Gbenga Sesan

Gbenga Sesan is a Nigerian social entrepreneur recognized for his work in digital rights and digital inclusion across Africa. As executive director of Paradigm Initiative, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting underserved young Africans with digital opportunities, Sesan has dedicated his career to advancing online rights throughout the continent. Paradigm Initiative operates in communities across Nigeria and has expanded its reach through sub-regional offices in Cameroon, Kenya, Senegal, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, with programs spanning more than 27 African countries.

Before founding Paradigm Initiative, Sesan led the Lagos Digital Village, a collaborative project involving Junior Achievement of Nigeria, Microsoft, and the Lagos State Government. He holds a degree in electronic and electrical engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University and has completed executive education programs at institutions including Lagos Business School, New York Group for Technology Transfer, Oxford University, Harvard University, Stanford University, Santa Clara University, University of the Pacific, INSEAD, and King's College London. This multidisciplinary academic background has shaped a career at the intersection of technology, policy, and civil society.

Sesan established Paradigm Initiative as a social enterprise that builds information and communications technology (ICT)-enabled support systems and advocates for digital rights to improve opportunities for underserved youth. The organization runs programs such as the Life Skills, ICT, Financial Readiness, Entrepreneurship (LIFE) training program and the Techtiary program, which empower young people between the ages of 12 and 28 to pursue careers as ICT entrepreneurs. Sesan is the author of "In My Own Words," an annotated autobiographical collection of essays, and has contributed to academic and policy publications, including "Global Process, Local Reality: Nigerian Youth Lead Action in the Information Society."

Sesan's influence extends beyond Nigeria. He is one of 10 high-level individuals appointed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to serve on the inaugural Internet Governance Forum Leadership Panel. He is also a member of the International Panel on the Information Environment, launched at the Nobel Prize Summit, which provides scientific knowledge about threats to the global information environment. Sesan has advised the World Health Organization on data privacy and the World Economic Forum on its Operationalising Trust Project to develop rights-respecting data policy for businesses.

Sesan has been recognized as a Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year and is a former member of the United Nations Committee of eLeaders on Youth and ICT. He is a CyberStewards Fellow, Crans Montana Forum Fellow, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Leadership Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, Our Common Future Fellow, and Cordes Fellow. He was Nigeria's first Information Technology Youth Ambassador and was appointed as the youngest member of the Nigerian Presidential Task Force on the Restructuring of the Nigerian Information Technology and Telecommunications Sectors. For his contributions to ICT, CNN named him one of the "10 Leading African Tech Voices" on Twitter, and Ventures Africa recognized him as one of 40 African Legends Under 40.

A frequent conference speaker, Sesan presents at more than 30 national, regional, and international conferences annually. His work addresses global challenges in digital rights, digital inclusion, Internet freedom, emerging technologies, and artificial intelligence. Sesan's philosophy centers on the belief that digital rights and digital inclusion are inseparable, and he continues to advocate for an open, accessible, and equitable digital future for Africa and beyond.