DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY IBADAN, NIGERIA.

GUESTS AND PARTICIPANTS

1st International Interdisciplinary Biennial Conference

Theme: Artificial Intelligence and the Human Future

Venue: Multipurpose Hall, Dominican University, Ibadan

Principal Guests Keynotes Lead Papers Special Guests LOC Members Co-Hosts Partner Rep Scientific Secretariat Technical Support

PRINCIPAL GUESTS OF HONOUR

Most Rev. Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin

The Metropolitan Archbishop, Catholic Archdiocese of Ibadan

Bishop Abegunrin holds Doctorate degree in Canon Law from Pontifical Urban University Rome,1988.

Parish Priest St Ferdinands Catholic Church, Ogbomosho,1988- 1992. Cathedral Administrator, St. Benedicts Cathedral,Osogbo,1992-1995.Catholic Representative, Christian Association of Nigeria, Osun State,1992-1995. Chaplain, Political Awareness Committee,1993-1995.

Appointed by the Federal Government of Nigeria as Chairman of Peace and Reconciliation committee for Ife - Modakeke crises on 24 March 2000. Appointed Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria, 2000-2004. Former Chairman Lay Apostolate Organisations of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria.

Some of his Writings: Parish Organisation in Conciliar Documents and in the Code of Canon Law With Special Reference to Oyo Diocese of Nigeria,1988. Collaborative Ministry: A Challenge for Religious in the Third Millennium, 2001.The Pathway to an Authentic Peaceful Social Order in Nigeria, 2003. Canon Law and Leadership: Lessons and Implications for the Church in Nigeria, 2002. The Role of the Laity in Social Transformation, 2000 Upholding Christian Values in a Crises Ridden Society, 2002.

His biography titled: A Shepherd in Service published by Book Merit Publishing and Editorial Consultants, Ibadan, 2005 was written by a priest in Osogbo diocese.

His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Adewolu Ladoja

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Ibadan

Oba Adewolu Ladoja is the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan. Before ascending the throne, Ladoja was a chief and politician who served as the governor of Oyo State from 2003 to 2006; and from 2006 to 2007; and as Senator representing Oyo South from 1992 to 1993. In August 2025, he was officially approved as the 44th Olubadan-designate by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. His formal coronation ceremony took place on 26 September 2025, a day after his 81st birthday.

Fr. Dominic Eshikena, OP

Prior Provincial, THE CHANCELLOR of Dominican University

Father Dominic has been a member of the Dominican Order for over three decades. He made his Simple Profession in 1991, his Solemn Profession in 1995, and was ordained to the priesthood in 2000.

He studied Philosophy at SS Peter and Paul. Major Seminary, Bodija, and earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Ibadan in 1995. He also earned a Licentiate in Philosophy from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome in 2011, with a special interest in the metaphysical foundations of moral discourse. In 2015, he became interested in conflict dynamics, especially the undercurrents of ethnic conflict and how to build bridges across the ethnic divide in Nigeria. He completed this course of studies with a Master’s degree in Conflict Studies at St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Before he was elected Prior Provincial in November 2025, Fr. Dominic was pursuing a doctorate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation. Father Dominic is a certified Mediator with a specialization in Ethno-Religious Conflict.

Father Dominic has held different ministerial, administrative, and leadership roles. He has served as the Director of the Mission and Development Office of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana, in Maryland, USA, and as a Chaplain at Children’s National Medical Centre, National Rehabilitation Hospital, and The Washington Hospital Centre, all located in Washington, District of Columbia. He has also served as the Vicar of the Prior Provincial for North America and the Caribbean Islands. At the time of his election as Provincial, Fr. Dominic was serving as Pastor of Holy Infant Parish, Manchester, PA.

H.E Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde

Her Excellency, First Lady of Oyo State

Tamunominini Olufunke Makinde (born 9 June 1972) is a petrochemical engineer, politician. She has been the First Lady of Oyo State since May 2019 as the wife of its current governor, Seyi Makinde.

She graduated from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where she obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering. She further progressed to study at St. Thomas University in Houston, where she obtained a B.Sc in Finance and an M.Sc in Business Administration in 2017.

She is a practicing engineer and businesswoman and once managed the Makon Group of Companies, owned by her husband.

Tamunominini Makinde is a promoter of women's rights, and as First Lady has spoken out on the issue of women trafficking and gender-based violence. She has organized welfare programmes across Oyo State to support the vulnerable, targeting women and children.

Prof. Jacinta Opara

Vice Chancellor, Dominican University, Samonda, Ibadan

PROFESSOR JACINTA A. OPARA, born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 1976, is a distinguished African environmental scholar, educator and development activist. She is Vice Chancellor of Dominican University, Ibadan, President of the African Association for Teaching and Learning, and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Institute of Policy Management Development.

A graduate of the University of Ibadan and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with further postgraduate study across Nigeria, Europe and Latin America, she brings over 25 years’ experience in teaching, research and consultancy across Africa, the Americas, Europe and Asia, holding diverse academic appointments. She has served in key leadership roles including Head of Department, Dean and Deputy Vice Chancellor, and is widely recognised for contributions to teaching, research and community service.

Professor Opara is founding Co-Executive Director of the Centre for Environment and Community Development, has organised numerous international conferences, published over 200 works, and serves on editorial boards of international journals. Her work has attracted over 20 awards and grants, including recognition from the European Commission. She remains active in consultancy, belongs to several professional bodies, speaks English and Spanish, has travelled widely, and is married with children.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Prof. Bartholomew Nnaji

Former Minister of Power, Founder, Geometric Power Limited

Bartholomew Nnaji is a Nigerian engineer, innovator and one of the inventors of the E-Design concept. Born in Enugu State, Nigeria and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics at St John's University, New York USA. He then proceeded to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University for his Masters and PhD in Engineering. He also obtained a Post Doctorate Certificate in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, (MIT).

In 1993, Nnaji took a leave of absence from the University and came back to Nigeria to serve as Federal Minister of Science and Technology. He founded Geometric Power Limited, Nigeria's first indigenous-owned power development company in 2000. In 2010 he served as Special Adviser to the President on Power, and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power. He became Nigeria's Minister of Power in 2011, and resigned in August 2012.

Dr. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu

Founder, Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN)/BEMORE

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu (born 20 July 1953) is a Nigerian aquaculturist who was the first lady of Ondo State in Nigeria from 2017 to 2023. She is a feminist and gender activist. She was married to former governor of Ondo State Rotimi Akeredolu. She graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) with a BSc in Zoology. She obtained her MSc Fisheries (major in Aquaculture) from the University of Philippines, Iloilo. She is a firm believer in Continuing education which made her to go back to the University of Ibadan in 2016 for her Master’s in Public Health, MPH in Health Promotion and Education (graduation in-view).

She is the Founder of Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), a leading NGO that is galvanizing action against breast cancer in Nigeria through Public Education, Patients Support, Advocacy and Research. BRECAN was founded in 1997 after her experience with Breast Cancer. She saw the need to do something that will bring about a positive lasting change in the Nigerian Society that was deeply entrenched in the misconceptions of what causes breast cancer and how it can be treated. She has won several awards both locally and internationally for her work and commitment to the fight against Breast Cancer in Nigeria.

Prof. Chidozie Nwobi-Okoye

Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Nigeria

Prof. Nwobi-Okoye is a distinguished Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, renowned for his extensive contributions to systems modelling and optimization, artificial intelligence applications in engineering, and operations research. Prof. Nwobi-Okoye won the prestigious Highly Ranked Scholar Award from ScholarGPS in 2024 for being among the top 0.05% of all scholars worldwide in his area of specialization. He was recognized as one of the top scientists in the world by the AD Scientific Index's 2025-2026 rankings. His outstanding service and scholarly excellence was recognized with Elsevier's Outstanding Reviewer Award in 2018, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Research Award in 2023 and nomination for the prestigious ENI Award often referred to as the "Nobel Prize for Energy Research"-in 2012. In 2018, Times Higher Education (THE) named him one of the most highly regarded individuals in academia worldwide and invited him to serve on expert panels for global university rankings in 2018, 2022, 2023, and 2024. In 2025, Prof. Nwobi-Okoye won the prestigious Innovation in African Universities Grant from the British Council to set up a digital platform and smart infrastructure for waste management, which gave birth to a smart digital environmental technology startup, COREDI. He currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Education Science and Technology (AJEST), published by Inter-University Consortium - Africa (IUCA), as well as the Head of Research, Inter-University Consortium - Africa (IUCA). Prof. Nwobi-Okoye is a Fellow of both the National Institute of Professional Engineers and Scientists (NIPES) and the Institute of Management Consultants (IMC).

Professor Celestine Iwendi

Professor of AI and Head Centre of Intelligence of Things, University of Greater Manchester, UK

Celestine is an IEEE Brand Ambassador, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and the Head of Centre of Intelligence of Things (CIoTh) at the University of Greater Manchester, Bolton. With a PhD in Electronics Engineering, he has over 25 years of technical expertise in AI, wireless sensor networks, ML, and IoT. As a Senior Member of IEEE and Chartered Engineer, Celestine has developed testing procedures, provided technical support, and ensured safety compliance for electronic systems. He has received prestigious recognition from the Royal Academy of Engineering under the Exceptional Talent Scheme for his contributions to AI and medical applications, and has been featured in Elsevier's World's Top 2% Influential Scientists list for five consecutive years. His research spans 13 of the 17 UN SDGs, with 92.6% of his work internationally co-authored, and 60.7% of his publications ranking among the top 25% most-cited globally. He is also a Visiting Professor at five universities worldwide. Celestine is the Chair of the Election Committee of IEEE Computer Society Worldwide 2024. He is the IEEE University of Greater Manchester Student Branch Counselor and a former Board Member of IEEE Sweden Section, a Fellow of The Higher Education Academy in the United Kingdom, and a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants. Additionally, Celestine is an Ambassador in the prestigious Manchester Conference Ambassador Programme and IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Lecturer. He was named a 2024 Highly Ranked Scholar – Prior Five Years in All Fields of Scholarly Endeavour by ScholarGPS, placing him among the top 0.05% of 30 million scholars worldwide. He is also the recipient of the 2025 Herbert Simon Award for outstanding contributions in Information Technology and Decision Making.

Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo, PhD

Founder, Technecultura, Washington, DC, USA

Chinasa T. Okolo is the Founder and Scientific Director of Technecultura and a consultant for the United Nations and the World Bank. She works on governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Okolo completed her bachelor's degree at the Pomona College in California and her master's degree in computer science and Ph.D. in computer science from Cornell University.

During her studies, Okolo researched computer vision and its applications in biomedical settings. She distinguished herself through the use of ethnographic methods to research AI perceptions in healthcare domains across the Global South.

Okolo completed internships with Microsoft and Apple.

Okolo is a former Fellow in the Center for Technology Innovation at The Brookings Institution. She advised the African Union's Continental AI Strategy and Nigeria’s national AI strategy, with a focus on responsible AI adoption. Okolo was listed by Forbes magazines among Forbes 30 Under 30 in the AI 2025 category.

In 2024, she was included on TIME Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people in AI.

LEAD PAPER PRESENTERS

Prof. Francesca Chinyere Ukpokolo

Head of Department, Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Francesca Chinyere Ukpokolo, Ph.D., is a Professor of Anthropology. She teaches in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. She obtained a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Ibadan. Professor Ukpokolo researches in the areas of Gender Studies, Ethnicity, Development Studies, and Anthropology of Education. She has published extensively in both local and international journals and edited books in these areas. She has made contributions on gender issues in encyclopaedias such as Encyclopaedia of the Yoruba (Indiana University Press, Indiana, USA, 2016) where she has entries on women in Yorubaland, and women in politics in Nigeria, and Oxford Encyclopaedia of African Women’s History, Oxford University Press, where she has two entries – ‘Ekpo, Margaret’ (2020), ‘Women in Nigeria’ (2020). Chinyere Ukpokolo edited the book, Being and Becoming: Gender, Culture and Shifting Identity in Sub-Saharan Africa (Denver, 2016, USA), and co-edited another, Space, Transformation and Representation: Reflections on University Culture (New Jersey, USA, 2012). Chinyere was a member of the committee that drafted the University of Ibadan Gender Policy and Sexual Harassment Policy (2012), and is currently the Chairperson of the Review of the Gender Policy (2025). Professor Ukpokolo was the Coordinator, Women’s Research and Documentation Centre (WORDOC), Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, 2012 – 2016. Professor Ukpokolo is the immediate past Director, Gender Mainstreaming Office, University of Ibadan. The thrust of her research and community engagements is inclusivity and equal opportunities for men and women in society. Professor Francesca Chinyere Ukpokolo is currently the Head of the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Prof. Omowumi Ogunyemi

Professor of Philosophy (Ethics and Anthropology), Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Nigeria

Omowumi Ogunyemi is a professor of philosophy (Ethics and Anthropology) at the Institute of Humanities of the Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Nigeria. She obtained her first degree in medicine and surgery. She has worked as a medical practitioner in various hospitals (including the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Lagos, where she co-managed patients with substance-induced disorders) before pursuing post graduate studies in the humanities. She holds a licentiate degree and a doctorate in philosophy (Anthropology and Ethics - with summa cum laude) from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome. She attended the International School of interdisciplinary research in Rome (Scuola Internazionale Superiore per la Ricerca Interdisciplinare, SISRI) and won the 2014 DISF award (Documentazione Interdisciplinare di Scienza & Fede) for best interdisciplinary research paper. She was a finalist for the Expanded Reason Awards for 2018.

She currently heads the ethics and philosophical anthropology unit which teaches general ethics, philosophical anthropology and personal and professional skills to all students of the Pan-Atlantic University. The unit provides humanistic training for the students at the School of Management and Social Sciences, School of Science and Technology, School of Media and Communication. She also facilitates anthropology and ethics sessions at the Lagos Business School (for MBA, Masters in Management, and a variety of executive programs). She facilitates similar ethics and anthropology sessions for faculty and senior management staff of the Lagos Business School and other schools of the Pan-Atlantic university.

Research interests: the ethics of artificial intelligence and responsible computing, business ethics (also ethical use of AI in businesses); humanism in technology, implications of anthropology in different fields including medicine and business management. She has special interest in virtue theory and the role narratives for ethics and anthropology, with applications in different fields.

Dr. Tunde Adegbola

Research Scientist, Consulting Engineer and Cultural Activist

Tunde Adegbola also known as T. A. or Uncle T, is a scientist, musician, engineer, linguist and culture activist. He is best known for his work in setting up most of the pioneering private television and radio stations in Nigeria. He is the founder of TIWA systems and the executive director of Alt-i (African Languages Technology Initiative). As a researcher in human language technology he works in adapting information and communication technologies to make them usable in African languages. He partnered with Microsoft to localize Microsoft Windows and Office to Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, the three most widely spoken Nigerian languages, beginning with Windows Vista. From Windows 8, the languages come bundled with the operating system.

He teaches artificial intelligence as an adjunct in the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan and Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, all in Nigeria.

He was a research fellow at Innovative Computing Inc (Quik Cat) of Cleveland, Ohio, United States, where he worked adapting psycho-acoustic principles for audio compression using cellular automata transform.

SPECIAL GUESTS

Dr. Mrs. Funke Femi Adepoju

ASCON -Administrative Staff College of Nigeria

Hon. Victor Oloede Dideoluwa

Senior Special Assistance to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Office of the Governor, Oyo State

Engr. Raheemat Abisola Adabanija, MNSE, MNIEEE, MCPN

Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Bureau of ICT & Digital Innovation

Engr. Raheemat Abisola Adabanija is a distinguished engineer, digital transformation expert, and seasoned public servant with over two decades of impactful service.

A native of Ibadan, she began her educational journey at Oritamefa Baptist Nursery and Primary School and proceeded to Federal Government Girls College, Bida, Niger State. She is among the pioneer graduates of the then Oyo State University of Technology, now Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, where she earned a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) with Honours in Electrical and Electronics Engineering. She further obtained two Master of Science degrees from the University of Ibadan in Computer Science (2004) and Geographic Information Systems (2009), and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Computer Science.

She commenced her career in the Oyo State Civil Service in 2000 and was, in 2004, seconded to the World Bank-assisted Local Empowerment and Environmental Management Project (LEEMP) and the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP). There, she played a pivotal role in the successful implementation of over 700 multisectoral projects. As Project Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, she led critical activities including baseline surveys, monitoring and evaluation, database management, and impact assessments. Her outstanding performance earned her appointment as Acting Project General Manager.

In 2021, she returned to the Civil Service as Director, ICT, where she drove major digital transformation initiatives across the State. Under her leadership, key projects such as the RFID Smart Card Project for Public Servants, the Resident Registration Project, business process automation, and the digitalization of government operations were successfully developed and implemented.

In recognition of her exceptional contributions and efficiency in service, she was honored with the Oyo State Merit Award as one of the Most Efficient Civil Servants at the management level.

Following her impactful service as Director, ICT, she was appointed on 5th March 2026 as the Pioneer Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Bureau of ICT and Digital Innovation by His Excellency, Governor Oluseyi Makinde, FNSE. In this role, she now provides strategic leadership and continues to advance the State’s digital transformation and e-Governance agenda.

Engr. Adabanija is a respected member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), and the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN).

She is the Immediate Past Chairman of the Association of Professional Women Engineers in Nigeria (APWEN), Ibadan Chapter, and currently serves as the South-West Coordinator of APWEN. She is also the Vice Chairman (Telecommunications) of NIEEE and Financial Secretary of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. She served as Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the APWEN International Conference. Through these roles, she continues to promote excellence in engineering, mentor young professionals, and inspire girls to pursue careers in STEM.

She is happily married to Prof. Moruffdeen Akintunde Adabanija, a renowned geophysicist, and they are blessed with children.

With her unwavering commitment to innovation, leadership, and public service, Engr. Raheemat Abisola Adabanija remains a trailblazer and a role model in engineering and digital governance.