and Commercial experience.
Deepak has successfully led projects in Digital Transformation, IoT, Private Networks, LTE/5G launch and monetization, etc.
He holds a master’s degree in computer science and an executive MBA from London Business School.
Mr. Mo Yahya
UNDP Country Representative
Mohamed Yahya is a development practitioner with over 20 years of experience working on critical development issues such as preventing violent extremism, governance, peacebuilding, conflict response and recovery, and public policy. In June 2019, Mohamed was appointed as the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, leading a team of close to 200 people in supporting the Government of Nigeria towards the realisation of its development agenda.
Engr. Hafeez Momoh
Head of Power, Lagos State Government
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Ms. Akalaka Vony Obazei
CEO, Welbeck Electricity Distribution Ltd
Afolabi Aiyela is the founder and CEO of Welbeck Electricity Distribution Ltd, one of the fastest growing IPP companies in Nigeria. Afolabi holds a B.Sc., MBA and is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants. He worked at Merrill Lynch Int’l Bank in London and Bank of Industry (BOI) in Lagos before founding Welbeck Electricity in 2016. Welbeck Electricity supply independent power to major telecoms infrastructure, auto assembly plants, factories and commercial premises. Afolabi has vast experience in and knowledge of the Nigerian independent power sector, including the use of transitional and renewable sources to generate power.
Ms. Ayodele Olojede Florence
Divisional Head Retail and SME, Wema Bank PLC
Prior to joining Wema Bank, Ayo was a Group Head for Emerging Businesses Access Bank , Africanand also worked with HSBC where she commenced her career in Retail and SME banking. She is currently a member of the governing council, SME Finance forum , a bidy eatablished by G20 GPFI /IFC as well as several other boards. Ayo is a transformational business and finance leader with proven expertise in pioneering solutions and accelerating economic growth through financial inclusion strategies. Her expertise in supporting initiatives to close the gender access gap in funding and finance methods for small to medium women-owned businesses cuts across driving economic empowerment and inclusion policies at national levels. Ayo recognize the interconnected nature of different markets and work with key players in digital payment services to expand access to finance in the msme ecosystem.
Ms. Ayodele Olojede Florence
Divisional Head Retail and SME, Wema Bank PLC
Prior to joining Wema Bank, Ayo was a Group Head for Emerging Businesses Access Bank , Africanand also worked with HSBC where she commenced her career in Retail and SME banking. She is currently a member of the governing council, SME Finance forum , a bidy eatablished by G20 GPFI /IFC as well as several other boards. Ayo is a transformational business and finance leader with proven expertise in pioneering solutions and accelerating economic growth through financial inclusion strategies. Her expertise in supporting initiatives to close the gender access gap in funding and finance methods for small to medium women-owned businesses cuts across driving economic empowerment and inclusion policies at national levels. Ayo recognize the interconnected nature of different markets and work with key players in digital payment services to expand access to finance in the msme ecosystem.
Ms. Akalaka Vony Obazei
Senior Manager Corporate Affairs Arla Foods Nigeria
Academic background: BSc. Economics and Business Administration; Academia de Studii Economice din Bucuresti, Romania (ACE). Ms. Obazei has 13+ years of experience in the private and public sectors in Romania and Nigeria combined. Her professional path has seen her develop expertise in Global Public Affairs (GPA), business development, project management, strategic market entry, supply chain sustainability, and customer relationship management. She spent 6+ years working with the Consulate General of Denmark, Lagos as Senior Commercial Advisor overseeing the Water & Environment Sector for Nigeria, before joining Arla Foods Nigeria in 2023.
Ms. Ayodele Olojede Florence
Divisional Head Retail and SME, Wema Bank PLC
Prior to joining Wema Bank, Ayo was a Group Head for Emerging Businesses Access Bank , Africanand also worked with HSBC where she commenced her career in Retail and SME banking. She is currently a member of the governing council, SME Finance forum , a bidy eatablished by G20 GPFI /IFC as well as several other boards. Ayo is a transformational business and finance leader with proven expertise in pioneering solutions and accelerating economic growth through financial inclusion strategies. Her expertise in supporting initiatives to close the gender access gap in funding and finance methods for small to medium women-owned businesses cuts across driving economic empowerment and inclusion policies at national levels. Ayo recognize the interconnected nature of different markets and work with key players in digital payment services to expand access to finance in the msme ecosystem.
Mr. James Fabola
Chief Financial Officer at Arnergy.
James Fabola is the Chief Financial Officer at Arnergy. He Is an investment and corporate finance professional with c. 10 years of experience in fundraising, due cdiligence, transaction structuring, portfolio monitoring, and transaction advisory.
Before Arnergy, James worked in several investment roles with Persistent Energy, Norfund (Norway’s DFI)., Synergy Capital Managers, and Development Partners International (DPI). In these roles, he led transactions across various sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy, e-commerce, power, consumer goods & services etc. James has an MBA from Insead, France, and an M.Sc in Finance and Management from Cranfield School of Management, United Kingdom. He also has a Bachelor of Technology degree in Information Technology from the Bells University of Technology.
Mr. Mikkel Hansen
COO at Renergy Solar ApS
Mr. Mikkel Hansen boasts a decade of experience in Nigeria, focusing on aquaculture and renewable energy. Renergy Solar is dedicated to developing utility-scale grid-connected solar projects across Sub-Saharan Africa.