From someone prophesied to never fly a plane to someone who now boards multiple private jets with renowned personalities.
From someone who said “There is no God” to someone whose mantra is now “I am Summy Smart Francis, and I am nothing without God.”
Early Life, Growth & Education
Summy Smart Francis is a global speaker, transformative leader, investor, entrepreneur, mentor, author, visionary, philanthropist, Pan-African, business coach, creative director, copywriter and a pioneer in entrepreneurship and innovation with 10,000+ entrepreneurs mentored.
His educational journey includes Victory Grammar School, studying Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies at Harvard University and Copywriting/Creative Direction at AAA School of Advertising, South Africa.
Seeing himself as a beneficiary of the ‘gift of success’, he demonstrated it publicly when he visited his alma mater, Victory Grammar School, Ikeja, Lagos in 2019. There, he gave his gratitude to the management, cleared the debts incurred by some indigent students of the school. He also organized annual scholarship awards for brilliant students in the school.
Leadership Roles & Appointments
In 2020, he was appointed Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship Development to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Former Governor of Ondo State. After that tenure, he was reappointed Special Adviser on Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2025 by Governor Aiyedatiwa, the Incumbent Governor of Ondo State.
He chairs SSF Investments and ONDEA, Nigeria’s first entrepreneurship agency, and sits on other boards.
Read: Biography of Sola Adesakin
He is the CEO of Ondo Entrepreneurship Agency (ONDEA), Nigeria’s first entrepreneurship agency. ONDEA is a government agency established by the Ondo State Government in Nigeria. It was founded in 2020. The key objectives are eradicating poverty, creating jobs and fostering economic growth.
In 2023, during the reigning tenure of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, through ONDEA, he aided the selection of 10 entrepreneurs with the most innovative businesses and ideas to be eligible for business grants, business support packages, mentorship, training, and an all-expense paid international business tour to Kenya and Rwanda.
He also helped to fulfill the governor’s goal of entrepreneurship as a means of economic growth by providing free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) business registration for 1,000 businesses to help them access grants and loans; and creating an online classified marketplace to expose local products and services to a wider audience.
Entrepreneurship Vision & Innovation
He is the President/Founder of Africa’s Young Entrepreneurs (A.Y.E) and the Chief Visionary Officer of Africa’s first Entrepreneurship Village named ‘eVillage.’
He is the first Honorary Doctor of Entrepreneurship in Nigeria. He was recognized and awarded by TB University Brooklyn, U.S.A.
Speaking Engagements
He is a TEDx Speaker; he spoke at TEDxFUTA, giving a presentation titled ‘The Story of Two Boys.’
Some of his previous speaking engagements include:
- Speaker at TEDxFUTA titled ‘Dive into the Blue Ocean: New Thinking Models for Entrepreneurs’
- Keynote speaker at the Global Empowerment Summit 3.0, Lusaka 2025
- Keynote speaker at Leadership Gala 2025, USA
Quotes From His Speeches
- “Success can be earned through service”
- “Be visible where opportunities exist”
- “You cannot fight for the stage of kings while dining in the comfort of mediocrities”
- “Build your reputation before you need it”
- “Be a person of value wherever you are”
Awards & Recognitions
Dr Summy has been nominated for, and is a recipient of the following awards:
- Ambassador of the Year - NCDC, Nigeria
- Business Leadership Award - African Impact Leadership Award
- Doctor of Entrepreneurship - TB University Brooklyn, U.S.A
- Entrepreneur of the Year - S.A Business Award
- Most Innovative - Nigeria Innovation Awards
- Most Creative Award - Tripple A
- Nigeria Most Outstanding Political Entrepreneur of the Year - National Leadership Meritorious Award
- Ondo State Hall of Fame - Ondo State
- Ondo State Outstanding Enterprising Personality of the Year - Ondo State Outstanding Leadership Award
- Public Speaker of the Year - Nigeria Voice Peace
Books & Teachings
To share his wisdom with more people, Dr. Summy has authored two books titled “The Gift of Success’ and ‘The Beggar’s Money.’
Some of his recorded speeches include:
His speech at TEDxFUTA titled ‘Dive into the Blue Ocean’ where he talked about the story of two boys.
His speech in a leadership Podcast with Stephen Akintayo (audio version and video version)
You can find here a list of inspiring messages from Mr. Summy, designed to empower you with actionable wisdom for personal growth.
Family Life
Dr. Summy is happily married to his heartthrob, Dr. Joy Smart Francis who is the Executive Director and CEO at AYE (Africa’s Young Enterpreneurs). She is a business administrator and manager with over 15 years’ work experience in entrepreneurship, business development, marketing, event management, brand experience and advertising. They are blessed with two beautiful children.
Dr. Summy Smart Francis is active on social media. You can connect with him via his official handles on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and Email.
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