Nigeria's Emerging Tech - Prospects for TICAD 9

Victoria Fabunmi

National Coordinator, ONDI

She is an investment professional with over 15 years of experience in several private financial institutions. She has created significant impact by properly supporting her portfolio companies and moved to the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) in May 2024. She is committed to raising the level of the startup ecosystem.

Mutsuo Iwai

First Vice President, Keizai Doyukai (Japan Association of Corporate Executives)
Chairman of the Board, Japan Tobacco Inc.

Mr. Iwai has professional experiences in activities at the Africa Committee of the Keizai-Doyukai, the Japan’s Association of Corporate Executives since 2017 and served as the chairman of the committee in 2021-2023.
He was appointed as the first-Vice Chairman of the Keizai Doyukai in 2024. He joined the Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation (now Japan Tobacco Inc.) in 1983 and has been Chairman of the Board since 2022.

Shinichiro Otsuka

COO, Toyota Tsusho Africa Division

Mr. Otsuka joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1992. Served as General Manager of Emerging Country Department, Sales Planning Department, and Africa Department. He transferred to Toyota Tsusho Corporation in 2019. He has been serving as COO of the Africa Division from 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from Kyoto University.

Sachiko Imoto

Director, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

She has a 30-year career in development cooperation with JICA, having served for East and Central Asia, the Caucasus and Latin America region.
After serving as Director of the International Aid Coordination and Planning Office and Director of the Public Affairs Department, she was appointed to the Board of Directors in October 2021.

Riki Yamauchi

Director, Novastar Ventures

He is responsible for investment operations and LP investor relations at Novastar Ventures, one of the largest venture capital firms in Africa.
He has invested about $200M in 25 companies. Previously, he spent about 10 years in trading and IPO operations at Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan.

Takuma Terakubo

CEO & General Partner, UNCOVERED FUND Inc.

Interned at Grameen Bank, where he learned about microfinance and business creation in emerging markets. 
After working for Samurai Incubate since 2014, he founded UNCOVERD FUND, a VC specializing in Africa, in 2019. Currently invests in and supports 29 companies.

Hiroto Sorita

Director, Global Brain Investment Group

After working on business for Africa at Toyota Tsusho Corporation's Tokyo headquarters, he was stationed in South Africa, and in 2021 moved to Global Brain, an independent VC firm, where he is responsible for sourcing, investing in, and providing post-investment support to startups in the African region.

Naonobu Fuwa

Startup Ecosystem Development Expert, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

After working at an investment bank and as an IT start-up executive, he moved to Uganda and joined JICA. He moved to Nigeria after working in Ethiopia. Currently, he is assigned to the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI) to help build the startup ecosystem in Nigeria.

Jerry Oche

CEO, Zowasel

He is the founder and CEO of Zowasel, which aims to improve farmers' productivity and sustainability through the use of data science and technology. He also founded and served as CEO of Street Toolz, a marketing firm, until 2017. Currently, he is also passionate about mentoring young African entrepreneurs.

Prince Sunday

Chief Technology Officer, Xolani Health

He is an AI engineer with expertise in machine learning and computer vision. He has developed cutting-edge solutions in the fields of agriculture, healthcare, and education. He is currently the Chief Technology Officer of Xolani Health. He is a master's student at Kumamoto University, studying business and startup ecosystems in Japan.

Adewunmi Adebayo

Emergency Response Africa

He has worked with various institutions to strengthen health care delivery and innovation, specializing in epidemiology, data analysis, and policy development. He holds an MPH (Master of Public Health) from Tokyo and plans to obtain a DrPH from Nagasaki University by 2027.

Titi Adewusi

Co-founder, 9ijakids

She is the co-founder of 9ijakids, an edtech company. The company aims to reduce poverty by providing affordable online learning tools to children across Africa. She is also the organizer of Africa's largest STEAM event and a 2024 Cartier Women Initiative Fellow.

Satoshi Shimoda

Senior Staff Writer, Commentary Center, Nikkei Inc.

Mr. Satoshi Shimoda has around 30 year-career as a journalist and editor in Nikkei, mainly covering global economic and financial news and regularly posting commentary articles on the paper. He spent total 8 years in Brussels, London and New York.