Catalysts for Change in Sustainable Transport in Africa

Position: Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA)
Location: Nigeria, Lagos

Eng. Abimbola Akinajo is a Chartered Civil Engineer with over 30 years of post-qualification experience in both the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Her career spans the planning, design, and delivery of major transport infrastructure projects, particularly in the rail and road sectors. She is a graduate of the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where she earned a B.Sc. (Hons) in Civil Engineering. In October 2019, Eng. Akinajo was appointed Managing Director of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA). Under her leadership, LAMATA has successfully implemented key components of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda—specifically in the area of Traffic Management and Transportation.
In her commitment to sustainable urban mobility, she is steering LAMATA towards its vision to provide a world class sustainable integrated transport system that satisfies stakeholders and drives the growth of Lagos.

Position: Founder and Managing Director, Langa Bicycle Hub NPC
Location: South Africa

Mzikhona Mgedle is a passionate community leader and advocate for sustainable mobility in Langa, Cape Town. She is the founder of Langa Bicycle Hub, an initiative that promotes cycling, road safety, and youth empowerment through Learn2Cycle classes, BMX activities, and community workshops. Mzikhona has successfully grown the hub from a small project to an organization employing over 20 young people, creating meaningful local impact. She is committed to fostering safe, inclusive, and active communities while advancing opportunities for youth development and social entrepreneurship.

Position: Sustainable Transport Engineer, Egerton University
Location: Kenya

Mercy Edna Manyasa is passionate about teaching and mentoring the next generation of sustainable transport professionals. As a child, she was fascinated by airplanes, but later she came to understand their role in transport emissions. That realization shaped her path toward becoming a sustainable transport engineer, driven by the desire to change how people move. Working in green mobility brings her joy, and she believes the youth are the strongest drivers of this change. She is a lecturer, consultant, and researcher with ten years of experience in transport, energy, and climate change. Her work has primarily been research and projects that promote sustainable transport policies, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building for the transition to green mobility in Africa. She is also a co-founder of the Africa Mobility Research Hub. Through her work, she bridges academic research and practice to advance cleaner, more efficient, and inclusive transport systems.

Position: Programme Director - Safe Schools Africa, Amend
Location: South Africa, Johannesburg

Ayikai Poswayo (Kai) is a Program Director at Amend, an NGO focused on improving road safety in Africa. Based in Johannesburg, she leads the Safe Schools Africa program, which operates across a dozen countries to ensure safe journeys to school for children. Kai holds a degree in civil engineering and a master’s in transportation planning and traffic engineering. She has worked as a traffic engineer in Ghana and the UK, and also holds a Montessori diploma, reflecting her passion for education and community development. Since joining Amend in 2015, she has helped evolve the SARSAI programme into Safe Schools Africa, expanding its scope from road safety education and infrastructure improvements around schools to technical assistance on road development projects, capacity building, and advocacy. The programme has earned global recognition through various road safety awards over the years.

Position: Coordinator of Douala Urban Mobility Project, Douala City Council
Location: Cameroon, Douala

TENE MBIMI Prisca Lablonde spe OLINGA is a Civil Engineer specialized in urban transport. Graduated in 2014 from the National Advanced School of Engineering of Yaoundé, she holds certifications in urban mobility planning. After contributing to the construction of the second Wouri Bridge with a consulting firm, she joined the Douala City Council in 2015, overseeing projects such as the feasability studies for the construction of the fourth Wouri Bridge and Development of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP). Since 2018, she has led the Douala Urban Mobility Project, securing loans and grants from donors including the World Bank and the European Union. She is also a founding member of the African Association of Urban Mobility Authorities.

Position: Senior Lecturer, University of Cape Town
Location: South Africa, Cape Town

Dr. Obiora Nnene is a transport expert and Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Town, specialising in transport network optimisation, energy and emissions modelling, and electric vehicle infrastructure in developing economies. He holds a B.Eng. in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria and an M.Sc. Eng. and PhD from the University of Cape Town. His work applies simulation-based approaches to optimise transport networks, plan transport in data-scarce contexts, and advance sustainable mobility. Obiora has led and contributed to projects such as the redesign of Cape Town’s BRT, the EU Horizon Zero-Emission Vehicles challenge, Ethiopia’s Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) submitted to COP27, the UN Net Zero Transport Plan for Kumasi, and World Bank studies on informal public transport. Obiora has mentored and supervised numerous students at honours, master’s, and PhD levels. He also serves on various scientific committees and research panels.

Position: Climate Change Senior Expert and Non-motorized Transport Desk Head, Ministry of Transport and Logistics
Location: Ethiopia

Yizengaw Yitayih is a Senior Climate Change Expert at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics, bringing over 17 years of experience in natural resource management and climate change. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from Bahir Dar University and a Master’s degree in Environmental Studies and Land Resource Management from Debre Markos University.
In his role, Mr. Yizengaw is instrumental in promoting e-mobility and the transition to renewable energy, particularly in low-carbon transportation. He plays a critical role in the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in Ethiopia, spearheading the development of EV infrastructure, including charging stations. Through innovative strategies, incentive proposals, awareness campaigns, and training, he is dedicated to fostering sustainable practices that address pressing environmental challenges, thus contributing significantly to Ethiopia’s growth and resilience in an increasingly dynamic climate landscape.

Position: Research Associate, University of Kassel
Location: Ethiopia

Azeb Tesfaye Legese is an urban design expert and researcher specializing in sustainable mobility. She has conducted numerous studies on African mobility, walkability, inclusive transportation, sidewalk design for non-motorized transport (NMT), mobility behavior of active mobility users in East Africa, the impact of Living Labs on mobility behavior, and the role of active mobility in promoting urban health and sustainability. She has also completed postgraduate training in Sustainable Mobility, Spatial Planning, and Urban Africa Scenario Thinking in the Context of Rapid Urbanization.
Currently, Azeb is a Research Associate and PhD candidate in the Department of Cycling and Sustainable Mobility at the University of Kassel, Germany. She has international research experience in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Namibia, and Germany. These engagements have provided her with valuable practical expertise in urban design and mobility systems.

Position: Head of Gender Diversity & Social Inclusion, Flone Initiative Trust
Location: Kenya

Lucy Kihonge is a Gender and Human Rights Specialist with over seven years of experience advocating for the inclusion of vulnerable and marginalized populations in development processes. She currently serves as the Head of Programmes (Gender, Diversity & Social Inclusion) at Flone Initiative. Lucy has extensive experience in movement and alliance building within the transport sector. She leads the Women in Transport Movement, the Women in E-Mobility Network, and the Moving Barriers Technical Working Group—all dedicated to promoting gender and disability inclusion in public transport systems. As a technical expert in policy formulation, Lucy has spearheaded initiatives supporting County Governments in Kenya to develop policies and frameworks that foster safe, accessible, and inclusive public transport. Her work stems from a deep commitment to inclusive development, which is essential for achieving sustainable and transformative change.

Position: CEO, HawKar
Location: Tunisia

Khadija Jallouli is a Tunisian social entrepreneur and the CEO of HawKar, a startup developing eco-friendly vehicles tailored for people with reduced mobility. Khadija is passionate about inclusive urban mobility and the use of technology to solve pressing societal challenges. Under her leadership, HawKar has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to accessibility and sustainable transportation. She is also an advocate for disability rights and women’s empowerment in the tech and entrepreneurship sectors. Khadija has represented Tunisia at numerous global forums and continues to work towards a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Position: Technical Lead Africa Freight Decarbonisation and Net Zero, Smart Freight Centre
Location: South Africa

Abdool Kamdar is an Industrial Engineer (MSc Eng. Management) and the Smart Freight Centre’s Technical Lead for Africa—Freight Decarbonisation & Net Zero. His current focus is East Africa, where he works with the Kuehne Climate Centre on the Green Freight Support Program for East Africa spanning the Northern and Central Corridors, helping governments, shippers, and carriers cut emissions while improving reliability and cost. He has delivered Smart Transport Management Training in South Africa and led FleetSmart transformation workshops in Nigeria and Mexico. A Board Member of the Heavy Vehicle Transport Technology (HVTT) Forum, Abdool has 15+ years advancing low-emission road-freight strategies. This has included practical emissions reduction workshops for fleet managers as well as eco-driver training to create measurable change. He has authored the books: Road Freight Sustainability and The Professional Truck Driver’s Handbook.

Position: Team Leader, Autosafety Uganda
Location: Uganda

Michael Wanyama is an Ugandan road safety advocate, environmentalist, and automotive technician specializing in engine management systems, vehicular emission control, and e-mobility adoption through retrofitting. With a background in IT, his work spans waste management and environmentally friendly recycling of End-of-Life vehicles. He founded Autosafety Uganda, a multi-award-winning, community-driven initiative promoting safe, clean, and sustainable transport to improve environmental health and road safety. He trained in Environmental Leadership at the University of California, and a current Fellow of Our Kids’ Climate’s Climate Parent Fellowship, and has led community programs training informal mechanics in Kampala sustainable practices. He has also contributed to landmark projects, including Africa’s first vehicular emissions estimation study by the plume chasing method in Kampala with ICCT and UNEP, driving data-driven solutions for a cleaner, safer future.

Position: Sustainable Mobility Programme Officer, UNEP
Location: Kenya, Nairobi

Janene Tuniz is a sustainable mobility officer based at UNEP headquarters in Nairobi. She provides technical support to national governments and local authorities in advancing walking, cycling, and integrated urban mobility. As a core contributor to the Pan African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM), her work is centered on strengthening policy frameworks that prioritise safety, accessibility, and environmental sustainability. Her projects are largely in low- and middle-income countries and focus on the needs of vulnerable groups and the delivery of low-carbon transport strategies as well as the promotion of more comprehensive investment in active mobility.

With prior experience at UN-Habitat and an LL.M in Sustainable Development, she combines technical policy expertise, stakeholder engagement, and mediation skills to advance PAAPAM’s vision of safer, greener, and more inclusive transport.

Position: Principal Road and Rail Transport Officer, State Department for Transport
Location: Kenya

Racheal Njira Wanyamawi is a Principal Road and Rail Transport Officer at the State Department for Transport, driven by a passion for making Kenya’s transport system more efficient, sustainable, and people-centered. As Team Lead for the Promotion of Electric Mobility Project, she helped shape the National Electric Mobility Policy and the Institutional Implementation Framework. She is especially interested in the full journey of EV batteries, from powering vehicles on our roads to their end-of-life and circular reuse, because sustainability means thinking long term.

She has been part of efforts to reform public transport by supporting the formalization of the paratransit industry, and she contributed to drafting regulations for the ride-hailing sector as well as the upcoming taxi pricing policy. For her, transport is about more than systems and infrastructure; it is about improving lives, protecting the environment, making mobility inclusive for all, and creating opportunities for communities.

Position: Co-founder, Sama Vélo
Location: Senegal

Baye Cheikh Sow is the co-founder and president of Sama Vélo, a Senegalese initiative that promotes cycling and sustainable urban mobility in Dakar. With a background in construction and urban advocacy, he has dedicated his work to making cycling a viable, safe, and inclusive mode of transport. Sama Vélo leads awareness campaigns, research, and community projects to change perceptions about cycling and highlight its social, health, and environmental benefits. Our initiatives include mobility surveys, the publication of a cycling guide for Dakar, and programs such as Jigeen on Bike with Instabike, which empowers women by teaching them how to cycle and access the city more freely. We collaborate with local authorities, international partners, and civil society to integrate cycling into Dakar’s future transport systems, especially alongside projects like the BRT. Through this work, he aims to position cycling not just as leisure, but as a catalyst for more equitable and sustainable cities in Africa.

Position: Director & Principal, Transport for Cairo
Location: Egypt, Cairo

Mohamed Hegazy is Transport Lead with the Climate Champions Team (PT), working towards an equitable Decarbonisation of transport. We are the worlds biggest, UN sanctioned, climate campaign working to align the real economy (Business, Finance, Civil Society) with the Paris Agreement.
He is Founder and Director of Transport for Cairo (TfC) L.L.P. TfC provides strategic advisory consultancy services, data, tech and research to improve urban mobility in emerging cities. With TfC, he successfully led the completion of more than 70 projects in 14 countries in Africa & Asia. He has over 12 years of experience in project leadership, team leadership and systems change and has trained in AUC, Sciences Po and Columbia Uni.