By Rauf Mashood

Abdulmalik Olajuwon Abdulraheem

Abdulmalik Olajuwon Abdulraheem is a results-driven Supply Chain and Finance Professional with over a decade of experience in optimising operations, reducing costs, and enhancing efficiency across industries such as renewable energy, automotive manufacturing, and wind turbine services.

He led the supply chain of the truck manufacturing business of Dangote Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Africa, and currently oversees the supply chain of the Northeast region of the American business unit of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturer.

With a strong foundation in supply chain optimisation, procurement, financial planning, and logistics, Abdulraheem has successfully led cross-functional teams, driving strategic cost savings, lean inventory management, and advanced analytics integration. His expertise in machine learning and artificial intelligence, coupled with a passion for operational excellence, enables him to implement data-driven solutions that improve efficiency, enhance decision-making, and create a sustainable business impact.

He thrives in environments that demand strategic leadership, problem-solving, and collaboration. His ability to streamline supply chain processes has resulted in up to 30% efficiency gains, while his skills in vendor negotiations and contract management have secured over $5 million in cost reductions. Managing budgets exceeding $40 million, he has consistently improved profitability by 10% year over year.

Beyond financial and operational efficiency, Abdulraheem is deeply invested in sustainability and renewable energy. He has led procurement initiatives for 100+ MW renewable energy projects, contributing to a 12% reduction in carbon emissions. His expertise spans supply chain automation, strategic procurement, process optimisation, and advanced analytics, making him adept at leveraging technology to drive transformation.

Passionate about leading high-performing teams, fostering strong supplier relationships, and implementing AI-driven insights, Abdulraheem is dedicated to shaping the future of supply chain management. Whether reducing operational costs by $50M annually, improving production efficiency by 15%, or enhancing supplier performance by 20 per cent, his goal remains the same—to create meaningful, lasting impact in the industries he serves.

Driven by strategic vision and data-backed decision-making, he continuously explores ways to push boundaries, optimise performance, and ensure that every operational function contributes to organisational success.

He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Questrom School Of Business, Boston University 2024, a Master of Science (MSc), Digital Technology, Questrom School of Business, Boston University 2024, and a Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria.

Adefunke Adeyemi

Adefunke Adeyemi, a recipient of the A.G.W. Lifetime Achievement Award for African Aviation, is a distinguished leader in the aviation industry. She served as Secretary General of the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC/CAFAC), the specialized agency of the African Union responsible for aviation matters.

Previously, Adeyemi was the Regional Director for Advocacy and Strategic Relations in Africa at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), where she championed the sustainability and growth of the aviation industry across the continent. In this role, she served as a key intermediary between airlines, the broader aviation community, and the public, advocating for policies that drive economic development and social progress.

Passionate about Africa’s socio-economic transformation, Adeyemi actively promotes enhanced air connectivity across the continent as a catalyst for growth. Her contributions to the industry have earned her widespread recognition, including being named one of the 200 Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD) in affiliation with the United Nations.

She holds a law degree from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Cambridge, UK, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Nanyang Business School in Singapore, in collaboration with Wharton Business School and Berkeley Haas Business School.

Izin Akioya

Izin Akioya is the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Supply Chain Africa. In 2020, she established Ship Africa Global LLC to advance supply chain development across Africa and improve global market access for indigenous producers. Through technology and strategic partnerships, the company bridges critical gaps in logistics, production capacity, and market entry knowledge.

A strong advocate for mergers and acquisitions, Izin underscores their pivotal role in the sustainability and long-term success of African startups.

A multidisciplinary entrepreneur, marketing expert, and author, Izin brings nearly two decades of experience spanning fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), consulting, advertising, and non-profit sectors. Her career has encompassed marketing communications, business development, strategy, talent management, government relations, and advocacy.

She leads Identiti LLC, a full-service marketing firm offering expertise in product ideation, brand design, e-commerce and content marketing, change communications, stakeholder relations, advocacy, business development, and corporate event management.

As an author, Izin explores themes of identity and self-improvement. Her book Mum, Find Love Again: Shame, Self-Love, Identity addresses societal biases surrounding shame culture, ageism, and sexism, offering guidance on personal transformation. Lili, another of her works, is a lyrical collection of poetry, prose, and music celebrating love and self-mastery.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Izin actively engages on social media, sharing insights on her work, passions, and thought leadership.

Dr Ola Brown

Dr. Ola Brown founded Flying Doctors after the tragic loss of her sister under heartbreaking circumstances. Determined to improve medical care in Nigeria, she established Flying Doctors, a tech-driven global marketplace for urgent and emergency medical services, primarily serving the oil & gas, mining, and international insurance industries.

Flying Doctors became West Africa’s first indigenous air ambulance service and boasts the largest network of ground and air ambulances (both fixed and rotary wing aircraft) across the region. These are strategically located in major Nigerian cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.

Driven by a deep commitment to better health outcomes across the continent, Dr. Ola created Health Capital Africa, a pan-African investment company. With investments in nearly 30 startups in fintech and health tech, the company also has a pipeline of nearly $800 million in healthcare, clean energy, and clean water projects across Africa.

In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Dr. Ola fosters international trade relations between Nigeria, the US, and the UK. She holds key roles on the British Business Group (Lagos) committee and leads the Healthcare Business Forum of the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce. She is also an active member of the executive committee of Women in Finance Nigeria.

Born Olamide Orekunrin in 1986 in London, England, Dr. Ola is a British-Nigerian medical doctor, healthcare entrepreneur, and founder of Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Company (FDHIC). She earned her medical degree from Hull York Medical School and later completed a master’s in finance and economic policy at the University of London. Additionally, she holds certifications in economic policymaking from IE Business School in Spain and accounting for decision-making from the University of Michigan.

Dr. Brown began her career in the UK’s National Health Service, specializing in acute medicine. She later founded Flying Doctors Nigeria Ltd., West Africa’s first air-operated emergency medical service, after her sister’s untimely passing, driven by the need to improve emergency healthcare services in Nigeria.

In 2019, she launched the Flying Doctors Healthcare Investment Company, focusing on sectors such as hospital construction, diagnostics, health facility management, pharmaceutical retail, drug manufacturing, air ambulance services, and healthcare technology. Dr. Brown also serves as the General Partner at HealthCap Africa, an investment firm dedicated to early-stage investments in healthtech, fintech, and infrastructure.

Her remarkable contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including being named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and being listed among Forbes’ 20 Young Power Women in Africa in 2013.

Olori Boye-Ajayi

Olori Boye-Ajayi is synonymous with international trade, Africa and women. A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, she is the CEO of Borderless Trade & Investments, she has spearheaded initiatives that have empowered up to 80,000 African entrepreneurs, facilitating their seamless integration into global markets.

Her journey in export trade began in 2017 within the textile and apparel industry, where she established a sourcing and manufacturing hub that enabled exports to Australia, the U.S., and the United Kingdom. With over a decade of experience spanning trade, investment, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development, Dr. Boye-Ajayi has become a leading voice in Africa’s structural transformation.

As the founder of The Katie Wang Company, a global export fashion trading firm with operations across four continents, Dr. Boye-Ajayi has played a pivotal role in connecting African fashion suppliers and manufacturers with international markets.

Her exceptional contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious ‘International Woman of the Year’ award at the Women4Africa UK ceremony. Through the Borderless Trade Network, she has created a robust ecosystem of 800 female entrepreneurs, having delivered impactful facilitation programs for over 10,000 women. With offices in Lagos, Accra, Monrovia, and the United Kingdom, the network is also a proud partner of the White House initiative – Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Lagos.

Olori’s relentless dedication to advancing women’s participation in international trade has earned her an Honorary Doctorate in Women’s Leadership and Global Trade Development from ESCAE University in the Republic of Benin.

Further cementing her role as a catalyst for change, Olori was appointed to lead ‘WINHer,’ a gender-inclusive investment program by the Office of the Commissioner for Trade and Investment of Vanuatu, targeting Nigeria and South Africa. She also serves as the MANSA Ambassador for AfreximBank, driving the inclusion of African SMEs on the global stage.