Theme: Deconstruct

This event has been crafted to scrutinize the many faces of gender and how it has grown into an ultra-headed giant.

We're taking our TEDx event to a new level with a call to action in addition to the fine speakers, stimulating discussions, and fresh knowledge we hope to provide. What can all those involved REALLY DO to ensure that the various wahala that has woven itself into the concept of gender is deconstructed and pleated again?

This event will explore what it means to be a male child, especially in Nigeria; how the Nigerian penal code engenders imbalance skewed against women, and how glass ceilings do not discriminate.

American Corner Ibadan
54 Magazine Road
Ibadan, Oyo, 200284
Nigeria

Abimbola Adelakun

Author + Professor

Abimbola Adelakun is an Author, Columnist, and Professor. She is the author of Under the Brown Rusted Roofs (Kraft Books) and writes a weekly column for PUNCH Newspapers. Her research has been supported by the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies, Mellon School of Theatre and Performance Research at Harvard University, AAUW (International), and the Frances and Sanger Mossiker Research in the Humanities. An Assistant Professor in the Department of African/African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas at Austin, Adelakun earned her Ph.D. in the Theatre and Dance Department of the University of Texas at Austin and a doctoral portfolio from African/African Diaspora Studies. She holds two MAs, one from UT Austin, African/African Diaspora Studies, and the other from the University of Ibadan, Communication and Language Arts. She is the winner of the 2018 Wangari Maathai Award for Scholarship and Leadership Excellence.

Hafsat Abdullahi

Spoken Word Artist

Hafsat Abdullahi is a writer, award-winning spoken word artist, a Hill-top Creative Arts Foundation member, and a fellow at the True My Voice Community and Enactus Nigeria. She has won many contests in her field. In 2017, she emerged as the overall winner at the Nigerian Festival of Teen Artists (NIFESTEENA). She emerged as the overall spoken poetry contest winner at the Abuja Literary Society Grand Slam, the Association of Nigerian Authors Slam, and the Benue Book and Art Festival Poetry Slam. She was also awarded the Youth Act On Edu winner by the World Bank, inaugurated by Frontline Youth Creativity Initiative as an Anti-SGBV ambassador. Hafsat has worked with Haandz Media in collaboration with the NGW (Northern Governors Wives) of Nigeria, led by the First Lady of Nigeria. UNICEF also invited her to perform a spoken word piece to launch the fight against female genital mutilation by LEAP Africa to commemorate their 20th anniversary.

Huwa Okoyomoh

Spoken Word Poet + Podcaster

Huwa is a spoken word poet and international VOA. She has worked with various brands to build a platform for spoken word poets nationally. She runs a podcast called The Spoken WorId inviting spoken word poets, award-winning authors, and enthusiasts from across the globe. The podcast has gained the attraction of high-profile literary artists such as Jason David Frank who acted as Tommy Oliver, the green ranger, in the Children's hit series, The Mighty Murphin Power Rangers; Christine Leunens, author of Caging Skies adapted into the award-winning screenplay, JOJO Rabbit; and Steven T. Seagle of Man of Action, co-creator of the Ben 10 and Generator Rex series and Big Hero Six. Huwa's skills lie in public speaking, voice acting, creative writing and audio editing. She worked as a content editor on the Pernod Ricard (Jameson and Martell), Nestlé (MAGGI), Union Bank and TLCC brands. Huwa holds a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.

Mark Amaza

Development Communication & Policy Expert

Mark Amaza is a Development Communication and Policy Expert with over five years of experience in the Nigerian Development sector. He has worked in the sustainability sector with a focus on energy access and circular economy and consulted on political and economic risk analysis matters in Nigeria and West Africa for local and international organizations. He currently works as the Senior Communications Officer at Yiaga Africa, a civil society organization that works on democratic governance and civic engagement issues in Nigeria and across Africa. Mark is also a Member of the Strategy Team of the Not Too Young to Run movement, which successfully advocated for constitutional amendments that lowered the age of eligibility for elective offices. He holds a first degree in Environmental Management from the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and is an MBA student at the University of East London, United Kingdom.

Olumide Makanjuola

Human Rights Activist

Nigerian Human rights activist, storyteller, and social entrepreneur, Olumide Makanjuola, previously served as the executive director of The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS) and is currently the program director of Initiative Sankofa d'Afrique de l'Ouest (ISDAO), a regional activist-led organization that funds local organizations to promote an inclusive society free from violence and injustice. He was a 2012 Future Awards nominee for Best Use of Advocacy. In 2016, Makanjuola got a Queen's Young Leader Award for his efforts with the LGBTI+ community. The growth of LGBTIQ rights in Nigeria has greatly benefited from Makanjuola's work. He is credited with starting several initiatives and changing the way that the public views LGBTIQ issues and rights. Makanjuola is a graduate of business management from the Ogun State Institute of Technology, Strategic Project Management at Anglia Ruskin University. He holds an introduction to project management certificate from City University London.

Renny Vonne

Digital Content Creator

Renny is a digital content creator.

Ruth Olurounbi

Journalist

Ruth Olurounbi has spent nearly 15 years as a journalist writing business and investigative reports for several organizations, including The Nigerian Tribune, Bloomberg, The Africa Report, Al-Jeezera, and Petroleum Economist, covering beats such as government, business and energy, development and human rights. She is an award winner and nominee for prestigious investigative journalism awards, including the Fetisov Journalism Award, among others. She is a member of the Nigerian chapter of WanaData, a network of female journalists developed by ICFJ and Code for Africa that is driving digital storytelling across the continent. She is a recipient of the ICFJ Alumni Reporting Grant for investigative journalism. Ruth has a double honors degree in Communication and Language Arts and English from the University of Ibadan and a master’s degree in Project Development and Implementation from the same university. She is working on her first book, Ebunofeoluwa, a long love letter to her son.

Tracy Folorunsho-Barry

Career Strategist

Tracy Folorunsho-Barry is a multi-award-winning career strategist, recruiter, Founder, and CEO of GROW Women Leaders and GROW Foundation. Barry founded GROW Women Leaders (GROW), a career leadership development and advancement platform designed to help women get hired and advance their careers. Barry has been the recipient of multiple awards and recognitions including the 2016 Obsidian Awards; the 2017 Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada; the 2018 Top 6 Immigrant Women of Inspiration Award (Canadian Immigrant); the 2018 Abedorc Community Involvement and Leadership Award; 2018 Phenomenal African Woman; Legislative Assembly of Alberta Recognition for Community Service by MLA Rod Loyola; Recognition by Mayor Don Iveson and the City of Edmonton in 2020 for her contributions and community involvement; 2021 Daughters Day Award (Alberta); and 2022 Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Recipient.