Bridging The Gap

Episode Summary: In this episode, Tobi Karim and host Sade Onabowale talk about thier key takeaways from the previous episode with Habiba. They explore Nigeria's energy landscape, focusing on sustainable development, policy innovation, and the future of energy infrastructure. They discuss government programs, technological advancements, and the importance of reimagining energy systems for a su...

Episode Summary In the season finale episode, Habiba Ahut Daggash , a renewable energy expert working with RMI, discusses Nigeria's energy crisis, the potential of renewable energy, especially solar, and the importance of tailored, community-specific solutions for rural electrification and economic development. Relevant Links to the episode Electrifying Communities, Empowering Livelihoods – RM...

Episode Summary In this episode, Kọ́lá Tubọ̀sún shares his journey from growing up in Ibadan, his work in linguistics, and his efforts in preserving African languages through technology, translation, and archiving. We explore the importance of digital spaces for language preservation, the role of storytelling, and the cultural significance of maintaining our linguistic heritage. Keywords Languag...

Summary: In this bonus episode, Sade shares personal insights on podcasting, Nigerian politics, societal dehumanization, and the impact of AI in Nigeria. She reflects on lessons learned, the relevance of podcasts, and her outlook on Nigeria's future amid political and technological challenges. Community Meet-Ups: I’m hosting community events every month to meet up in person/virtually to share...

Episode summary: In this episode, Sade interviews Bukola from Haima Health about storytelling, community engagement, and innovations in sickle cell advocacy in Nigeria. They explore systemic challenges, the importance of local context, and practical steps for health activism. Bukola Recommends: The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk Haima Health's Instagram Page Community Meet-Ups: This month’...

Episode summary In this week's episode, I sit with Dr. Elizabeth Egbase shares her journey into medicine, discusses common women's health issues like fibroids and PCOS, and explores disparities in UK healthcare research and access. Dr Elizabeth Recommends: Podcast: Say Your Mind by Kelechi Okafor Meet Me at the Altar also by Kelechi Okafor Book: Divided by Dr. Annabel Sowemimo Papers: Raci...

Episode summary: Sylvia Okonofua shares her journey from Nigeria to Canada, her work with Black Donor Save Lives, and insights into racial disparities in blood and stem cell donation. She discusses systemic issues, myths about donation, and the importance of storytelling and policy advocacy in transforming healthcare access for Black communities. Sylvia's Recommendations: Books: Black Skin, Wh...

Episode Summary In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Mrs. Abimbola Akeredolu SAN distinguished legal practitioner, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, and former Attorney General of Ogun State who traces her remarkable journey in Law. She speaks candidly about her time in the public sector, the structural fragility of Nigeria's judiciary as the "shortest leg" of the three arms of government,...

Episode Summary Sade is joined by Afolabi, researcher, writer, and co-founder of Bellwether, for a season roundup unpacking the big themes so far. They dig into why APC and PDP are more alike than different, how Nigeria's once-vibrant left was deliberately dismantled, and why the ideas those movements championed (free education, cooperatives, fair taxation) are ones nobody would oppose today y...

Episode Summary This episode features Sa'eed Hussaini, a researcher at the Center for Democracy and Development, discussing Nigeria's political landscape, party ideology, neoliberalism, and the history of social movements. We explore how historical legacies shape current politics and the importance of archiving activist histories. Sa'eed Recommends: His Archive work which I highly reco...

Episode Summary In this episode of Bridging the Gap, host and guest Adesuwa Giwa-Osagie, journalist and lawyer, break down political engagement in Nigeria. They explore how accountability starts at the grassroots level, the barriers that keep citizens from participating, and practical strategies for holding leaders accountable. Whether you're Nigerian and feeling overwhelmed by the news cycle...

Episode Summary In this episode of Bridging the Gap , we sit down with Ndali Gregory-Ozegbe, who brings a wealth of experience from her time at IMAX, to explore the evolving landscape of Nigerian film. Together, we unpack the power of regional content, the rise of personalized media experiences, and what the future holds for the Nigerian film industry. We also dive into how local stories can reach...

Episode Summary: In this weeks episode I'm joined by Demilade Ademuson where we discuss the importance of cultural infrastructure, the role of platforms like Netflix in content discovery, and the need for long-term thinking in the creative sector. We also addresses the challenges faced by filmmakers, the significance of soft power, and the potential for local distribution models to thrive. Dem...

Episode Summary In this weeks episode, filmmaker Damilola Orimogunje shares his journey into the world of filmmaking, discussing the evolution of Nigerian cinema, the importance of storytelling, and the intersection of journalism and film. He emphasizes the need for patience and intentionality in the filmmaking process, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in the industry. D...

Your voice matters! ⁠Share your takeaways, questions, or fact-checks by leaving a voice message ⁠ and we'll feature the best ones in our Sunday Key Takeaways episodes. Episode Summary: In this week's episode I’m in conversation with Sefi Atta , highly acclaimed writer. This conversation delves into the significance of storytelling in Nigeria, exploring the journey of a writer from a business backg...

Your voice matters! Share your takeaways, questions, or fact-checks by leaving a voice message and we'll feature the best ones in our Sunday Key Takeaways episodes. Episode Summary: In this insightful episode, Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo , a prominent AI policy researcher, shares her inspiring journey from computer science to becoming a leader in AI governance. Discover the challenges and opportuniti...

Your voice matters! Share your takeaways, questions, or fact-checks by leaving a voice message and we'll feature the best ones in our Sunday Key Takeaways episodes. Episode Summary  In this episode of Bridging the Gap, host Sade speaks with Abdul Saka-Abdulrahim , co-founder and COO of Stears Inc , an African private capital data platform. They discuss building tech startups in Nigeria, the Af...

If you have episode suggestions, questions for me or would just like to share your thoughts on past episodes: Leave your voice mail messages using Speak Pipe This episode is a recap on what I've been up to since you last heard from me. New Episodes will drop every Thursday starting from Feb 12th.

This weeks Case study is based on the recent blog post by DFS Lab that is making the rounds, Sade's thoughts on it and then we get other women operators to weigh on their experience of building out of Africa while navigating being a woman in a predominately male space. Blog Posts Mentioned: Africa's S-curve Why Won’t Women Just Say What They Want? For inquiries, long feedback, or proposals...

This episode dives into building successful startups in Nigeria, featuring Seun Runsewe & Tosin Faniro-Dada . We explore: Startups vs. SMEs: Mindset & structure for growth Challenges & Pitfalls: Regulatory hurdles, transparency, and team dynamics Markers of Success: Stable environment, strong teams, and pathways to profitability Empowering Women: Strategies for inclusivity and represen...

In this week's episode Sade and Jasmine discuss the Kenyan protests and draw parallels to the Nigerian context. They explore the factors that led to the protests, including the 2022 elections and the government's economic policies. Got key takeaways on an episode you'd love to share? Or a Fact check? Or an initiative you want to spotlight? Then ⁠⁠ ⁠record a voice message here⁠ ⁠⁠ and y...

Key Takeaways are summarised versions of what was discussed in each week's episode. It also includes any additional findings I've discovered since recording that episode and lastly offers actionable next steps for listeners. Further readings:  Africa’s colonisation of the English language continues apace Nigerian Languages going extinct Platform to start learning Nigerian Languages with tu...

Got key takeaways on an episode you'd love to share? Or a Fact check? Or an initiative you want to spotlight? Then ⁠ ⁠record a voice message here⁠ ⁠ and you'll be featured on the Sunday episodes. ( P.s. You can send multiple 90second ones and we'll put them together to be cohesive) In this week's episode i'm joined by linguists Bolanle and Emeka to discuss language preservation...

Key Takeaways are summarised versions of what was discussed in each week's episode. It also includes any additional findings I've discovered since recording that episode and lastly offers actionable next steps for listeners. Got key takeaways on an episode you'd love to share? Or a Fact check? Or an initiative you want to spotlight? Then ⁠ ⁠ record a voice message here ⁠⁠ and you'l...

In this week's episode, I brought my office kitchen and group chat conversation to the podcast. I talk to two of my friends and people whose musical opinions I trust to discuss the state of the Nigerian music industry. The industry has played a pivotal role in getting Nigerians on the map and has been a vehicle for exporting our culture to the rest of the world. Dare I say it made us the cool...