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).

Horlikin's Event Center
Plot 5, Eastern Bypass, old G.R.A
Port Harcourt, Rivers, 500272
Nigeria

Andrew Obuoforibo

Product Manager, Community Organizer, Chief

He is a firm believer in the ability of people, data, and technology to solve problems, he sees his mission as helping to harness the power of all three. After many years as a programmer and software architect who specialised in Machine Learning and Analytics, he pivoted to a career in Monitoring & Evaluation, notably as a World Bank-sponsored consultant for the Malaria Control Program in Rivers State, currently a Product Manager for one of Nigeria's biggest Agritech companies where he finds solutions to the problem of building consumer tech products that overcome literacy barriers. His activism for various groups, like waterfront communities and casualised workers, led to a career in politics. He worked on two gubernatorial and a presidential campaign, where he used his ICT and community organizing skills to build novel vote protection systems. He runs a podcast, "How Nigeria Works... But Doesn't" where he tries to demystify the dysfunction in most Nigerian systems.

Atonopriya Kotrell

Performing Activist

Kotrell is a soulful singer and songwriter, whose music is a reflection of his truest emotions and thoughts. His personal motto "Live, Love ànd Learn" is always clearly depicted in his songs, with the aim to showcase his values and goals as a singer on the mission to make good music that will outlive him and also make a positive impact especially in the hearts of his listeners

Biodomoye Thom-Okoroh

Creative, Writer.

She is a creative enthusiast - a believer in diverse forms of the creative arts. She is a content creator, an avid writer. Amanda possesses a vivid goal to change the world with a pen and a mic and she's currently pursuing a degree in Law at the Rivers State University.

Celestina Obiekea

Virologist & Public Health Infrastructure Expert

Celestina Obiekea is a woman on a global mission with interests in global public health, women and children. She is currently the Laboratory Network Advisor at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) where she coordinates the setting up and activities of NCDC’s network of laboratories, and now importantly so for the COVID-19 testings in Nigeria, in response to the coronavirus pandemic. She has worked and volunteered in many other capacities in non-profit organisations working on issues bordering on health, education, poverty alleviation and enhancing the rights and access of women and children. She has a master’s degree in Virology and a bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, both from the University of Ibadan and likes to spend her free time reading, watching movies or cooking.

Dr. Ifeanyi Nsofor

Global Health Policy &Advocacy Leader

A graduate of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is a Senior New Voices Fellow at the Aspen Institute and a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity at George Washington University. He's the CEO of EpiAFRIC and Director, Policy and Advocacy at Nigeria Health Watch. Since 2018, the #PreventEpidemicsNaija project has been advocating for increased budgetary allocation for epidemic preparedness in Nigeria. As a thought Leader in Global Health, Ifeanyi has written over 68 opinion pieces with a global reach - his piece titled, “Why an Ebola Vaccine is Not Enough” has appeared in 18 publications in 16 countries; and published in 8 languages; appeared in over 4.3 million print copies; been seen over 36,000 times on Project Syndicate social media channels. In March 2020, Ifeanyi spoke at “Exploring Media Ecosystems Conference” at the Samberg Center of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and was recognized by Onalytica to be among Coronavirus Top 100 healthcare professionals globally.

Dr. Itoro Emembolu

STEM Ambassador & Researcher

She is a researcher at the Northumbria University, working with NUSTEM; a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) an outreach group within the faculty of engineering and environment. With over 15 years cumulative experience in telecommunications, service quality, strategic planning, research, STEM engagement, monitoring and evaluation. She is a Director at TechQuest STEM Academy, which provides STEM, ICT and digital literacy capability building programs. She works with teams to co-create projects, design evaluation tools, evaluate impact of STEM interventions & outreach activities. Her research interests include nurturing interests in STEM disciplines, STEM related work and bridging the digital divide particularly in Africa. She is a Member of the Energy Institute (UK), the British Education Research Association, UK Evaluation Society, IEEE Education Society, IEEE Women in Engineering, IEEE Young Professionals & the British Academy of Management.

Dr. Mina Ogbanga

Social work and Sustainable Development Expert.

Dr. Mina is a multiple award-winning Development Activist, a Ford Foundation fellow and a certified trainer and facilitator. She has over 20 years’ experience in development facilitation and has supported strategic development activities locally and globally. She has studied in several tertiary Institutions with a strong desire to search for global solutions to local problems. Her second PhD in Development Studies paved the way for the promotion of coping and adaptation strategies to pandemics and won her many awards. She has studied in several local, national and international institutions including Harvard University, Cambridge University etc. An acadapreneur, who reads at night and sells in the day. She serves as the Africa Lead on the Global A4SD and the National Coordinator Partnership, Policy and Programs of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Her passion for community Development and Gender Mainstreaming has been at the heart of all her engagements.

Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo

Public health practitioner, Political Leader

Dr. Ipalibo epitomizes courage and inner strength that enable her to nurture her talents and stand out among her peers in educational and professional careers, as well as in the enormously challenging arena of politics. Her beauty is surpassed only by her intellectual competence, her friendly disposition, heartwarming humility, sense of humor that puts people at ease and a calm motherly mien. She made history as the 1st Female Deputy Governor of Rivers State, since May 29, 2015 to present. She obtained an (MBBS) in 1976 from the University of Ibadan and then proceeded to other institutions to boost her professional career. She obtained a master of public health degree in June 1981 from Harvard University School of Public Health and in 1990, she got a PGD in tropical hygiene from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Diploma in Dermatology from University of London July,1992. Having acquired such array of academic honors; she Is ready to affect her world positively.

Kenneth Nsan Ogbuluijah

Performing Activist

Ogbuluijah Kenneth Nsan, popularly known as Kblacktheblack, is a hip-hop/contemporary rapper and songwriter. Kblacktheblack started creating music in the year 2018 and he owes his sound to the city where he was raised, Port Harcourt, as well as legends in the mainstream rap scene.

Nnamdi Udechukwu

Rotating Equipment specialist, Project Management Practitioner

Nnamdi Udechukwu, winner of TEDxPortHarcourt 2020- 3minutes Idea Search, is a rotating equipment specialist, project management practitioner and an experienced consumer brands. He is a professional member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a casual learning facilitator and a Total Productive Maintenance instructor. He is passionate about business development, disruptive technologies, venture capitalism, digital transformation, SMEs and youth empowerment. He volunteers for charities and is a member of not-for-profit organisations including TBAN [To Build A Nation], University of Professional Development and Ablaze for God International Network. Nnamdi is married to Mfon and they have two children Gio and Micah.

Oluseun Onigbinde

Social Enterprise Leader & Open Data Analyst

Oluseun is the co-founder and Director of BudgIT, Nigeria's leading fiscal transparency group that uses creative design and technology to improve access to public budgets and related fiscal data. Oluseun is a recipient of numerous awards including the Ashoka Fellowship, Future Africa Awards, Quartz Africa 30 Innovators Award, Aspen New Voices Fellowship, Archbishop Tutu Fellowship, Melvin Jones Fellowship and Stanford Draper Hill Summer Fellowship. As a Knight Innovation Fellow, he worked with the International Center for Journalists/Gates Foundation on rethinking health journalism in Nigeria. He also sits on ONE Africa Policy Advisory Board and was named as one of the 100 most influential Africans by The Africa Report Magazine. Oluseun is a 2019 Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University, a graduate of Engineering from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. He also had Executive Education at Stanford University Graduate School of Business on Social Entrepreneurship.

Sher Nawaz

Humanitarian, Development Activist

Sher has over 15 years of experience in leading and managing developmental, humanitarian and peacebuilding initiatives in multiple countries and most recently in Nigeria for addressing the needs of communities affected by conflicts and insecurity. In his previous role as Director of Program with Save the Children, Sher has been involved in leading and implementing transformative intervention in some of the world’s most insecure environments. Sher looks at himself as a global activist for democracy, peace, humanitarian principles, human rights and non-violence. He is a well-known motivational speaker for young audiences with a focus on enabling the youth to positively utilize their untapped potential for resolving personal and communal constraints.