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

NEXUS Nigeria Outreach Ambassador, NEXUS Africa Regional Director

Funke Shonekan is the Founder of Young Adult Professionals and Entrepreneurs (YAP&E), FunKey Events and FunKey Events Training Academy (FETA). She is also a Certified International Social Etiquette Consultant and a Graduate from the University of Surrey, UK and has a degree in (Bsc) International Hospitality & Tourism Management.

Tutu Adebiyi

NEXUS Nigeria Outreach Ambassador

Tutu Adebiyi is a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, with a passion for African Development. Her goal is to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, by providing opportunities and empowering disadvantaged segments of Nigeria to contribute to economic development of their country.

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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 development programs.

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Mariam Ndabagenga

NEXUS Tanzania Outreach Ambassador

Mariam Ndabagenga is a civil servant with 7 years’ experience in Marketing and Events. Currently working at UONGOZI Institute as an Event Coordinator, Mariam oversees organization and management of platforms for leadership development through Trainings, Policy Forums and Dialogues.

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Moreover, she is a Social Entrepreneur who uses Fashion and Entertainment for realizing Social Change, specifically on Girls’ Education. Among successful projects are Girls’ Dormitories initiative with Tanzania Education Authority (Ambassador), TAI Tanzania Sanitary pads for Girls students (Mentor and Fundraiser), A Desk for Every Child with the Hassan Maajar Trust Fund (Digital Influencer), Dada2Dada Mentorship programme (Initiator).

Currently, Mariam works with the Ndaba Family as a co-Founder of the Ndaba Foundation which aims at providing financial and moral support to underprivileged children to attain their Primary, Secondary and University education in Tanzania.

As a personal challenge, Mariam is working with the Tanzanian local authorities to find ways of building Girls’ dormitories in each Village, for both Primary and Secondary school girls. This project is in the initial stage and every idea, suggestion and partnership is welcome and appreciated.

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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.

Contact Us

Interested in joining or sponsoring the NEXUS Africa network? Are you an exceptional young social entrepreneur, philanthropist or impact investor? Interested in doing good and shaping the future of philanthropy and social innovation in Africa? We’d love to hear from you. Please send us a message and we’ll be in touch shortly.