91ºÚÁÏÍø

Breaking silos to improve nutritional outcomes in Ghana

As a flagship initiative under the , 91ºÚÁÏÍø’s Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI) Office of Sustainable Africa supports students to address Africa’s most pressing sustainable development challenges in the Nkabom Africa Case Competition

The Five finalist teams will present their solutions to a panel of judges who will select the teams with the most outstanding solutions. The goal is to further develop and implement the top five winning teams’ solutions within the Nkabom Collaborative. The Nkabom Collaborative is a multi-stakeholder partnership with the Mastercard Foundation that brings together 91ºÚÁÏÍø, six Ghanaian educational institutions, and an industry partner to transform Ghana’s nutrition and agri-food ecosystem by creating opportunities for youth-led impact through experiential learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Beyond the competition itself, the day is designed as a convening of leaders from business, public, and nonprofit sectors, academia, and students committed to addressing Africa’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. Attendees will hear from experts in the field through a keynote address and an engaging panel discussion exploring the competition’s central theme: Breaking Silos to Improve Nutritional Outcomes in Ghana. The program will also serve as a platform for the participants to engage with each other during the networking session (only for in-person attendees).

Date: April 8, 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.ÌýEDT (-4 GMT)
Location: In-person in Montreal (91ºÚÁÏÍø, Faculty Club - 3450 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, Canada); Online for others

Note: A meeting link will be shared with virtual participants prior to the event day.

Agenda

NOTE: All programming times are in EDT (-4GMT).

5 Finalist Teams

1. Biotechnology for African Nutrition Collaborative: University of Ghana (UG) & Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana
2. Eastside Sankofa Industries Ghana: University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD), Ghana
3. Edunet: Arizona State University (ASU), USA
4. Okuafo Adanfo: University of Cambridge, UK
5. SPIAfrica: Princeton University, USA
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Guest speakers

• Dean Yolande E. Chan
• Pierre Brunache, Jr.
• Valerie Ndiweni
• Prof. Michael Ngadi
• Prof. Katrin Tinn

Judges

Gabriella Adibe

Gabriella Adibe is a Development Officer for the Ghana Program at Global Affairs Canada, where she supports international development initiatives that advance gender equality, inclusive economic growth, and sustainable development outcomes in Ghana.

Previously, Gabriella served as an Advocacy Officer, supporting digital communications initiatives for Canadian missions abroad and supporting the development of social media strategies, and international campaigns to strengthen international advocacy efforts aligned with Canada’s foreign policy priorities.

Gabriella also serves as the Embassy Co-Lead for the Young Professionals Network, where she helps foster engagement between Canada’s diplomatic community and emerging professionals through collaborative events and partnerships. She holds a master’s degree in public policy and management from Dalhousie University and a bachelor’s degree in child studies, with minors in neuroscience and disability studies from Carleton University .

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Ayesha Harruna Attah

Ayesha Harruna Attah is the author of five novels, including The Hundred Wells of Salaga, a finalist for the William Saroyan Prize. Her debut non-fiction book on the kola nut of West Africa will be released in December 2026. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, among others. Born and raised in Ghana, she now lives in Senegal, where she runs Popenglace, a small-batch ice-cream shop that uses fresh, local ingredients to spread joy. She is also the coordinator of La Bibliothèque de Popenguine, a library that brings the world of books to the village of Popenguine.

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Blessed Awini

Blessed Awini is a 91ºÚÁÏÍø student pursuing a double major in Psychology and Political Science. A Ghanaian-born leader and advocate, she serves as President of Girls4Ghana, leading fundraising and outreach efforts to support female education. She is also the Vice President of Events for the African Studies Students Association, where she oversees event planning and student engagement initiatives. In addition to her academic and nonprofit work, she is the founder of Quick Snak and is passionate about leadership, community impact, and entrepreneurship.

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Yaovi Bouka

Dr. Yaovi Bouka holds a PhD in Administration, Finance option from the University of Poitiers and holds the title of Financial Planner.

A former professor of finance, Dr. Yaovi Bouka has been a financial advisor at IG Wealth Management () for over 35 years. A member of the Board of Directors of the consulting engineering firm NCKI (), Mr. Bouka is a founding member, President and CEO of the organization Force Leadership Africain, which has just celebrated its 20th anniversary on March 7, 2026.

He is also the Director of the FLA's Canada Africa Economic Magazine and Chair of the Organizing Committee of the Canada-Africa Trade and Investment Forum, the 8th edition of which will take place in .

Finally, Mr. Bouka has been a awarded of the Coronation Medal of King Charles III since September 2025.

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Idaresit Ekaette

Dr. Idaresit Ekaette is a bioresource engineer whose research focuses on the development of sustainable food systems and bio-based products. She is an Assistant Professor jointly appointed in the Department of Bioresource Engineering and the Department of Food Science and Agricultural Chemistry at 91ºÚÁÏÍø, Canada. Her research expertise includes food fortification, agri-food waste valorization, and biopolymer development, with an emphasis on practical solutions that advance food security, environmental sustainability, and socioeconomic development.

Dr. Ekaette leads the Food and Biomaterial Engineering Laboratory at 91ºÚÁÏÍø’s Macdonald Campus. She is actively engaged in the training and mentorship of highly qualified personnel, as evidenced by her scholarly publications and participation in national and international conferences. Dr. Ekaette is a Sustainability Education Fellow at 91ºÚÁÏÍø, a member of the Canadian Society for Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CSABE), where she serves on the Food and Organic Waste Management Committee, and a Scholar of the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship.

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Chris Emergui

MotherFood.org Partner
91ºÚÁÏÍø Grad

In 1996, Chris Emergui co-founded BAM Strategy, one of the first digital marketing agencies in Canada. Under his leadership, the agency grew to a team of over 100 professionals before its successful sale in 2025. Chris was named the BDC Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000 and has dedicated the past 25 years to mentoring young entrepreneurs.

For the past two years, Chris has served as a Partner at MotherFood.org, an organization dedicated to eradicating childhood malnutrition. By empowering global entrepreneurs to scale their businesses and fortify their products, MotherFood.org helps mothers and children get the nutrition they vitally need. MOtherFood.org is on track to fortify over 50 million servings in 2026, marking a significant milestone in the mission to provide life-saving nutrition to those who need it most.

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Charles Osei‑Mensah

Charles Osei‑Mensah is a Ghanaian diplomat with extensive experience across Ghana’s bilateral and multilateral missions. He serves as a Minister at the High Commission of Ghana in Ottawa and is the Officer responsible for Trade and Investment, leading initiatives to advance Ghana’s economic cooperation and commercial partnerships in Canada

He previously served at the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations as a member of Ghana’s UN Security Council team (2022–2023), working on files related to counter‑terrorism and broader international peace and security.
His foreign service experience includes postings at Ghana’s Embassies in Cotonou, Benin; Brussels, Belgium; and the Mission to the European Union. He served as Minister‑Counsellor and Head of Chancery in Cotonou, and earlier held diplomatic assignments in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU system.

At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana, he held senior roles as Deputy Director in the Office of the Deputy Minister and Deputy Director at the Europe Bureau, supporting policy coordination, institutional engagement, and collaboration with diplomatic and economic partners. He has also worked in the Middle East and Asia Bureau, the Trade and Investment Bureau, and other directorates of the Ministry.