Dr. Erieka Bennett
Dr. Erieka Bennett has traveled, worked and lived in Africa for over 30 years.   As the Convening Founder and Head of Mission of the (AU) African Diaspora Forum (DAF), that will link Diasporan Africans and their talents to the development of Africa, she has been a valuable asset to the African Union’s development of Diasporan issues.  Dr. Bennett was at the forefront of the development of AGOA and was an advisor to the architects of NEPAD.  

Dr. Bennett’s strong love for the Africa Woman was given concrete expression in March 2004 when she was one of the supporters of African Woman 2004 which produced the Abuja Accords, the historic document on the Aspirations of the African Woman which was developed at the first ever African Woman’s conference held in Abuja, Nigeria, March 2004.  This document is being submitted to Beijing plus ten for forum development and adoption as a major voice for the African woman at the United Nations Forum for women. She was elected as Africa Women 2004” in the category of mentoring.

Dr. Bennett is a trusted Advisor to ECOWAS and she also   currently serves on the Advisory Counsel of the President of Ghana.   Dr. Bennett assists in providing guidance to the development of this progressive West African nation.  Since his ascension to the Presidency, Dr. Bennett has been an informal trusted Advisor to the several Heads of States. Dr. Bennett monitors actives of African development through her involvement with international discussions such as the African -African American summits, ECOWAS meetings, AU summits and most recently the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (where she was one of only two African/ African American women official  participants).

With economic development at the forefront of her planning for Africa, Dr. Bennett served with distinction for two terms as the International Vice President of the African Business Roundtable, the oldest indigenous African Business Group on the Continent. Under her able leadership, the African Business Roundtable grew in distinction and prestige, enabling African Business to gain another voice. Dr. Bennett is the Vice Chairman of African Communications Associates.  ACA under Dr. Bennett’s direction was partially responsible for the creation and launching of Inside Africa Show, one of CNN’s most popular shows. Dr. Bennett is a Media Executive specializing in Branding and image strategies. The Legacy, a pictorial history of President Bill Clinton’s historic linkage to Africa and its development was published under her direction. ACA is currently organizing an annual Re-Branding Africa Summit to showcase the other side of Africa that includes an “African Living Legends Awards Banquet”.

Dr. Bennett is a well versed educational facilitator.  Founded "The Bridge Inc." in 1985, training and consulting firm which creates a viable linkage between Africa and America.   Developed and managed training programs for governments and organization in Africa as well as training and management courses to create new levels of excellence in service standards.  Dr. Bennett counsels regularly a virtual "Who's Who in Africa" list of clients including Heads of States, Ministers, Ambassadors and prominent businessmen. Dr. Bennett is recognized the world over for her tremendous charitable contributions and a generous benefactor of several children's causes.

Dr. Bamanga Tukur
Dr. Bamanga Tukur was born in the year 1935 in Jada, Adamawa State. He started his education at Bauchi Secondary School and attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, the largest university in Nigeria and second largest in Africa. He has been increasingly portrayed as an amorous husband and devoted father. He is a businessman, a politician, an elder statesman, an entrepreneur and an ambassador. He is one of the high profile civil servants and military officers who acquired large areas of farmland along the various River Basin authorities.

He has devoted his intellectual and political gifts in ensuring that a good heritage is built upon outstanding global practices to ensure a good business environment for the nation.  Dr. Bamanga Tukur has held various national appointments in Nigeria, including being the Minister of Industry in the Federal Government. He has extensive experience in the country’s transportation and logistics systems with significant investments both within and outside the continent. He was at one time the Governor of Old Gongola State, which encompasses Adamawa and Taraba States.

In 1959, he served as Executive Officer at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Northern Nigeria.  He subsequently, attended the London School of Economics to study Transportation and Economics.  In 1965, he received his Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh. Upon his return to Nigeria, Alhaji Tukur was appointed Ports Manager of the Lagos Port Complex, and he served as the General Manager and Chief Executive of Nigerian Ports Authority from 1975 to 1982. In 1982, he left his position as general manager and soon contested the Gongola gubernatorial race, which he won.

Alhaji Tukur has held numerous national appointments in Nigeria, including the directorships of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the Nigerian National Shipping Line, Nigeria Airways, Central Water Transportation Company and the Board of Customs and Exercise. Dr. Tukur is a member of the International Business Advisory Council (IBAC) of UNIDO and a member of the OECD Africa Investment Advisory Board. He was elected Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group in Monterrey, Mexico in March 2002. In the same year Mr Tukur was conferred with the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Mono (COM) by the President of Togo, His Excellency President Gnassingbe Eyadema, in recognition of his contribution to business in Africa. He was also appointed to the Ghana Investors Advisory Council by H.E. President John Agyekum Kuffuor in June 2002. In December 2003, Mr Tukur was conferred with the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. He was once the governor of the old Gongola State, which encompassed Adamawa and Taraba States.

He served as Governor for three months before the democratic administration was abridged by a military coup. After leaving the Gongola State House, he entered full scale entrepreneurship, and was the founder and chairman of BHI holdings (DADDO group of companies). Dr. Bamanga Tukur was also a former member of the board of Trustees of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He came to national attention in the mid 1970's, as the general manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority; it was a time the agency was having problems with congestion as a result of a massive cement importation scheme that was started at the twilight of Yakubu Gowon's administration. During his tenure, the government built a few more seaports to ease the transaction cost associated with shipping and to ensure adequate facilities for Nigeria's import and export needs. He was awarded CON in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in the year 2003.

Dr Bamanga Tukur is presently the Chairman, NEPAD Business Group; Chairman, BHI Holdings Limited; Chairman, Afripractice Group and Executive President of African Business Roundtable.