Theme: LIGHTHOUSE

TEDxFUTA; independently organized TED, aims to properly and accurately share insightful cross-disciplinary knowledge on how major societal challenges such as improper waste disposal, galactic unemployment, suicide, and depression can be drastically reduced if not eradicated in it totality.

Alumni Building Hall
Federal University of Technology Akure, Ondo State
Akure, Ondo, 2341
Nigeria

'Fisayo Soyombo

Investigative Journalist

For three years, ‘Fisayo Soyombo was pioneer Editor of TheCable, Nigeria’s third most followed online newspaper. He was also Editor of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). Soyombo believes journalism is not just a profession but a calling — a vital instrument for enhancing and propagating democracy, and serving humanity, particularly the downtrodden. Soyombo’s brand of investigative reporting has won him multiple awards: in 2016 alone, he was finalist, Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism; African Media Initiative awards; winner, overall prize, Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting; winner, Hans Verploeg Newcomer of the Year category, Free Press Awards, Netherlands; and winner. He is also a 2013 winner of the Deutsche Welle/Orange Magazine Reporting Fellowship, a 2014 finalist for the Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism and a 2017 winner of the WOle Soyinka Award for Investigative Reporting (Online category).

Damilare Nuel

Design Thinking Expert, Serial Social Entrepreneur

A creative digital designer, design thinking expert, a serial social entrepreneur who has developed responsible approach to projects with over 10 years collective experience in brand development, project management and community development. He's currently the Chief Creative Designer at Distinct Designs LLC, a fast growing creative agency in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria. In early 2017, He created a civic-tech solution called Infopurse which was selected for the preliminary-stage of StartAny by StartUp Instabul in January 2018. A meritorious individual with passion for community service; a personality which includes impacting the underserved citizenry intellectually about public funds utilization through his ISUS (I Sabi U Sabi ; Sabi means 'Know') Circle Campaign. He is the founder of Gassolenè, a young tech startup designed to make cooking gas also known as LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) accessible and affordable for all homes in Nigeria and sub-saharan Africa.

Emmanuel Faith

Human Resource Enthusiast

Emmanuel Faith is a recent a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-ife, where he studied economics. A Tax fan and Human resource enthusiast, He spent the first 11 months of his after-school life with Taxaide Professional services, exploring both interests simultaneously by assisting in Personal Income Tax and payroll management respectively. He is passionate about capacity building and human resource development and has graced many stages and facilitated many knowledge sessions with students in the tertiary institutions online and offline. He is also the iniator of “A word a day” a project set up to improve the diction of Nigerian youths and presently reaches about 10,000 people across different social media platforms. Faith believes the world was made with words and could be made better with words, and he enjoys beautifying people’s lives with words.

Emmanuel Maduka

Agricultural Entrepreneur

Maduka is an entrepreneur passionate about driving innovation and growth in different spheres of the economy. He is an active advocate for youth engagement in agriculture, he believes hunger and malnutrition can be made history in our lifetime and plays leading roles on these through his activities in agri-media and food processing. He is the Founder of Agrostrides Magazine and Co-founder LifePro Food Mills.

Emmanuel Michael

Writer, Poet

Michael Emmanuel is a creative writer who lives in Lagos and studies Chemistry in Akure. He wrote 50,000 words of a novel manuscript in 2016, as part of a National Novel Writing Month challenge, thus receiving a certificate. He was shortlisted for the 2017 edition of Okike Prize for Literature in the prose category, and in the same year had his works published on Brittle Paper and Kalahari Review. A team member of Creative Freelance Writers, – an expanding online community of writers with an interest in supporting the craft of writing – Michael served as the Chair, panel of judges for the selection of winning entries published in the December 2018 edition of CFW’s bi-annual e-magazine, with over 3,000 downloads. In 2018, he won the Quramo Writers’ Prize, earning him the offer of a publishing contract. He also has work forthcoming in Praxis Mag Online and other places. He is a member of Creative Writers Niche, a campus writing association in Obafemi Awolowo University.

Hamdalah Sanni

Certified Life Coach

Hamdalah Sanni had her first degree in Accounting from OAU. After realising her true skill and passion was in writing, which led her to the path of Authoring and self-publishing her collection of poems titled, Her Love Story. A book which has been read widely round the world. Her passion for growth and reinvention led her to the discovery of Coaching and mentoring. Having gained personal mastery herself, she went on to get her own certification in Transformational coaching from the UK. Her interest in the workings of the mind has also led her to her Second degree in Islamic psychology. HAMDALAH from her experiences as a Certified Life Coach, Poet and Author founder of Legendary Muslimah, a platform where she teaches women to confidently use their God-given talents and dreams to create a social and phenomenal impact in the world.

John Sanmi

Songwriter

I'm Sanmi John, with the stage name S.J, a 500 Level student of The Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). I am a Rap Artiste who is hell bent on bringing about a difference to the Rap music Industry. I am committed to providing my fans and the whole world with good and quality music. To ensure I get this done, I know I have to keep working it out and most importantly, earn the support of my fans.

Joshua Alade

Certified Youth Practitioner

He is the Programs Officer of Sahara Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Sahara Group where he manages programs focused on youth extrapreneurship and sustainability projects that will help Nigeria achieve the Agenda 2030. He is the Community Evangelist of NextGen Africa Initiative. Project Coordinator of the Nigerian Youth SDGs Network. Joshua is a ONE Champion, a carefully selected cohort of young people who are advocating for issues around education, healthcare and positive development for young people to #MakeNaijaStronger. Joshua is a graduate of the University of Lagos and a certified Youth Practitioner from the Youth Intervention Program Associates, USA. He is a sought after education advocate who embraces the dynamics within leadership, enjoys experiencing cultural authenticity and is spontaneously creative in making people around him feel empowered in achieving their dreams.

Nelson Nwaeni

Creative Director, Podcast Host

I am currently a student in the discipline of industrial chemistry in my fourth year. I am a creative director, podcast host, content creator and teacher of creative classes. Director of the first film ever premiered at the Federal University of Technology, Akure that is School:Madness Frequency Domain, Host of podcast show Anonymous thoughts by Nels and Lumi. I am currently a student in the discipline of industrial chemistry in my fourth year. I am a creative director, podcast host, content creator and teacher of creative classes. Director of the first film ever premiered at the Federal University of Technology, Akure that is School:Madness Frequency Domain, Host of podcast show Anonymous thoughts by Nels and Lumi. Currently an intern with Futa Radio 93.1. Once a part time marketer with Fidson pharmaceuticals. Creative director for SLIC(Superwozzy Live In Concert).

Opeyemi Olugbemiro

Media Enthusiast, Content Writer

Content developer and writer with over 11 years of telling stories, building narratives and influencing social change. With a broad spectrum experience in print, radio and digital media, Opeyemi readily comes with a professional understanding in leveraging the use of media for socio-economic development of the society. Over the years, he has worked on building communities around solution driven initiatives—CONVAGE Nigeria and Leadership Clinic with DayoNigeria—and is a graduate of Mass Communication, University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. He is the Communications Lead at Fourthcanvas and Chief Editor at Zumalo.com. Opeyemi believes in the power of storytelling in building brands and has consistently worked with several clients towards weaving together facts and emotions in helping them achieve strategic connections with their target audience. His strength lies especially in delivering content strategy and copywriting for issue-based campaigns. EDUCATION B.A. Mass Communication

Venmak Agboola

Disc Jockey

DJ Venum became the longest playing DJ in the world with a world record for playing nonstop for 18 days from August 1st to 19th, 2018. Within his first year at school, he worked on his existing passion for music and built a Dj career with close mentorship form the established forces in the industry around him. Dj Venum finally kicked of his campaign to break the World Record for longest playing Dj as well as a project for POSITIVE SOCIETAL INFLUENCE via a yearly book donation campaign to rural Nigerian school children supported by members of the public on August 1st, 2018 at the O2 Base Lounge and Bar in Akure, south western Nigeria. He is the director at the Venum Foundation, which exists to provide relevant information, knowledge, skill and education to children and youths to help the successfully survive the challenges of society and thrive in their chosen enterprise. He is also a brand ambassador for the first Nigerian indigenous underwear brand Flair Underwear.