The people behind the programme.

Dr. George Ariya is a formidable force in Africa’s business transformation landscape, an innovation strategist, mentor, and entrepreneur with a relentless drive to empower youth and women through inclusive, impact-driven enterprise development. With over 20 years of experience spanning the banking sector and academia, Dr. Ariya has distinguished himself as a catalyst for translating bold ideas into sustainable, market-ready ventures across sub-Saharan Africa. At the helm of Business Development Services at the AIM Hub, Dr. Ariya spearheads the incubation and acceleration of high-potential agri-food enterprises. His leadership unlocks business growth through tailored mentorship, digital innovation, and strategic access to finance and markets. He is celebrated for architecting innovative acceleration programs that blend local ingenuity with global standards, fostering scalable, climate-smart solutions that tackle food insecurity and unemployment. Beyond enterprise development, Dr Ariya has led and contributed to high-impact research collaborations at both local and international levels, advancing knowledge at the intersection of diverse disciplines. A sought-after thought leader and speaker, Dr. Ariya brings a visionary yet grounded approach to building inclusive, resilient agri-food systems. His mission is clear: to nurture a new generation of agri-preneurs who drive change not by chance, but by design.