
Governance
Led by experienced Pan-African visionaries committed to evidence-based recognition and absolute integrity.
Board of Trustees
Distinguished African leaders entrusted with driving the rigorous selection process and upholding our core mission.

Career Veteran & Transformational Leader
Ndidi Ukaonu
Group Executive at a financial services group with 25 years in finance— Banking and Asset Management. Founder of The Intrapreneur Project and author of the "Intrapreneur Revolution" series.

Co-Founder & Strategic Lead
Bode Abifarin
Bode Abifarin is an entrepreneur, investor, and thought leader focused on African innovation ecosystems. He has founded and scaled multiple ventures across technology and social enterprise, and brings deep networks across the continent.

Board Member
Tosin Runsewe
Tosin Runsewe is the Founder and CEO of AfyA Care, an integrated healthcare company dedicated to making quality healthcare affordable and accessible across Sub-Saharan Africa. He also serves as Independent Chairman of Evercare Hospital Lekki — the first scaled private tertiary healthcare facility built in Nigeria in decades. Between 2004 and 2019, Tosin led the development of one of Nigeria's largest non- bank financial services groups — formerly AXA Mansard — across Health, P&C, Life Insurance, and Asset Management. Under his leadership, the group became one of the most recognised names in Nigerian financial services. Prior to this, Tosin led the Energy Group at Guaranty Trust Bank and served as the bank's Treasurer, building deep expertise in capital markets, risk, and corporate finance. Tosin holds an M.Sc. in Financial Economics from the University of London and completed the Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School.

Board Member
Zachary Wazara
Zachary Wazara is a Zimbabwe-born entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of the Spiritage Group— a diversified conglomerate spanning Health, Telecoms, Media, Technology, Payment Solutions, and Advisory Services across Africa and beyond. With over 15 years of hands-on experience in telecommunications, Zachary has built mobile networks from scratch across Nigeria, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Burundi, and Lesotho. He has overseen commercial operations across more than 15 African countries, with additional experience in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji. Zachary's expertise is anchored in greenfield project execution— from licence negotiations with regulators, to capital raising, market entry strategy, and launching telecoms businesses in both stable and high-risk environments. Beyond his commercial pursuits, he is driven by a conviction that marketplace reformation and economic transformation across Africa are part of a larger mission.

Board Member
Julian Kyula
Julian Kyula is a widely recognised entrepreneur, thought leader, and speaker on Pan- African and global platforms. In 2010, he founded the MODE Group— a multi-million- dollar international fintech company that became a global leader in cashless microservices, establishing presence in over 14 African and 26 countries worldwide. Julian is now Chairman of Beulah City Ltd, developing high-quality, accessible housing across Africa. In 2019, he played a key role in negotiating the agreement signed at the UN General Assembly, where Kenya and UNOPS committed to delivering 100,000 affordable homes under the Big 4 Initiative. He is also Founder of EDOMx, a modern fintech company focused on financial solutions for consumers. Julian has spoken at Oxford University, Silicon Valley forums, SIBOS in Singapore, and the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi during President Obama's visit. He sits on several international boards and continues to engage global leaders across sectors
Selection Criteria
Rigorous standards ensuring evidence-based recognition of genuine impact.
Documented Impact
Verifiable outcomes with measurable reach and community transformation across sectors.
Post-40 Initiative
Initiative or venture started after the individual turned 40 years old.
African Agency
Individual is African or of African descent, driving change within the continent.
Institutional Support
Board consensus on impact significance and alignment with Africa 40/40 values.
Our Process
A six-step rigorous vetting protocol ensuring institutional credibility.
Nominations Open
Continentally-driven nominations from networks, organizations, and communities.
Initial Review
Team screens for documented impact and alignment with core criteria.
Impact Verification
Deep dive research into outcomes, beneficiary reach, and sustainability.
Board Evaluation
Board members individually assess candidates against selection framework.
Institutional Vetting
Final review by governance committee for institutional credibility.
Public Announcement
Honorees announced at inaugural event with full documentation.

Our Commitment
Africa 40/40 is committed to institutional transparency, evidence-based recognition, and the amplification of experienced leadership. Every honoree represents documented impact, rigorous vetting, and our collective belief in the power of proven African excellence.
