NEXUS AFRICA

History of NEXUS in Africa

NEXUS Africa convened for the first time June 2013 in Johannesburg as a partnership between NEXUS, the Ubuntu Institute and the African Presidential Centre. The event brought together former African heads of state, governments, philanthropic leaders, emerging philanthropists and young people from the USA, Africa and elsewhere. The launch formed part of the African Presidential Roundtable. In collaboration with the Wits Business School, NEXUS Africa convened again on 12 February, 2014, to explore the role of private equity investing in poverty alleviation, the rise of social entrepreneurship, the power of youth-led innovation, and more. Since that time NEXUS chapters have developed in Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and with chapters in Angola, Mozambique, Ethiopia and South Africa coming next.

At the receiving end of much of the world’s charity for the past few decades, Africa has turned the corner. Home to some of the most significant economic growth in the past few years, the African impact investing and philanthropic sectors are on the rise, with Africans, themselves, taking the lead. NEXUS is proud to support and empower this growth and rise of a philanthropic movement.

Our vision is to develop a prosperous Africa over the next 50 years.

Goals and Actions

The last NEXUS Africa Forum convened on February 20 & 21, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa and was the beginning of a longer series of Summits across the continent.

Organizations NEXUS Africa Supports:

African Progress Panel
TrustAfrica
Simba Education
Disability Rights Fund
Osei-Kusi Foundation
Think.IT
Kandua
UX Information Technologies

NEXUS Africa has convened its members through events in Nigeria, South Africa and elsewhere.

2013 NEXUS Africa Youth Summit, South Africa
2014 Continent Dialog on NEXUS Africa, South Africa
2016 NEXUS African Savanah Safari Learning Journey
2018 NEXUS Africa Forum, South Arica

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Funke Shonekan

REGIONAL DIRECTOR EMERITUS OF NEXUS AFRICA

Funke Shonekan is a Social Entrepreneur and Business Connector. She studied (Bsc) International Hospitality & Tourism Management at the University of Surrey, England and is a certified International Social Etiquette Consultant.

She is the founder of Young Adult Professionals and Entrepreneurs (YAP&E), a Professional Networking Platform that is focused on linking and connecting upwardly mobile professionals from all industries through social Networking, Exhibitions, Workshops and Seminars (N.E.W.S) as well as the founder of FunKey Events; a bespoke events marketing and management company that delivers turnkey event solutions.

DIDI MOGASHOA

Regional Director of NEXUS Africa

Rakgadi Doris “Didi” Mogashoa

I am passionate about the transformation of human beings. I believe we were all put on this earth to serve and / or bring about a particular change in the world. It is my belief that my life’s purpose is to be of service to others by positively impacting their lives through varied forms of personal transformation.

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Over the past 15 years I have enjoyed working as an entrepreneur in diverse industries including the fashion industry. My journey of self discovery has led me to the phenomenal world of philanthropy. I have as a result dedicated the past 12 years of my life giving back through “Didi and Friends Foundation ” a Non Profit Company I founded in 2008.

I serve as a director of the foundation. Our key focus is on education and the empowerment of those less fortunate. Our work has seen us interact with various impoverished communities, orphanages and community centers in and around Gauteng and Western Cape.

I believe in education and the power it wields in impacting and transforming lives in a manner that is not only tangible but also sustainable.

Life coaching and qualifying as a Mindfulness practitioner has been a natural progression for me in learning the skills, processes and techniques I needed to assist individuals, groups and businesses alike.

Qualifications:
BA Industrial Psych
Life and Business Coach
Enneagram Coach
Cert in Mindfulness Based Interventions

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Tutu Balogun

Nigeria Ambassador

Tutu Balogun works in the Africa Finance Corporation a development bank with a mandate to bridge the infrastructure gap on the Continent.

With a particular dedication to youth empowerment programs, she is the Founder of KIA Foundation, focused on the rehabilitation of young Internally Displaced Persons’ into the Nigerian society through education primarily and healthcare and mentorship.
She holds a BA in International Relations with an MSc in Development at School of Oriental and African Studies and has previous experience working at the African Union. She hopes to be an agent of change by becoming more involved in how wealth owners can invest strategically in social development but also doing further research and work in international

Natasha Wilson

Ghana Ambassador

Over 5 years of work experience in human resources, clinical psychology, and event planning / management. She worked with the UNSDG Health Partnership, where they organized a series of events focusing on Universal Health Care Coverage in Africa. Natasha has consulted for a few mental health charities in Ghana to find innovative ways to promote mental health through a variety of social media platforms, as well as finding solutions for individuals in rural areas to have access to psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and counsellors in Accra or in their neighboring city. She has key competencies in project management, mental health advisory, and connecting people. Natasha has a great passion for mental health in Africa and has started a small initiative to battle and conquer the stigma surrounding it. Additionally, to educate the population, to reshape, change and normalize narrative pertaining to mental health and its access in Africa.

Mariam Ndabagenga

Tanzania Ambassador

Mariam is the co-founder of the Ndaba Family Foundation which provides financial and moral support to underprivileged primary school students in the Kigoma region. She is currently working as an Event Coordinator for UONGOZI Institute while consulting on Events through her company,Popular Links.

Mariam is a graduate of a triple accredited Masters Degree in Events Organization,Protocol & Business Tourism from EAE Business School,OSTELEA school of Tourism and LLEIDA University in Spain.

Sharon Tumushabe

Outreach Ambassador Uganda

Sharon is the Vice President investment Advisory at XENO an investment management platform that helps over 50,000 clients in Africa access saving and investment for their financial goals. Sharon joined XENO in 2017 during its founding year as the first robo-advisor platform and has been at the forefront of making goal-based investment accessible and affordable for the everyday Ugandan.

She has served as NEXUS Ambassador to Uganda since 2018, where she expands its influence to address key issues including mental health, youth entrepreneurship and the culture of philanthropy. A passionate philanthropist herself, Sharon heads Kaleke Kasome, a foundation upskilling youth in Mpigi, Uganda. Since its inception in 2010, Sharon as the Executive Director of the center, has overseen the expansion of its free services to include a library, a computer laboratory, vocational training in tailoring and bakery. Through her leadership, Sharon continues to forge partnerships which support the education of youth in rural Uganda.

What We’re Up To

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Summits

This February NEXUS Africa is hosting its 2nd NEXUS Africa Summit bringing together exceptional young social entrepreneurs, philanthropists and impact investors to catalyze change

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Salons across the Continent

In July, 2017, Tutu Adeyimi and Funke Shonekan convened the first NEXUS Nigeria Salon to feature next-generation leadership in social impact and philanthropy. The event was reported about in the Guardian Nigeria and multiple newspapers. Planning for other salons are now in development across the country, specifically in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa.

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Culture of Philanthropy

NEXUS Africa is committed to developing the culture of philanthropy growing across the continent. Our 2018 NEXUS Africa Forum in South Africa will be the start of a longer series of Forums and Summits across the continent.

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Delegations to NEXUS Global

NEXUS Africa is proud to send yearly delegations to our NEXUS Global Summit in New York to participate in NEXUS Global’s flagship event and network with NEXUS members from around the world

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Learning Journeys

In 2016 NEXUS led a Safari learning journey in South Africa which offerred unparalleled access to the places and people of a country recovering from social, political and racial injustices, while struggling to protect its beautiful environment and biodiversity.