CONNECT, NETWORK, AND PARTNER WITH GLOBAL BEAUTY SUPPLIERS SEEKING NEW BUSINESS PARTNERS IN WEST AFRICA

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Ambassador Aminou AKADIRI is a renowned leader in regional economic integration, private sector development, and cross-border trade policies, with 25 years of experience. He serves as CEO of FEWACCI and the Africa Union Business Council (AfBC), and Vice President of the Africa Caribbean and Pacific Business Forum.]

Holding an MBA from CESAG/BCEAO, Dakar, Sénégal, Ambassador AKADIRI has contributed in the development of policies and strategies supporting economic growth across West Africa and beyond. His expertise includes:

- Policy Development: providing private sector position and perspectives in the  drafting of policies and protocols for the ECOWAS Commission and Africa union commission ( free trade agreement).

- Business Connectivity: Facilitating business-to-business connectivity and resilience with the United Nations, ECOWAS, Africa union, European union, Africa Caribbean and Pacific Secretariat, Eurasia , ASEAN…..

- Trade Agreements: Participating in the negotiation and implemention of  regional and international trade agreements.

- Private Sector Growth: Promoting growth through strategic business support services and capacity-building programs across border and access to market.

Ambassador AKADIRI's dedication to economic growth and regional integration has earned him multiple recognitions and awards from prestigious organizations across Africa, Europe, Eurasia, and ASEAN.

He continues to champion initiatives for sustainable economic growth and effective cross-border collaboration in West Africa and beyond.   

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Rosannah Aduko Anya-Nga is from Okrika in Rivers State, Nigeria. She holds a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Rivers State University and a Diploma in Cosmetic Science from the Society of Cosmetic Chemists in the UK. Her career spans over two decades, with roles including Quality Control Chemist at Unique Pharmaceuticals (1995–2002), Quality and Product Development Manager at PZ Cussons Nigeria (2002–2018), and Head of Research & Development at Givanas Industry Nigeria (2018–2021). She currently serves as Head of Quality at 2Sure, a subsidiary of 7Up Bottling Company. Rosannah is a member of the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria and the Cosmetic Society of Nigeria. Her interests include people empowerment and process improvement. She is married to Pastor Samuel Anya-Nga, and they have four children: Deinma, Ibitamuno, Miebaka, and Orafiri.4o

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Ezinne Alfa is a leading Beauty Editor, Industry Expert, and Consultant, renowned for her transformative contributions to the Nigerian beauty industry. In 2012, she founded BeautyInLagos (BiL) to create a platform that promotes and supports regional beauty brands while empowering both industry professionals and consumers. Today, BiL is a cornerstone of the Nigerian beauty space, recognized for its impactful digital marketing, promotion, and consultancy services.

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Sarah Solomon-Eseh is a force in International Development, specializing in Trade andDevelopment. She currently works with the International Trade Centre (ITC), where she playsa pivotal role in the implementation of the West African Competitiveness Observatory. As aProject Officer, Sarah collaborates with high-level stakeholders, ECOWAS, and the variousgovernments of West African countries to drive regional integration, enhance tradecompetitiveness, and foster business growth across the region. Sarah also oversees theproject’s communications strategy, amplifying its reach and impact across the region.With expertise spanning Program and Project Management, Stakeholder Engagement,Communications, and Capacity Building, Sarah brings a holistic approach to development. Sheholds an LL.B from the University of Lagos, leveraging her legal expertise alongside herbusiness acumen as an MBA graduate from Nexford University. Currently, she is advancing heracademic journey with a PhD in Policy and Strategic Studies at the University of Abuja.Sarah Adekunle-James is a name synonymous with impact, innovation, and the relentlesspursuit of Africa’s growth and global recognition.

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Nibi Lawson is a reformed accountant with a background in Finance. She began channelling her obsession with hair into Kinky Apothecary out of sheer frustra>on at not being able toget her hands on suitable products in Nigeria and then realising the problem was morewide spread. Launching in 2010 as Nigeria's first natural hair company, Kinky Apothecary is a natural hair brand on the surface but our mission extends far beyond that. Through products, education and inspiration our aim has always been to encourage self-love within our community. Nibi's main goal is to share Eurocentric beauty standards and empower all women to embrace their unique beauty. Since our origins as a third-party product retail company, Kinky Apothecary has since expanded into brick and mortar with our first physical store and healthy hair salon, and we are in the process of developing our private label which aims to bring transparency to the ingredient supply chain, as well as focus on amplifying ownership and job crea>on within the African beauty industry. In addition to Kinky Apothecary, Nibi is also building haiRx, an AI-driven trichology app which leverages a decade of data insights to provide personalised hair and scalp health advice.

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Dr Olufolakemi Cole-Adeife is a consultant physician, dermatologist, and venereologist at the Department of Internal Medicine of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja and an associate lecturer at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM). She also consults part-time for the Duchess International Hospital Lagos, and Skin 101 Clinic Lagos.She is an MBBS graduate of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, a member of the West African College of Physicians, and a Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in Internal Medicine; subspecialty Dermatology. She also has a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and a Master’s in public health and health Promotion from Brunel University London. 

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Nnennaya Ukadike is an accomplished professional with a foundation in Accountancy and over 13 years of experience in Marketing, focused on premium and luxury brands as well as FMCG. She possesses extensive expertise in marketing strategy planning, product development, creative design, and brand training within the beauty and hair industry. Nnennaya is passionate about creating impactful brand experiences that connect with consumers and drive business success. Her unique blend of diverse experience and marketing creativity distinguishes her within the industry.

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Is a seasoned marketing and communications consultant with nearly a decade of experience driving transformative growth for both local and multinational companies. His visionary approach to developing innovative marketing strategies has consistently propelled business expansion and success.   He currently holds the role as a Brand Manager at Lush Hair, a leading beauty powerhouse in Africa and a subsidiary of the Tolaram Group, one of the largest FMCG conglomerates globally, boasting over 50 brands within its expansive portfolio.   Beyond his professional achievements, Omoruyi is a devoted lover of God, a relationship coach, a fashion aficionado, a farmer, and a bespoke content creator.

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Adanna Ifeoma Enwezor has over thirteen years of experience working with women and youths on various empowerment programs that aim to improve the overall wellbeing of our people. Presently, Adanna is the Executive Director, Photizo Life Foundation an NGO located in the nation’s capital, Abuja. She founded the African Hair Summit in 2016 and the Afro Hair Culture festival in 2019 alongside community development projects that are centred mostly on women and youth empowerment. Her NGO since inception has trained over 5000 women and young girls in Nigeria alone.

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 Olabisi Olaogun is a medical doctor currently working in public health and reconstructive surgery for children. In her free time, she shares her love for skincare via her Instagram page, where she shares reviews of beauty products and simplified skincare education.

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Dr Hilda Ashio Titiloye is a Medical Doctor with post-graduate training in Clinical Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Cordoba, Spain respectively. Her expertise is further enhanced by business acumen and leadership training from the Entrepreneurial Development Centre of the Pan-Atlantic University Lagos, the Global Department of the University of Washington and the SEED program of Stanford University.

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Hilary Taiwo is a seasoned Cosmetic Scientist with over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry and the founder of "Hilary Says." She began her career in makeup application before transitioning to cosmetic research and development, earning a degree in Cosmetic Science from the University of the Arts, London College of Fashion. Hilary's career includes roles at Procter & Gamble, where she formulated products for Maxfactor, Cover Girl, and D&G Cosmetics, and collaborations with renowned brands such as Lancôme, YSL Beauty, and Clarins. Passionate about transparency and safety in the beauty industry, she founded "Hilary Says" to educate consumers on the science behind their beauty routines and provide personalized product guidance.

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Dabota Lawson is a renowned entrepreneur, beauty queen, and digital marketing expert, best known for her transformative influence in the beauty industry. As the founder of Dabota Cosmetics, she has pioneered innovative beauty solutions tailored specifically for women of color, earning acclaim for both the quality of her products and her commitment to inclusivity.

Born in Nigeria, Dabota's early exposure to the business world came from watching her parents navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship. This foundational experience instilled in her a deep understanding of business dynamics and consumer needs. Her entrepreneurial journey took off after she won the title of Miss Nigeria UK, which not only catapulted her into the limelight but also provided a platform to launch her business ventures.

Under her leadership, Dabota Cosmetics has grown into a celebrated brand that champions diversity and empowers women through beauty. Dabota’s approach combines innovative digital marketing strategies with a keen market insight, setting industry trends and expanding her brand’s reach globally.

In addition to her business achievements, Dabota is a respected voice in digital entrepreneurship, often speaking at conferences and workshops about the power of digital tools and social media marketing. Her book, "From Likes to Launch," offers a compelling look into her journey while providing valuable guidance for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to leverage digital platforms for business growth.

Dabota Lawson continues to inspire with her dedication to beauty, business excellence, and the empowerment of women worldwide. Her work not only reflects her prowess as a businesswoman but also her commitment to making a positive impact on the beauty industry and beyond.

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Josephine is an experienced Quality Control Analyst with over 11 years Bench Experience in Quality testing. She is vast in both Drugs & Cosmetics AnalysisShe possessed the Ability to perform Quality Control Testing using ISO Standards. e.g. Analysis of Raw Materials, in process samples, finished products, Water Analysis, Stability Samples.etc. using some laboratory equipment’s such as the HPLC, GC, FTIR, UV/VIS SPEC, TLC, ION CHROMATOGRAPHY etc.

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Daisy is a year 2000 graduate of Biochemistry from Edo State University, with over 20 years of working experience in administration, human resources, marketing, and sales. She is the CEO of Capelli Salon and Beauty Parlour and the Head Instructor at Capelli Institute of Trichology with an international standard curriculum that enhances not just the technical skill but the scientific knowledge and procedures in hair therapy. The excellence in the delivery of the training  distinguishes the therapists who study at Capelli Institute of Trichology. 

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 Layo is the founder and CEO of Splice, an all-in-one booking, payment, and business management platform for beauty and wellness businesses in Africa. Before Splice, she served as VP of Product Strategy at Piggyvest, West Africa's largest savings and investment platform, and as Product Lead at Nubank, the world's largest digital bank, and Axxess, a top healthcare software provider in North America. With over 13 years of experience across Latin America, Africa, and the US, Layo has built products used by over 100 million people worldwide.

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Oluwaseun Kolawole is the visionary Founder of KOR. Beauty, a holistic beauty brand dedicated to celebrating and spotlighting African beauty (A-Beauty). With over five years of experience in the beauty industry, she is passionate about connecting individuals with the finest skincare, beauty, and wellness products and services sourced from African brands. Her mission is not just to curate products, but to create a platform that champions African beauty by providing access to high-quality, safe and innovative solutions that prioritize overall wellbeing. Through KOR. Beauty, Oluwaseun seeks to bring visibility to both emerging and established African beauty brands, helping them reach a global audience. She believes in the transformative power of self-care and wants to inspire individuals to embrace their natural beauty. By building a community that values wellness, KOR. Beauty aims to empower individuals to look and feel their best, while supporting the growth and recognition of African-owned brands.

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Onyeka Michael-Ugwu is a licensed and a renowned Medical Aesthetician and Senior Laser Technician with over a decade of experience in the skincare industry across continents. She is a hands-on professional who is skilled in providing a range of world class cutting-edge treatments as well as an excellent track record in delivering noticeable results. In 2019, after training and practicing for a while in America, she returned to Nigeria to set up Hello Perfect; a skin aesthetics and laser clinic that is setting the bar for medical aesthetics and laser skin treatments in the country.  Hello Perfect is focused on boosting the confidence of everyone who walks through its doors by fixing imperfections while also changing  lives.

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 Subuola Oyeleye is the visionary founder of Beauty Hut, a venture-backed beauty and personal care retail and distribution company headquartered in Nigeria. With extensive experience in the global beauty and personal care industry, she is dedicated to empowering African women in an industry they know best.

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Cameroonian and Lebanese roots digging deep – Vanessa spent the past two decades honing her craft in Paris before obsessing over the beauty biz explosion in Africa. Because let's face it, it's an eye-opening (and sometimes eyebrow-raising) adventure!While the beauty industry is tight knit across the world, Africa is still this newest chapter to reach properly. After witnessing Managers, BDM, CEO, Distributors… jumping roles or switching companies, strategies and being disoriented by qualified agents yet not skilled for the business development on the land, it was hard to keep up with who is where, and watching failing systems glorify their lightweight wins.Vanessa Azar created AZAR ltd: A company curating Local Expertise & Culture Mediation in order to develop/Manage and build businesses across West & Central African markets with a respectful tone, powerful and targeted strategies, commercial accuracies and innovative Customer’s Data approaches.

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Olufunke Tonye-Preghafi, founder of Blot Beauty, brings aunique blend of expertise from her background in CorporateFinance, with over a decade of experience in the Maritime,Oil& Gas, FMCG, and retail industries. With a passion forbeauty and a vision to create inclusive products for deeperskin tones, she successfully built Blot Beauty, a tech-drivencosmetics brand that focuses on personalized beautysolutions. Leveraging her financial acumen, she has steeredBlot Beauty toward becoming a leading name in the beautyindustry, while championing innovation, inclusivity, anddiversity.

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Dr Olufolakemi Cole-Adeife is a consultant physician, dermatologist, and venereologist at the Department of Internal Medicine of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja and an associate lecturer at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM). She also consults part-time for the Duchess International Hospital Lagos, and Skin 101 Clinic Lagos.

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Dr Uzo Iloabachie is an Aesthetic Dermatologist and Laser Specialist. She has been a trained Clinical Dermatologist for twelve years; Cosmetic Dermatologist for seven years; and Aesthetic and Laser Physician for six years. She is also the Clinical Director of Skintisfaction Aesthetic Dermatology Clinic which is located in Lagos, Nigeria. Skintisfaction is an avantgarde aesthetic-dermatology clinic with the full complement of the most advanced equipment that utilises minimally invasive procedures and energy based devices, to address a wide range of skin and hair therapies. She is an alumnus of Kings College London where she obtained her Masters in Clinical Dermatology and also, Queen Mary University where she obtained a Masters degree in Aesthetic Medicine. She is also a recipient of the GEST Fellowship in Cosmetic Dermatology from the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, United states of America. Dr. Uzo further explored the nexus between Aesthetic Medicine and Cosmetic Dermatology by becoming a board certified physician with the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine.

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Expert cosmetic scientist & founder of 1611 LABS; Amina has created a high performance, personalised skincare treatment and service brand powered by biotechnology & plant fractionation. With over 16 years industry experience working across multiple disciplines, including lab & product development, marketing, packaging, quality control, compliance & legislation. She has worked with global cosmetic companies as well as independent beauty brands such as COTY INC, MAD Beauty, Sleek MakeUP, Emolyne Cosmetics, Odylique, Wunder2, and Beautonomy.

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Mrs. Lilian Arigbodi is the founder and Managing Director of Lilian Collins LTD, a leading company in the beauty industry. The company was founded in 2011 and has since grown to become a household name in the beauty sector. Lilian Collins LTD houses four (4) brands; Lilian Collins Aesthetics, “specialises in Beauty and Skincare Treatment’s  Skinologist specialises in “Skincare Products and Cosmetics” Beauty Agent specialises in “Beauty Equipment and Beauty workforce therapist” and Wild and Free specialises in “Home scent and Personal Care”.  LB Training is an ITEC Beauty School also housed by Lilian Collins Limited.

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Lamide Akintobi is a storyteller, an avid reader, a lover of travel, music, and above all, a lifelong learner.An award winning journalist and TV personality with over 15 years in the industry, she has anchorednews, produced shows, and hosted programs for leading Nigerian networks, while running her boutiquemedia services company - Something Special Media Productions.Now, as a multi-platform producer and digital contributor for CNN International, she presents content onCNN’s digital platforms while producing several shows across the continent to amplify African voices andshare our people, stories and culture with the world.