ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Prof Meshach Aziakpono

Professor of Development Finance at the Stellenbosch Business School

Meshach Aziakpono (PhD) is a Professor of Development Finance. He obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Economics and Statistics with a Second Class Hons Upper Division in 1994 at the University of Benin; a Master of Science degree in Economics in 1998 at the University of Ibadan, and a PhD in Economics in 2008 at the University of the Free State. His research has focused on the broad areas of financial integration and financial sector development and monetary policy issues in Africa with strong emphasis in applied econometrics.

Japhet Justine

Commissioner: Sovereign Debt Management, Ministry of Finance and Planning, Tanzania; Former CEO: Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank and Tanzania Women’s Bank PLC

Japhet Justine is the Commissioner – Sovereign Debt Management in the Ministry of Finance and Planning in Tanzania. His expertise stretches in the areas of Sovereign Debt, Fixed Income, Digital Economy, Policy Advisory, and Board Leadership.

He is a proficient Development Finance Practitioner with wide experience in leading, managing and transforming banks at national and international levels. Prior to his current portfolio, Mr Justine was the Managing Director of the Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank ((the only Agriculture Policy Bank in East Africa); Managing Director of Tanzania Women’s Bank Plc; NMB Bank; Regional Head African Banking Corporation in charge of Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique and Rwanda, and Plc in Tanzania.

Rising from Financial Analyst to commissioner of sovereign debt, Japhet highlights his capacity to transform financial institutions to move beyond the transaction portfolio, and towards a more holistic approach that adds value to the ecosystems altogether. His approach not only repositions institutions towards a more strategic and competitive direction but also cultivates an enabling policy environment for collaboration and systematic resolutions.