Our team is a diverse group of passionate individuals committed to making a difference. We bring together various skills, experiences, and perspectives to tackle the unique challenges facing Africa. From researchers to advocates, our team works collaboratively to turn our vision into reality.

image
Co-Founder

Silindile Mlilo

Silindile is a migration scholar, practitioner, and consultant with extensive experience in research and project management at the intersection of migration and mobility governance, xenophobia (social cohesion), youth, and policy development in Africa and Asia where she has worked. She is also a part-time content creator, producer, and interviewer.

Currently serving as a Project Manager and Doctoral Researcher at the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS), University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, Silindile is responsible for researching and monitoring xenophobic discrimination in the country. An alumna of the Young African Leaders Programme of the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance, an Erasmus Mundus Scholar and a CODESRIA College of Academic Mentors Institute scholar, she holds a Bachelor of Social Work and an MA in Human Rights from the University of Fort Hare in South Africa.

Subsequently, she completed a two-year Erasmus Mundus MA in Advanced Development in Social Work from the University of Lincoln, Aalborg University, Instituto Superior de Ciencias Sociais e Politicas-Universidade De Lisboa, and Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Defense.

Silindile’s current PhD research project, titled “Political Subjectivities in Post-Colonial States: Identity and belonging of Second-generation Migrants in Botswana,” focuses on themes such as citizenship, belonging, and identity for second-generation migrants in Africa.

image
Co-Founder

Teniola T. Tayo

Teniola T. Tayo is a Policy Advisor with a focus on regional integration issues in Africa including the African Continental Free Trade Area and wider trade, investment, and development policies on the continent. She is the Principal Advisor at Aloinett where she leads work on trade, investment and development issues in Africa.

She has previously worked as a consultant with the Institute for Security Studies, Supply Chain Africa, United Nations Development Programme, and the West African think tank. She is based in Abuja and is a Chevening Scholar and a Fellow of the European University Institute’s School of Transnational Governance and the London School of Economics’ Programme for African Leadership.

image
Communications / Social Media Manager

Ruth Omowero Agbor

Ruth Omowero Agbor is an Electrical and Electronics Engineer, writer, and PR & Communications specialist. She has a diverse professional background spanning engineering and communications, with experience managing communications for the Abuja Literary Society (ALS) and other organizations. Ruth holds a B.Eng in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti.

image
Researcher

Aida Oluwagbemiga

Aida Oluwagbemiga holds a degree in History and Diplomatic Studies from the University of Abuja and has established herself as a banker, curator, researcher, and writer. Her primary specialization lies in Non-Interest Finance, where she works as a corporate communications professional.

Her research interests extend to international relations, with a particular focus on foreign and economic policies, including trade, investment, and African integration. She applies these interests in her role as a researcher at Aloinett Advisors.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Aida is deeply committed to youth development, especially in the areas of art, literature, and mental health. She currently serves as the Director of Communications, Grants, and Philanthropy and coordinator of the monthly ALS Book Jam at the Abuja Literary Society, a role which underscores her dedication to literacy among young people. Additionally, Aida is a contributing art writer/curator at Yonki Abuja, further enriching the cultural discourse in her community.

She has curated numerous successful art and literary events in Abuja, significantly enhancing the city’s creative and cultural landscape. One notable achievement was curating Mathea Boogert’s exhibition at Gallery Sorelle Sciarone in the Netherlands in 2021, demonstrating her ability to facilitate international cultural exchanges.

In 2023, Aida showcased her research findings on one of Abuja’s oldest arts and crafts villages at the Hands of Resilience exhibition during the Kaduna Fashion and Art Festival (KAFART). This exhibition highlighted her research skills and her commitment to preserving and promoting local artistic traditions.

Her multidimensional approach underscores her as a thought leader and influencer in her fields of expertise.