Ms. Thelma Ekiyor has over 23 years experience working in the development sector, as an Impact Investor, Donor, philanthropic advisor, and social entrepreneur. She has experience working in 22 African countries. Ms. Ekiyor is currently a Doctoral Student in Entrepreneurship at Cranfield University, UK. She holds an MBA (Entrepreneurship & Innovation) from Imperial College London, UK; a Law Degree (LLB Honours) from university of Buckingham UK, and she is a Stanford University (USA), Fellow. She also holds Senior Executive Education Certificates from the Imperial College and the African Institute for International Development respectively. Ms. Ekiyor is the co-Founder and former Managing Partner SME.NG – Nigeria’s Impact Investment Platform, which has set up two impact funds for women entrepreneurs. She is the Co- Founder/Chairperson of Afrigrants, a social enterprise, and served as its pioneering CEO. At Afrigrants, she led the establishment of “Market Women’s Quick Cash” – A financial inclusion solution to provide micro-loans to women in disadvantaged communities, impacting 3000 women in northern and southern states in Nigeria. She also led the conceptualization of “The Ebi Fund” – an impact fund for women entrepreneurs. Additionally,she is the Founder & Co-Convener of The Funding Space – a mentoring and access to finance platform for social entrepreneurs in Africa, established in 2017. Prior to establishing Afrigrants, Ms. Ekiyor was the pioneer CEO of TY Danjuma Foundation, setting up and building the Foundation to become a Leader in Nigeria and Africa. Notably, Thelma is the current Chairman of Black Philanthropy Africa – A global community for philanthropists of colour. Ms. Ekiyor has received several awards and citations for her contributions to women’s economic empowerment and philanthropy in Africa.