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Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke

Chairperson, The Nigeria Office for Philanthropy and Impact Investing (NPO)
Ms. Thelma Ekiyor-Solanke is an internationally recognised Gender Lens Impact Investor, Philanthropy Advisor and Social Entrepreneur with over 24 years’ experience. Ms. Ekiyor-Solanke has pioneered, founded, and led several organisations and initiatives focused on philanthropy, impact investing and women’s economic empowerment, and has received global recognition for her work: • In 2020, Ms. Ekiyor-Solanke was listed as one of the 50 most influential women in the development sector in Africa. In August 2021, the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, USA named Ms. Ekiyor-Solanke as one of the top 10 Black Women in Philanthropy & Impact Investing. In 2023, she received the Peak Performer – Super Achiever Award in Nigeria. In 2024, she was appointed as Pioneer Chairperson of the first-ever Nigeria Office for Philanthropy & Impact Investing, domiciled in the Office of the Vice President She currently serves as Chairperson of Boards in Africa, United Kingdom and globally, which include: Chairperson/co-Founder of Proof Accelerator UK, that focusses on supporting and investing in African immigrant entrepreneurs. Co-Chair/co-Founder of Women in Philanthropy & Impact (WIPIA), a newly formed global diaspora platform of African women leaders working in philanthropy and impact. Co-Founder/Chairperson of SME.NG. She also served as its Managing Partner. Co- Founder/Chairperson of Afrigrants, a social enterprise, and served as its pioneering CEO. Additionally, Ms. Ekiyor-Solanke currently serves and previously served on the following Boards and Investment Committees: Chair, Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC) South Africa, Member, Gender Advisory Board – African Venture Philanthropy Alliance (AVPA), Former Co-Chair of Black Philanthropy Africa – A global community for philanthropists of colour, Former Board Member, National Advisory Board on Impact Investing in Nigeria (NABII), Former Investment Committee Member, Investment Committee of the SDG Impact Finance Initiative (Switzerland). Ms. Ekiyor-Solanke is currently completing a Doctorate in Entrepreneurship at Cranfield University, UK. She holds an MBA (Entrepreneurship & Innovation) from Imperial College London, UK. She has a Law Degree (LLB Honours) from University of Buckingham UK. She is a Stanford University (USA), Fellow.
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