Professor Olayinka Jelili Yusuf is a renowned Nigerian academic specialising in rural sociology, agricultural extension and sustainable rural development. A lecturer and researcher at Kwara State University, he has over a decade’s experience in research, higher education and institutional leadership in the fields of agriculture and rural development.

His work lies at the intersection of rural livelihoods, agricultural extension systems, technological innovation and sustainable development. Using a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach, he studies the interactions between people, institutions and technologies with a view to promoting inclusive and sustainable rural transformation.

He is currently leading several innovative initiatives that integrate artificial intelligence into agricultural systems. In particular, he is the Principal Investigator for the project Artificial Intelligence for Women in Agriculture (AI4WIA), which aims to empower women farmers through digital technologies, and is also in charge of the initiative Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development (AI4SARD), which focuses on the use of AI to improve agricultural productivity and decision-making amongst smallholder farmers.

His areas of research also include adaptation to climate change, digital agricultural platforms, food security, rural enterprise development and agricultural extension models geared towards public policy. Alongside his research activities, he is actively involved in capacity building, academic mentoring and institutional development.

Walelign Tewabe Sewunetie is a researcher in artificial intelligence (AI), specialising in machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP). He currently holds the post of Knowledge and Technology Transfer Scientist at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences – Research and Innovation Centre (AIMS-RIC) in Rwanda.

He holds a PhD in Information Science and Technology from the University of Miskolc in Hungary; his research focuses on the development of innovative AI-based solutions in strategic fields such as healthcare, education and natural language processing. During his academic career, he has secured and successfully completed three international research grants, demonstrating his ability to design and lead high-impact projects.

Alongside his research activities, Walelign has extensive experience in project management, drafting funding proposals, facilitating Design Thinking workshops and providing strategic consultancy. He is particularly interested in innovation in artificial intelligence, the use of AI to improve healthcare systems, and the promotion of inclusive AI education in Africa.

Through his work, he contributes to the development of technological solutions tailored to the realities of Africa, whilst promoting knowledge transfer and innovation in support of the continent’s sustainable development.

Mutiat Olaitan Mohammed is a Nigerian researcher, an innovator in sustainable biotechnology and a PhD student specialising in biomass bioconversion, bioenergy and nanobiotechnology. As a recipient of the ASM Future Leader Mentorship Fellowship, she is recognised for her commitment to innovative solutions aimed at transforming waste into high value-added resources.

With over fifteen years’ professional experience, her expertise spans microbiology, nanobiotechnology, higher education, scientific research and project management. Her work focuses in particular on the recovery of agricultural waste, the development of biofuels and the applications of biotechnology for a more sustainable and circular economy.

Currently Acting Coordinator of the Research and Innovation Unit at Summit University in Offa, Kwara State, Nigeria, she plays an active role in strengthening research and scientific innovation. Through her numerous scientific publications and presentations, she is helping to advance knowledge in the fields of sustainable biotechnology and the ecological transition.

Her commitment to research and innovation has earned her recognition both nationally and internationally, making her an influential voice in the fields of nanobiotechnology, bioenergy and sustainable development.

Dr Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende is a renowned Ugandan researcher specialising in artificial intelligence and data science. She holds a PhD in computer science from the’Eindhoven University of Technology, she teaches in the Department of Computer Science at Makerere University, where she also heads the Makerere Artificial Intelligence Lab.

Her work focuses primarily on machine learning, African language processing, responsible artificial intelligence, and the applications of AI in agriculture, healthcare and development. She plays an active role in building the capacity of African data scientists and in promoting gender equality in artificial intelligence research.

A member of several international networks and organisations, including the’Association for Computing Machinery, Data Science Africa and RAIN Africa, she has led or contributed to numerous projects funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google and other international partners. Her research focuses in particular on developing inclusive technologies tailored to African languages and contexts.

Dr Sakinat Folorunsho is a Nigerian researcher specialising in responsible artificial intelligence and in data science. She is a member of the research management team at the Globalisation, Accessibility, Innovation and Care (GAIC), an international research network comprising several leading academic institutions, including the Universities of Leiden, Tilburg, Addis Ababa and Mekelle. Deeply committed to the development of the African AI ecosystem, it is Ambassador for Women in AI (WAI) in Nigeria, team leader at'IndabaX Nigeria, national co-director and member of the board of directors of the Virus Outbreak Data Network (VODANA), as well as a member of Women in Music Information Retrieval (WiMIR). As the author and co-author of more than 50 scientific publications, her work focuses primarily on the development of ethical, inclusive and responsible AI systems.

Caroline Kantono is a research assistant at the Artificial Intelligence and Data Science Laboratory at Makerere University. She is pursuing a career in data science after completing a Master’s degree in Business Intelligence and Analytics at the University of Applied Sciences in Neu-Ulm. Her research focuses on natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence, and she has completed her research project on sentiment analysis.

Angella Ndaka is a researcher in Science and Technology Studies (STS) specialising in the study of socio-technical systems, human-computer interaction (HCI) and the social impacts of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in agri-food systems. She holds a PhD in sociology and gender studies from the University of Otago, where her research focused on the sustainable futures of artificial intelligence. She also holds a Master’s degree in public policy from the Australian National University.

Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, she is working on socio-technical approaches to public policy and foresight in the field of AI in sub-Saharan Africa. She is also in charge of research projects on young people and the future of work, whilst advising on programmes relating to AI and gender.

Internationally recognised for her expertise, Angella Ndaka is one of the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics and has received the Women in AI APAC Award for Cultural Leadership for her contribution to a more inclusive and ethical artificial intelligence.

Dr Juliet Chebet Moso is an academic and researcher specialising in computer science. She is currently a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in Kenya. She holds a PhD in Computer Science, awarded in 2022 by the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (France), and also has a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Egerton University. Her research and teaching focus primarily on data analysis, database systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Through her expertise, she contributes to the training of future specialists in digital technologies and to the advancement of research in computer science.

Ganiyat Kemi Afolabi-Yusuf is a Nigerian lecturer and researcher specialising in artificial intelligence, data science and information security at Summit University. She holds an MSc in Computer Science, which she completed with distinction, and leads several research groups, working on innovative projects such as predicting pipeline leaks, detecting plant diseases and the applications of AI in agriculture. She has received several scholarships, academic honours and research grants, and is actively involved in the national and international scientific community.

She is a data analyst and artificial intelligence expert inclusive. As founder and executive director of WITIN, she works to empower women and girls in the technology sector. She has contributed to the development of Nigeria’s AI policy and has expertise in data analysis, digital inclusion, gender equality and training for careers in technology. Through the GWEIT programme, supported by Google, she has helped rural women to acquire digital skills and develop their economic activities.

Harriet Ratemo is a Kenyan computer scientist, researcher and lecturer specialising in artificial intelligence, information systems and cybersecurity. A PhD student at Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology, she is developing AI solutions for sustainable agriculture, particularly to improve soil health and enhance climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa. Committed to the ethical governance of artificial intelligence and digital inclusion, she contributes to interdisciplinary research projects, mentors young innovators and works towards technology that is more equitable, inclusive and geared towards social development.

Rebecca Ryakitimbo is a feminist technologist, researcher and community leader whose work lies at the intersection of artificial intelligence, linguistic data, gender justice and digital equity. Recognised for her commitment to inclusive, community-centred technological development, she is helping to shape more equitable approaches to digital innovation in Africa.

She has benefited from prestigious research and leadership programmes, notably at Google, Mozilla and the Internet Society, and is also a National Geographic Society Explorer. As part of the Kondoa Community Network, she has helped to design community governance models and train female technicians with a view to reducing gender inequalities in access to connectivity.

As founder of the Community-Based Wildlife Network, she harnesses digital technologies to support biodiversity conservation and promote local strategies for coexistence between communities and wildlife. Rebecca Ryakitimbo also supports the African Women School of AI and coordinates the Gendering AI conference, which highlights feminist, decolonial and community-based issues relating to the future of artificial intelligence.

As part of LocNet, it supports the development of communities of practice, conducts research into community connectivity and local digital services, and documents best practices that promote inclusive, equitable and community-led digital ecosystems.

Shamira Ahmed is a South African digital policy specialist, quantitative economist and expert in data governance and emerging technologies. She is the Executive Director of the Data Economy Policy Hub (DepHUB), the first independent think tank founded in South Africa by an indigenous African woman to promote ethical and inclusive governance of the digital economy.

With over a decade’s experience in research and strategic consultancy, she works at the intersection of responsible artificial intelligence, data governance, equitable digital transformation and emerging technologies. She has led numerous international research projects and contributed to the development of public policy relating to the digital economy, cross-border data flows, AI and internet governance.

She served as the first global chair of the Civil Society and Academia Advisory Group of the European Union’s Digital for Development (D4D) Hub. She is also a member of several leading international networks, including the Econometric Society, the Internet Society, the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI), UNCTAD, the IEEE, the IGF and UNESCO.

His contributions have been featured in several major publications, including the African Union’s Data Policy Framework, the AI4D report on AI capabilities and policies in Africa, UNCTAD’s Digital Economy Report and UNESCO’s work on human rights-based global governance of quantum technologies.