Theme: Dream big, then do it

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized (subject to certain rules and regulations).

Silverbird Galleria
Silverbird
Sani Abacha Way
Abuja, 23409
Nigeria

Okechukwu Ofili

In the professional world, Okechukwu Ofili is a full time design engineer with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Houston. However, in his alternative and more FUN world he is an artist, author and speaker. The friction ignited when his two worlds collide gives birth to the imaginative drawings and unconventional articles featured daily on his ofilispeaks.com blog site. His blog articles are known for their humor, honesty and creativity in challenging the status-quo of work, life and family. They have consistently been featured on numerous online blogs including Bellanaija, Ynaija and FABmagazine. The blog’s contents have subsequently been utilized to drive the publication of two books: How Stupidity Saved My Life and How Laziness Saved My Life. In the book How Stupidity Saved My Life, Ofili utilizes his up and down educational experience as a contrasting backdrop to critically analyze the way we judge/measure intelligence in children. He argues against the school ranking system as an archaic and outdated measure of smartness, and instead believes that each child has their own unique way of learning that many parents and teachers fail to recognize. It is this belief that pushes him to speak to students at any opportunity about their unique abilities, encouraging them to ignore the negative things that others say and instead find the talent that lies deep inside of them. Ofili’s work has seen him travel across the globe addressing students and teachers about the multi-dimensionality of intelligence, utilizing his colorful sketches as an imaginary guide. He is regarded as the artist who couldn’t draw, the speaker who couldn’t speak and the writer who couldn’t write but yet stupid enough to dream big and believe that he could draw, speak and write…authoring two books in the process, graduating top 5 most outstanding students in his engineering class and creating artworks that people actually pay for…a resounding affirmation that if you can achieve whatever you put your mind to.

Adesubomi Plumptre

Adesubomi Plumptre heads the Corporate Practice at Alder Consulting, a leading ideas, strategy and brand consulting firm. She is on the Executive Committee of the firm, where she oversees Knowledge & HR. She is currently Co-Chair of the Management Board of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) and Board Advisor to Enough is Enough Nigeria, a youth-focused coalition focused on good governance. With an academic background in analytical reasoning, scientific investigation and practical research, Subomi has been a team lead for Alder on a number of diverse Government and Corporate projects including the Educational Sector Transformation Plan of the Federal Ministry of Education; The Reform Programmes of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs & the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as well as the Restructuring of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. She spearheaded the development of an External Communication Programme for the British Council; coordinated the Acculturation Programme for the Brand Transformation of First Bank, Nigeria’s biggest bank and is tasked with developing ongoing Brand Strategy for Guaranty Trust Bank. She is a team lead on Alder Consulting’s SME development programme – Enterprise 500.-Chair of the Management Board of the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) and Board Advisor to Enough is Enough Nigeria, a youth-focused coalition focused on good governance. Subomi combines both left and right brain capabilities and has a wide range of interests. She has received awards for leadership, music composition and writing. She is an avid blogger at www.subomiplumptre.com and is author of a published collection of poetry and essays. She was a contributor to the Nigeria Leadership Initiative White Papers Vol. 1, a collection of policy papers on Nigeria. She is on the Board of Trustees for The Leke Alder Foundation, a philanthropic organisation and is an Associate of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

Saheed Adepoju

Saheed is the co-founder & CEO of Encipher limited. Based in Nigeria, they were the first to introduce an Android- based tablet into the Nigerian tech industry named INYE. The mission of the company is to express and preserve cultures using technology. He is passionate about using Google technologies and how they can be adapted into the Nigerian ecosystem. He was nominated for The Future Awards Nigeria 2011 under the category of “Best Use of Technology” for their innovative work. Encipher was chosen at the Google Day Nigeria 2011 to showcase their work on Android and also speak on their future strategies. He along with his co-founder would be featured in WIRED magazine UK as one of the upcoming African Entrepreneurs within the continent. He was also featured in FORBES magazine(Online) in an article “Meet Nigeria’s Tablet Computer Pioneer” Saheed Adepoju was featured in SUNDAY TIMES UK(Feb 26th 2012) under the title “Lion Kings” which outlined the various changes within the African consumer and how entrepreneurs are rising up within the continent to handle the changing tides/strides. He was also featured in a special CNN interview speaking about the INYE-2 tablet device and this was following the launch of the Ipad-3. Following this, there has been a surge in interests in the company. Following an impressive presentation to the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs Omobola Johnson, Saheed Adepoju was appointed to the committee working on finalizing the national ICT Policy document. He was featured on BBC’s Africa Dream, a show which outlines business men and women and what others can learn from their experience. He also was recently nominated and now part of the African Leadership Network, a network of dynamic, emerging leaders from the African continent.”

Hadiza Abdullahi

Hadiza is an economist and development specialist with a passion to make a difference in the lives of the most deprived. As part of her job and in the course of her research, she has gained extensive local and international experience in bridging the development gap in the remotest areas including a one year stint in a Nigerian village and a few weeks in a Puerto Rican hamlet amongst several other enlightening escapades. She recently won the Future award for Excellence in Service (public) category. “My vision is of a Nigeria without poverty and injustice, one in which every woman, man, girl and boy enjoy the right to life with dignity”. She is also a gourmet chef with eclectic taste buds and an avid reader.

Babatise Awobokun

Babatise Awobokun is a 9 year old Guitarist, a Music Lover and an Idea developer. Tise as popular called is the brain behind the name concept for “Kids FUNiture”, a successful furniture company for kids in Abuja. He has a philosophy of dreaming and achieving and has an experience in customer relations with Hatlab Ice-Creme Company and Grills and Cocktails In & Out.

Ahmad Danburam