DR. INYA LAWAL

DR. INYA LAWAL

FOUNDER OF AFRICAN CREATIVE MARKET

Inya Lawal is a social entrepreneur working to impact the world positively through capacity building and economic empowerment. She is the founder of Ascend Studios Foundation (ASF), an organization focused on capacity building and social, educational, and economic empowerment of women and youth. ASF also consults with governments, organizations, and companies on strategic design and implementation of programs that are focused on building ecosystems.

She is a lead program partner to the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria, and the program partner for the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) - a U.S. government initiative designed to support women entrepreneurs with knowledge, network, and funding to start and grow their businesses.

She oversees a diverse group of emerging and well-established business persons from different industries who receive lessons on business management and network with like-minded entrepreneurs and mentors.

Inya oversees an array of transformative conferences and projects like the African Creative Market (ACM), Global Tech Africa (GTA), Science of Trade (SOT) Women Empowerment Program for Trafficked Persons (WEPTAP), Creative Technology Program (CTP), No Girl Left Behind (NGLB); and others.

Inya is the current Country chair for Nigeria on Export and Credits for the G100 - Women Economic Forum.

She was one of 19 participants selected worldwide for the Fortune Most Powerful Women’s Mentoring program in 2019 where she was mentored by Dina Powell and a host of the senior executives of Goldman Sachs.

Inya is a recipient of an Honorary Doctorate Award from the ESCAE Benin University, the Benin Republic for her outstanding contribution to Women’s Leadership and Global Trade Development. She was also given a Women’s History Month honorary award by the American Corner Ibadan in recognition of her contribution to the development of women and girls in Nigerian Society.

She is a two-time nominee of the Tällberg-SNF Eliasson Global Leadership Prize, an awardee of the Royal African Young Leadership Forum (RAYLF) Award, and a recipient of the Kidpreneur Award of Recognition for selfl ess eff ort and support toward the development and empowerment of Nigerian Children.

She serves as the president of the Women In Film and TV Africa (WIFT Africa).