Summy Smart Francis
We are excited to introduce our esteemed speaker for the Evolve Conference, Dr. Summy Smart Francis. He will be sharing his unique insights on "Scaling Up Your Business In Nigeria: Strategies and Challenges in Attracting Growth Capital". Dr. Summy Smart Francis (hc.) is a social and serial entrepreneur with vast experience in entrepreneurship development. He has developed and initiated several programs that were implemented in different parts of Africa focused on the growth and development of African entrepreneurs. He studied Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies from Harvard University and Creative Direction from AAA School of Advertising, Johannesburg, South Africa. He is the Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development to the Ondo State Governor, Nigeria and CEO of the Ondo State Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA), the first entrepreneurship agency in Nigeria. Summy Smart Francis is the Founder and President of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E), a foremost entrepreneurship network in Africa with footprints in 20 countries across the continent. Dr. Francis was the Director-General of the Empower Borno Project that focused on the economic re- development and empowerment for Borno State internally displaced persons, a project that received Global recognition as a catalyst solution to the economic challenges facing the people living in the IDP Camps of Borno State,Nigeria. He was the Executive Producer of one of Africa’s Entrepreneurial Reality TV Shows. The A.Y.E Reality TV Show gave African Entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their business or ideas for funding and partnership aired live on both terrestrial and satellite TV Channels. He is the Chairman of SSF Investment and he sits on the board of several other companies and Organizations across Africa as a Non-Executive Director. A TEDx Speaker, Dr. Francis received an Honorary Doctorate of Entrepreneurship from TB University Brooklyn, U.S.A. He is a recipient of several awards and certifications from across the globe. Dr Francis is a Visionary Leader, Continent Builder, Pan African, Philanthropist, and Creative Enthusiast.
