Management
Team
Dr Patrick Conteh
CEO
Dr Patrick Conteh
CEO
Dr Patrick Conteh is the ACCA Regional Lead for Policy and Insights covering India and Africa. Before that, he served the Africa Fintech Network (AFN) in the capacities of advisory board member and Chief Executive Officer, while concurrently serving as an economic advisor to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning of Liberia, as well as a tutor for Cambridge Fintech Regulatory Innovation Training program. He is a financial sector and development finance professional with over twenty-five years of combined experience spanning the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. A strong advocate for fintech and other disruptive technologies as platforms for leapfrogging financial inclusion in Africa.
In the recent past, Patrick served as an advisor to the Central Bank of Liberia and led a unique collaboration between Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance (CCAF) and Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSDA) to strengthen Africa’s financial markets. As Regional Lead for Sub-Sahara Africa, Patrick successfully led a team embedded within FSDA, in the creation, dissemination, and adoption of FinTech-related knowledge across Sub-Sahara Africa (SSA). CCAF is a multi-disciplinary research centre at the University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, in the United Kingdom, dedicated to the study of technology-enabled and innovative instruments, channels, and systems emerging outside of traditional finance.
Patrick was formerly the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, where amongst other reform initiatives, he pioneered one of Africa’s first regulatory sandboxes as part of an overarching financial inclusion strategy. Prior to that, he was Minister of State for fiscal affairs and was instrumental in the turnaround of Sierra Leone’s economy following the 2015/16 depression caused by the twin shocks of the Ebola Virus Disease and the unprecedented collapse of iron ore prices- Sierra Leone’s major exports.
Patrick served as Alternate Executive Director at the African Development Bank representing Sierra Leone, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, and Sudan, contributing to the formulation and implementation of various developmental programs and projects. His earlier career was in commercial banking spanning over sixteen straight years holding various senior management roles including Director of Risk Management and Deputy Managing Director/Chief Operating Officer.
Dr Conteh holds an excellent combination of academic and professional qualifications and competencies spanning the disciplines of economics, finance, and management.
Patrick holds a PhD, MBA, and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants of the United Kingdom.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-saidu-conteh-phd-24114b16/
Dr. Adedeji Ajani
Director Programs, Innovation & Knowledge Management
Dr. Adedeji Ajani
Director Programs, Innovation & Knowledge Management
Dr. ‘Deji Ajani is a globally rated innovation for social good advocate and enabler, AI ethicist, digital finance expert, program and project mamagement expert, researcher, and sustainability strategist. With over 13-years experience as an innovation consultant, 'Deji's experience spans across AI, digital financial services, innovation and technology venture. ‘Deji's footprints and networks spread across Africa’s innovation and technology ecosystem. Previously the Chief Digital Officer at Leads Innovation Limited, and Head of Accelerator and Special Project Division at Opolo Global Innovation, a leading institution focusing on innovation enablement, start-up incubation, and idea acceleration. As an innovation ecosystem builder, ‘Deji Ajani through his wide networks works with local and international partners in driving policies and frameworks that guide in the successful scaling of entrepreneurs, innovators, and start-ups. Deji is a Mentor at several business institutions including the Founders Institute. He also sits as the Executive Secretary of the prestigious Kwara State Innovation Working Group, housed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology, Kwara State Government, Nigeria. As a researcher, ‘Deji Ajani has a PhD in Educational Technology, University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and has published more than 22 highly-rated researched articles focusing on technology integration for finance and education, with particular interest in AI, Augmented Reality, Edtech & Fintech Policy, AI Ethics, Safety and Governance, and Data Science. Deji Ajani’s research has earned him travel grants and research scholarships of up to $50,000 as a young scholar focusing on AI and Extended Reality adoption in Africa. 'Deji Ajani is a distinguished alumnus of Osun State University Nigeria, University of Ilorin Nigeria, and YES Germany. He belongs to several innovation and research fellowships, communities, professional bodies, and associations, including Emerging Technology for Emerging Markets (E4E), Black in Artificial Intelligence (Black in AI); Centre for Multidisciplinary Research and Innovation (CEMRI), Artificial Intelligence Research Council (AIRC); Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), UNESCO-UNEVOC TVeT; Mechanism Design for Social Group (MD4SG) by Harvard University; Forum for Digital Innovators and Technology Entrepreneurs (FODITE), Academy of Innovation for Social Good, and host of others.
Adebimpe Talabi
Operations Manager
Adebimpe Talabi
Operations Manager
Adebimpe Talabi is a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in operations management, media, and marketing communications. Over the course of her career, she has worked in a variety of industries including media, manufacturing, and fintech, demonstrating a diverse set of skills and an ability to adapt to different environments. With over thirteen years of experience under her belt, Adebimpe has developed a passion for organizational and brand development, using her expertise to drive growth and success for the companies she works with.
Adebimpe's academic credentials include an MBA in Marketing Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, as well as an HND in Mass Communication from Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. She has also earned certifications in Digital Marketing and Online Marketing Fundamentals from Wild Fusion Digital Academy and Google respectively, demonstrating her commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices. Additionally, she holds a Google Project Management certification, which showcases her ability to manage complex projects and meet deadlines.
Aside from her professional skills, Adebimpe also has a knack for event planning and management, having successfully organized a number of events throughout her career.
LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adebimpe-talabi-arpa-143ab3112
Hassan Jacketeh
Coordination Officer
Hassan Jacketeh
Coordination Officer
Hassan Jacketeh holds a BA in International Business and Trade from the African Leadership University, Rwanda. Hassan is super observant and detail-oriented. He loves to listen rather than speak. Hassan has invaluable hands-on experience handling administration duties, planning and arranging schedules, training, data collection, project management, data analysis, and report writing. He is passionate about using data to help make informed business decisions and transform enterprises toward attaining sustainable growth in new markets. Hassan aims to help grow and disrupt Africa's Financial Technology (Fintech) sector. He aids African countries' fintech associations, including but not limited to thoughtful industry leaders with the day-to-day engagements/developments happening within the industry across Africa and the global market. His day-to-day activities at the Africa Fintech Network allow him to engage with people from across Africa and beyond. He loves working with people as well as individually. He believes that fintech is a necessity for the African economy and its people. Fintechs are weapons that will strengthen the continent’s stability and provide a sustainable future. LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hassan-jacketeh-116439180/
Evalyn Gachoki.
Legal Advisor
Evalyn Gachoki.
Legal Advisor
Eva is a highly innovative Legal and Compliance professional with particular bias towards offering legal and compliance support to Fintech and Digital Finance organizations. Her support to Fintech and Digital Finance companies includes Legal, Regulatory and Compliance, Corporate Secretarial and Governance, Licensing in African Jurisdictions, Risk Management, Data Security and Management, Advisory on Partnerships and Collaborations, Advisory Capital raising and Investor readiness, expansion and venturing into African jurisdictions, Contract Management and Intellectual Property Rights. Evalyn also offers customized services to Startups.
Eva is the Founder and CEO of Fintech Comply Africa, a compliance Firm that empowers Fintech through Compliance. The Firm helps Fintech Businesses to maintain regulatory compliance, mitigate risks and operate efficiently within the legal and regulatory framework.
Eva is an analytical, result-oriented legal and compliance professional whose unassuming and innovative approach to modern and novel issues has earned her high acclaim within the Fintech and Digital Finance world around African jurisdictions.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree, a post-graduate Diploma in Law, Certification in Fintech Law and Policy, Certification in Compliance Management, and is an Associate Member of International Compliance Association (ICA).
Marc-Aurele Kouetche
Volunteer
Marc-Aurele Kouetche
Volunteer
A young Cameroonian with a degree in Banking-Finance and a burning passion for fintechs, I have explored various fields (Finance, Commercial, Fintech, Marketing), and developed a solid understanding of financial workings and business mechanisms. As a result of my professional accomplishment, my goal is to be a catalyst for financial inclusion through technology, not only in Cameroon and Africa, but also on a global scale with a view to helping create a positive impact, which helps underbanked populations thrive through the power of financial technology.