Tobi Dayo-Olupona

Lead Director AfriMine

Oluwatobi “Tobi” Dayo-Olupona is a mining engineer, researcher, and social entrepreneur committed to advancing the African mining industry. He co-founded and currently serves as the Lead Director of AfriMine, a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing the next generation of African mineral professionals. Under his visionary leadership, AfriMine has expanded from operations in one country in 2020 to 12 countries by 2025, successfully coordinating multimillion-dollar social impact mining projects. 
Alongside this role, Tobi is pursuing a PhD in Mining Engineering at the prestigious University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. His research focuses on cutting-edge applications of Artificial Intelligence in predictive maintenance, aiming to boost operational efficiency, minimize downtime, and drive sustainable mining practices across the continent. His work has earned recognition through awards such as the European Erasmus+ Research Fellowship, the CoalTech Grant, and several merit-based awards. He has also been featured at multiple leading international conferences across Africa, Europe, and North America. 
Tobi’s commitment to bridging the gap between global and African mining industries is exemplified in his founding of the first African chapter of the USA-based Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME). Professionally, he has served as a technical advisor, consultant, and a mining engineer with the government.