VACANT
Board Chairman
VACANT.
About Us
Meet Our Team
A dedicated group of researchers, engineers, and professionals driving innovation in AI and digital transformation across Africa.
ARIFA People
Board of Directors
Eng. Dr. Athuman R. Mfutakamba
Board Vice Chairman
Eng. Dr. Athuman R. Mfutakamba is an accomplished Tanzanian engineer, researcher, public servant, and development consultant with extensive experience in…
Eng. Dr. Dennis N. Mwighusa
Board Secretary
Eng. Dr. Dennis N. Mwighusa is a Tanzanian Consulting Engineer, Adjunct Professor, Researcher, and Technology Leader with over 15 years of expertise in…
Adv. Dr. Hanifa T. Massawe
Board Member
Adv. Dr. Hanifa T. Massawe is a Tanzanian advocate, legal scholar, researcher and university lecturer with extensive experience in private law, legal research…
Mr. Mihayo M. Wilmore
Board Member
Mr. Wilmore is a Tanzanian technology strategist, executive, and board-certified director with extensive experience in digital innovation, technology…
Mr. Axel Angeli
Board Member
Mr. Axel Angeli is a German cybernetician, digital-transformation strategist, technology adviser, author and international keynote speaker with decades of…
Dr. Praxeda A. Ogweyo
Board Member
Dr. Praxeda Atieno Ogweyo is a seasoned healthcare professional and academic, specializing in Pathology. She currently serves as a Senior Lecturer in the…
Mr. David Cracknell
Board Member
Mr. David Cracknell is an experienced financial-sector consultant, researcher and development professional specialising in financial inclusion, digital…
ARIFA People
Leadership
Eng. Dr. Dennis N. Mwighusa
Executive Director
Eng. Dr. Dennis N. Mwighusa is a Tanzanian Consulting Engineer, Adjunct Professor, Researcher, and Technology Leader with over 15 years of expertise in…
Dr. Ireneus J. Kagashe
Director - Training & Capacity Building
Dr. Ireneus Kagashe is an experienced information systems expert and serves as the Director of Training and Capacity Building at ARIFA. He believes that…
Prof. Benedictor A. Nguchu
Director - Research & Innovation
Prof. Nguchu is ARIFA’s Director of Research and Innovation and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He…
Mr. Deogratius C. Bubelwa
Director - Finance & Operations
Mr. Deo is an experienced business and program manager with strong skills in financial management, leadership, and managing multidisciplinary teams. He is…
Dr. Celia I. Muyinga
Director - Communications
Dr. Celia Muyinga is an accomplished academic and communications leader with extensive expertise in tourism, hospitality, and sustainable development. She…
Mr. Japhet Ntongani
Director - Strategy & Partnerships
Mr. Japhet Ntongani is the Director of Engagement and Partnerships at ARIFA, leading strategic collaborations to advance AI research and innovation across…
ARIFA People
Staff
Ms. Elina N. Elias
PA to the Executive Director
Ms. Elina is a dedicated and dependable Executive Assistant with extensive experience supporting senior and C-level executives. She excels in managing complex…
CPA. Edwin Mlay
Head - Finance and Accounting
CPA. Mlay is a results-driven Finance Manager with over 15 years of experience leading financial operations across various industries, including manufacturing,…
Mr. Credius Nestory
Training Coordinator
Credius N. Mwesiga is a reliable, organized, and self-driven professional with a strong background in education planning, research, and data management. He…
Ms. Lovelet W. Lwakatare
Head - Partnerships & Programs
Ms. Lovelet is the Head of Partnerships and Programs at ARIFA, where she leads strategic partnerships, program development, stakeholder engagement, and…
Eng. Erick C. Mwazembe
Head - Innovation
Eng. Erick is the Head of Innovation at the Africa Research Institute For AI (ARIFA), where he leads the design and implementation of innovative AI-driven…
Ms. Enatha Erhard
Head - Procurement Unit
Ms. Enatha Erhard is the Procurement Officer at the African Research Institute For AI (ARIFA), where she oversees procurement processes, supplier relations,…
Mr. Alfred Tembo
Head - Business Development
Mr. Tembo is the Head of Business Development at the Africa Research Institute For AI (ARIFA), where he leads strategic partnerships, business growth,…
Eng. Martine M. Mleti
Project Coordinator
Eng. Martine Mleti is a certified Project Management Professional and a registered Professional Engineer with the Engineers Registration Board (ERB) of…
Mr. Philipp Ramjoué
AI & IoT Trainer
Mr. Philipp Ramjoué is an artificial intelligence and Internet of Things consultant specialising in Edge AI, TinyML, computer vision, embedded systems and…
Eng. Placidius R. Castus
ICT4D Trainer
Eng. Placidius C. Rwechungura is a Tanzanian software engineer, technology entrepreneur and researcher with experience in software development, financial…
Mr. Edson Stanley
AI & ML Trainer
Mr. Edson is a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist driven by a passion for data-driven decision-making and impact measurement. Formerly part of DOTYouth, he…
Eng. Athanas Shauritanga
Senior Software Developer
Eng. Athanas Shauritanga is a Tanzanian software developer, computer engineer and technology professional with experience in web development, mobile…
Eng. Anthony Mrope
Senior ML Engineer
Eng. Anthony Mrope is the Machine Learning Engineer at ARIFA and the Founder of Knowledgifying AI, a startup focused on building smarter conversations with…
Ms. Halima O. Cheni
Research Development
Ms. Halima Cheni is a dedicated research and development professional with a strong interest in innovation, policy research, project coordination, and emerging…
Mr. Edwin Mtabirwa
Graphics Designer
Mr. Edwin Mtabirwa is the Graphic Designer at ARIFA, bringing creative expertise and technical proficiency in visual communication. He holds a Certificate in…
Mr. Karoli M. Protase
Office Driver
Mr. Karoli M. Protase is a professional and safety-conscious Office Driver at ARIFA, known for his reliability, discipline, and courteous service. He has…
ARIFA People
Researchers
Eng. Prof. Zaipuna O. Yonah
Distinguished Research Fellow
Prof. Zaipuna is a seasoned ICT/Telecoms Researcher, Practitioner, and Registered Consulting Engineer with over 38 years of experience. He is the first Board…
Prof. Sivaramakrishnan R. Guruvayur
Distinguished Research Fellow
Prof. Siva has over 25 years of progressive experience as a visionary technology leader and recognized AI thought leader, driving innovation across artificial…
Eng. Prof. Omar F. Hamad
Distinguished Research Fellow
Prof. Hamad is a Distinguished Research Fellow at ARIFA and a renowned Tanzanian scholar in artificial intelligence, telecommunications, computer engineering,…
Adv. Prof. Ubena J. Agatho
Distinguished Research Fellow
Adv. Prof. Ubena is a Distinguished Research Fellow at ARIFA and one of Africa's leading authorities on artificial intelligence regulation, information…
Dr. Lenin Kasoga
Principal Research Fellow
Dr. Kasoga is a Senior Research Fellow at ARIFA and Part-time Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the Mwalimu Nyerere Memorial Academy, and an…
Dr. Moses Muthinja
Principal Research Fellow
Dr. Moses is a distinguished finance expert and prolific researcher with over 12 years of experience teaching finance and accounting at Kenyatta University. He…
Prof. Benedictor A. Nguchu
Principal Research Fellow
Prof. Nguchu is ARIFA’s Researcher and a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He specializes in Machine Learning,…
Eng. Dr. Houda Chihi
Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Houda Chihi is a telecommunications expert, researcher, and internationally recognized advocate for responsible AI, cybersecurity, and Internet governance.…
Dr. Ireneus J. Kagashe
Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Ireneus Kagashe is an experienced information systems expert and a researcher at ARIFA. He believes that information becomes powerful when transformed into…
Dr. Cox Lwaka Tamba
Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Cox Tamba is a seasoned academic with extensive experience teaching Statistics and Actuarial Science at the university level. He currently serves as a…
Dr. Helena E. Myeya
Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Helena Myeya is a Research Fellow at ARIFA and a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Economics at the University of Dar es Salaam – Mkwawa…
Dr. Irene S. Isibika
Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Irene Isibika is a Tanzanian scholar and researcher with a strong background in information systems and digital knowledge management. She holds a BEng. in…
Dr. Isack Thomas Nicholaus
Research Fellow
Dr. Isack Thomas Nicholaus is a Researcher at ARIFA. He holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from Dongseo University, South Korea. His research was conducted at…
Dr. Medard Mswahili
Research Fellow
Dr. Medard is a Researcher at ARIFA. He holds a BSc in Computer Engineering and Information Technology from the United African University of Tanzania (UAUT), a…
Mr. Steven Nyagonde
Senior Research Associate
Mr. Steven Nyagonde is a seasoned expert with over 12 years of experience in Project Cycle Management, encompassing project design, implementation, monitoring,…
Ms. Jane Gonsalves
Research Associate
Ms. Jane Gonsalves is a Research Assistant at ARIFA with over 15 years of experience in skills development, human resource policies, and project management.…
Mr. Credius Nestory
Research Associate
Mr. Credius N. Mwesiga is a reliable, organized, and self-driven professional with a strong background in education planning, research, and data management. He…
Eng. Hellen D. Daniel
Research Associate
Eng. Hellen is a self-motivated and highly skilled Telecommunications Engineer with extensive experience in telecommunications, sales, and project management.…
Ms. Anneth Mzaga
Research Associate
Ms. Anneth Mzaga is a Research Assistant at ARIFA and the Health Secretary for Iramba District, bringing over five years of experience in monitoring and…
Mr. Jeremiah G. Majola
Research Associate
Mr. Majola is a skilled trainer and Research Assistant at ARIFA. He has previous experience as a remote system administrator at Inspire Secondary School and…
Ms. Sylvia Elias
Research Assistant
Ms. Sylvia is a dedicated and skilled professional with nearly 7 years of research experience in international business, hospitality, and the tourism industry.…