Speaker

Dr. Folashadé Soulé is a Senior Research Associate at the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford where she is the co-principal investigator of the ‘Negotiating Africa’s digital partnerships’ policy research project since 2022. Previous to her current position, she was a postdoctoral researcher at the London School of Economics (LSE) and a Global leader fellow – a joint postdoctoral fellowship between Princeton University and the University of Oxford. She was also a lecturer at Sciences Po Paris where she earned her PhD in International Relations in 2014. Originally from Bénin, she speaks fluently French and English and has published and taught courses in both languages. Her research areas focus on foreign policy analysis, diplomacy studies, negotiation, technology and international relations and more specifically the study of agency in Africa’s international relations, the politics of South-South cooperation, and Africa-China relations.

Professor John Gyapong is the Secretary-General of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), where he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and a steadfast commitment to advancing research in leading African universities. Prior to his appointment as Secretary-General to ARUA, he was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (2016-2022); Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Ghana (2011-2016); and Adjunct Professor of Global Health at Georgetown University in Washington DC. Prof. Gyapong’s primary field of expertise is infectious diseases epidemiology, especially neglected tropical diseases. He is a Fellow of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Science, Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, and the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physician.

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, PhD, FGA, is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana. She is a Professor of Linguistics and an experienced university administrator, with over 22 years of experience in the higher education sector. Professor Amfo previously served as the Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Academic and Student Affairs, the Dean of the School of Languages, and the Head of the Department of Linguistics, of the same university. She is the Vice-Chairman of the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA). Prof. Amfo is a Partnership Board member of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) and a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities Governing Board.