IA-25 Speaker Bios
Meet the Planned IA-25 Plenary Speakers
As we approach the highly anticipated IA-25 All Africa Conference taking place from April 17-20, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda, we are thrilled to introduce the incredible lineup of plenary speakers who will be leading us through this journey of “Into Africa 2025.”
Mutua Mahiaini
International President
Mutua Mahiaini has been serving with The Navigators for more than 36 years—first, as a staff member, then as national director in Kenya for 9 years, and 4 years as a missionary to Côte d’Ivoire leading the national work and coaching leaders in other French-speaking countries before being appointed Africa regional director in 1998. He spent 13 devoted years as the Africa Regional Director. Mutua committed his life to Christ as a child and was discipled by The Navigators. Mutua has a master’s degree in French and taught in Kenya before joining The Navigators staff in 1981. Mutua and his wife, Stephanie, were married in 1982 and have four adult children.
Mutua has served as the International President of The Navigators since April 2015, overseeing our worldwide partnership of more than 5,300 staff serves in 112 countries.
Plenary Messages:
- Celebrating Our African Journey in Fulfilling Our Vision.
- Call for Bold Faith Into the African Realities.
Dr. John Njoroge
Speaker & Apologist
Dr. John Njoroge speaks frequently on university campuses, business and leadership forums, and conferences around the world. His passion is to help clear the fog between faith and culture by making the case for the credibility of the Christian faith in a way that people can understand. John graduated with the highest honors from Talbot School of Theology, Biola University in California, where he earned a master’s degree in philosophy, a master’s degree in New Testament studies, and a Master of Theology (ThM). Dr. Njoroge also holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Georgia.
John and his wife, Leah have three children, and they also run a thriving orphanage in Kenya, which is home to 37 formally abandoned children.
Plenary Message:
- Contemporary Issues and the Advance of the Gospel in Africa: LGBTQI, Secularism, DEI, and New Age Religion.
Paul Njagi
Regional Alongsider
Paul met the Lord as a high school student in 1976 in a Youth for Christ Rally. He and his wife Wanjiku have been married for 36 years and have six adult children and three grandchildren. Paul has been serving with the Navigators for 38 years in diverse leadership roles, including directing student ministries, pioneering cross cultural ministries and leading the coaching and development of leaders. Currently, he serves as an international resource leader responsible for the coaching, mentoring, and development of gospel workers serving in unchurched contexts.
God’s Promise to Paul: Isaiah 54:1
“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in travail! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her that are married, says the LORD”
Paul’s Mission: “To coach, inspire and empower leaders to worship God, love Jesus, obey the scriptures and live missionally in the advance of the gospel”
Paul’s Vision: “A God-seeking movement of the gospel all over the unchurched world, through workers for the kingdom next door to everywhere who are carrying abroad the fragrance and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ”
Plenary Message:
- The Holy Spirit and Gospel Movements: Our Journey with the Focus.
Mike Mutungi
I Choose Life- Africa CEO
Mike Mutungi is the Chief Executive Officer of I Choose Life – Africa. Mike started his career in public service in Kenya, where he worked with the Ministry of Transport as part of the roads engineering design team. After that, he moved to serve with The Navigators, an International Christian organization in over 120 countries. He served in the students’ ministry. It was while at The Navigators that he founded I Choose Life-Africa (ICL) in 2004. As the CEO of ICL, he spearheaded the 1 Million Youth Empowerment Challenge which has seen youth acquire skills in Health, Education, Environment & Climate, entrepreneurship, Leadership & Governance, and safeguarding. Mike also manages various corporates in fintech, agribusiness, and construction among others. He has also helped numerous counties in Kenya to develop their County Integrated plans through a strategic planning process. He is the current Chairman of The Year of Return Africa 2024
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi and a Master’s degree in Divinity from International Leadership University. He has a passion for strategic planning, Empowerment, and building teams that influence and create social impact in their community. He has overseen the development of strategic plans for programs and organizations in Africa, America, Europe, and the Middle East.
He sits and chairs several boards and has been at the forefront of starting several social enterprises. He is the immediate former Chair of the Elder Court at Nairobi Chapel. He is also the author of “Kenya Mpya; Selecting and Holding Leaders to Account”. He is a husband to Josephine and a father to David, Michelle, John, and Christelle Mutungi.
Message:
- Africa’s Demographics and the Advance of the Gospel.
Okorie Kalu
Regional Alongsider
Okorie grew up in a rural Nigerian village and, while in grade school, understood the gospel through reading Christian Literature and his Bible. Okorie’s desire to grow and to serve the Lord while in college led him to the Navigators. First, Dr. Bob Taussig, then Bernie Dodd and Mike Treneer helped prepare him for a lifetime of fruitful laboring. Chi, Okorie’s wife, came to the Lord through the ministry of a renowned Nigerian preacher. Chi met Jo Dodd through Okorie while in college and received some help from her. Chi graduated from college to become Nigeria’s First Female Pilot. In 1982, Okorie took up an assignment as an intern staff with the Navigators served at Iowa State University. On return to Nigeria in 1983, Okorie and Chi married and went on staff with the Navigators in Nigeria.
They led campus ministries in Zaria in northern Nigeria, pioneered new campuses in South-Western Nigeria, and served on the Nigerian leadership team for over ten years. 1994, Okorie and Chi went to Zambia as missionaries with their three children to build up a Navigator ministry started by other missionaries.
In Zambia, they raised a foundational generation of men and women who have continued to lead the ministry. During this period, the Zambian ministry sent missionaries to other African countries, such as Botswana, South Africa, Namibia, and beyond Africa to Japan. Zambia Navigators (VIP) opened the Navigators Ministry in Sierra Leone. Presently, Navigators Zambia has a Missionary Couple in Japan who are involved in the Church Ministry. After Zambia joined the Africa Regional Team, the Kalus served the region as the Coordinator of Missions and the Leader for the English West Africa zone. Now, as an Alongsider, Okorie travels speaking, teaching, coaching, and mentoring staff and leaders.
Internationally, Okorie’s contribution to the Navigators includes leading the Blessings, Righteousness and Justice (BRJ) Task Force, helping the Navigators to respond Biblically to Poverty, Corruption, and Injustice (PCI) as we seek to advance the Gospel of Jesus and his kingdom into the last frontiers where these are rife. He has written books such as Spiritual Warfare, published in French, Onyekachi Hope for the Hopeless and Responding Biblically to Poverty, Corruption, and Injustice, published by NavPress.
Okorie also pastors a congregation in Abuja. Hillside Community Church’s key focus, among other things, is Whole-Life Discipleship in an urban setting. Okorie and Chi are actively involved in ministry to the poor in their neighborhood. They are sponsoring the education of several former out-of-school children.
Plenary Message:
- God’s Heart for the African Realities of Poverty, Corruption, and Injustice.
Address List
-
Applewood Adams
Ngong Road Nairobi
11th Floor, Suite 1109 - + 254 712 477 567
- communications@navigatorsafrica.org
Social Networks
The Navigators Africa
Changing the Spiritual Landscape of Africa