The much-anticipated AfroTalks Lagos 2025, held on October 11th at Alliance Française, Ikoyi, lived up to its promise as a transformative convergence of African ideas, innovation, and identity. Running from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., the sold-out event brought together powerful voices from across the continent and the diaspora under the theme “Matrix: Navigating Inherited Systems That Influence the African Dream.”
From thought-provoking presentations to an explosive panel discussion and the inaugural AfroPitch Grant, AfroTalks Lagos reaffirmed its growing reputation as one of Africa’s most inspiring platforms for thinkers, doers, and dreamers shaping the future of the continent.
Generally, the speakers amplified that, ‘the future of Africa will not be imported; it will be built by Africans in Africa’. Somto Ajuluchukwu, Creative Director at Vortex Studios, challenged attendees to move beyond inherited models and create systems that serve African realities. His talk, “Beyond Inherited Models: Building Sustainable Creative Systems for the African Dream,” called for collaboration across industries to establish creative frameworks rooted in African values and driven by innovation. His talk emphasized on how African spirituality and mythology can be powerfully reclaimed through comics, stories, and film.
To unpack data as dignity and currency, positioning the Triangle Offense Policy (TOP) as a tool to build systems that see us, Dr. Ashley Milton, who is the CEO of She Grows It, took that vision further with her session on “Receipts: Reclaiming Value Through Ethical Technology.” She introduced her work on systems designed to make value visible and traceable, arguing that technology should be used not to replicate exploitation, but to build regenerative economies that center people and integrity.
In the same spirit, Mariama Jalloh, whose professional journey blends global experience with a distinctly African purpose spoke passionately about “Building Founders and Investors from African Soil.” Deriving from a career that spans across major financial institutions and technology ecosystems around the world, Mariama’s insights drew from her global experience in finance and technology, showing how local innovation, when structured properly, can attract sustainable investment and shift global narratives about African enterprise.
One of the most anticipated sessions featured Ocee Oseloka Mbadiwe and Ozee Ozumba Mbadiwe, the admirable twin brothers and lawyers known for their influence in Nigeria’s creative and entrepreneurial spaces. Speaking on “The Power of Two: Collaboration as a New Code for Africa’s Development,” they emphasized that progress thrives on partnership, trust, and community. They bridged legacy and innovation rooted in legal and diplomatic family history while charting bold paths in the creative economy, introducing Positive Reverse Networking as a strategic tool.
In line with the theme, Masah SamForay, Co-Founder of Bintumani Boutique and an attorney, delivered a moving presentation titled “Wearing Two Worlds: Fashion, Business, and Parenting Across Africa.” Reflecting on her decision to return to Sierra Leone during the pandemic, she described rediscovering purpose in her homeland and urged Africans to invest their skills and spirit back into the continent. Masah delivered one of the most moving talks of the day, weaving personal migration stories with systemic realities, from the weight of being “the chosen one” to the privilege and responsibility of Black mobility.
Anthonia Ahanor, internationally renowned pageant coach and etiquette strategist, brought a refreshing perspective with “Grace in the Matrix: Etiquette, Pageantry, and Empowering the Next Generation.” Known as Coach Naya, she reframed etiquette as a tool of empowerment rather than conformity, teaching young women to see grace as a form of confidence and leadership.
As part of the International Day of the Girl Child Violet Ejiata used her platform to advocate for menstrual equity and girls’ education, reminding the audience that true empowerment begins with access and dignity. Her session resonated deeply with the audience as she celebrated women in her capacity as the National Director of Miss One Nigeria.
The West Validation: A Debate That Stopped the Room
One of the most compelling moments came during the panel discussion moderated by Adatsi B. Brownson, a global public speaker, author, and Pan-African poet. The topic, “The West Validation – Why Do Africans Need to Travel Out to Achieve the African Dream?”, struck a deep chord with the audience.
Panelists Attorney Tatiauna Holland, ModernDay Towncrier, and Yusuf Durodola brought layered insights that turned the session into a rare, honest exchange about identity, opportunity, and value. Holland, a principal attorney specialized in immigration, spoke about how Western systems often reward dependency while overlooking African competence, calling for more regional collaboration and financial confidence. ModernDay Towncrier deconstructed the psychological roots of external validation, arguing that Africa must define success in its own image. Meanwhile, Guinness World Record artist and educator Yusuf Durodola known for highlighted the role of creativity as Africa’s true global currency.
By the end of the session, Brownson’s final words echoed through the room; “The African Dream doesn’t need to be exported it needs to be owned.”
AfroPitch: Fueling Innovation from African Soil
The event culminated in the AfroPitch Grand Finale, a startup competition designed to empower young innovators between ages 18–39. Out of over 30 submitted pitch decks, three finalists were shortlisted and invited to pitch live before the AfroTalks audience.
The winner, David Ogunbajo, captured hearts and minds with his visionary startup NSFC – Not Safe For Children, a groundbreaking initiative proposing a “safe SIM card” designed to protect children from harmful online content.
His idea earned him the ₦1,000,000 AfroPitch Pre-Seed Grant, sponsored by Mariama Jalloh and powered by AfroTalks. Speaking after the win, Ogunbajo described the recognition as “proof that ideas born in Africa can protect, empower, and inspire Africa.”
Art Mixer: A Cultural Encore
The following day, October 12th, AfroTalks hosted an exclusive multi-sensory experience Art Mixer at Nike Art Gallery the largest privately owned art gallery in West Africa. The session, hosted by Diallo Sumbry, featured Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, Nigeria’s legendary artist and cultural icon, alongside visual artist Yusuf Durodola, who opened the experience with a reflection on art, heritage, and collective memory. The Art Mixer became an intimate continuation of the AfroTalks spirit blending conversation, art, history and community in one unforgettable evening.
About AfroTalks
AfroTalks is a think tank organisation with a clear objective to amplify African stories by Africans, Ignite the African Dream, influence policy through research, and drive sustainable community impact. From Accra to Lagos and announcing Kigali, the journey to decode inherited systems, disrupt outdated narratives, and design sustainable African futures plays a major role in igniting the African Dream.
As a fast-growing dialogue space for Africa, from Accra to Lagos, AfroTalks would be hosting the bi-annual event in Rwanda and Kenya in 2026. “The African Dream is the desire to build by Africans, grow by Africans, for Africans on African soil.” – Bright Tenbil, Founder of AfroTalks
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