About Us
We exist because entering Africa should not feel like a gamble.
Afrosum Consultancy was founded to bridge the gap between international ambition and African market reality. We are not theorists — we are operators with deep institutional relationships across the continent.
Our Story
Africa represents one of the greatest commercial opportunities of this century — 1.4 billion people, rapidly growing economies, and vast untapped markets across every sector.
Yet most international companies struggle to enter these markets. They face unreliable local contacts, opaque regulatory environments, cultural misunderstandings, and a lack of institutional access that makes even the first step feel impossible.
Afrosum was built to solve this. Through years of sustained engagement across Nigeria, Ghana, and other African nations, we have developed deep relationships across government and private sectors — the kind of access that no amount of desktop research can replicate.
We combine this institutional access with an operator mindset. We run international businesses. We understand execution, compliance, and what it actually takes to operate in these markets. That is what makes us different.
How We Work
Practical Over Theoretical
We deliver actionable guidance, not academic reports. Every recommendation is grounded in what actually works on the ground.
Honest Expectations
We never guarantee deals or outcomes. We provide clear risk assessments, realistic timelines, and transparent commercial advice.
Relationship-Driven
Our institutional relationships are the foundation of everything we do. They are built through years of trust, not transactional introductions.
Cross-Sector Capability
From energy and infrastructure to FMCG and technology — our networks open doors across all major industries.
Operator Mindset
We run live international businesses. We understand execution, logistics, compliance, and operational reality.
Long-Term Partnerships
We do not disappear after a report. We stay with our clients through their entire market-entry journey.
Founding Team
Süreyya Ümran Alınak
Co-Founder & CEO
26+ years in international tourism, trade facilitation, and cross-border business development. Co-Founder of Turquaz Group and Afrosum Consultancy. Operates across Turkey, Nigeria, and Ghana with deep institutional relationships in government and private sectors.
8+ years of on-the-ground operations in Nigeria — health tourism, pilgrimage tourism, cultural exchange programs, capacity building, and institutional partnerships across West Africa.
President of Anadolu Women Farmers Association. Active advocate for women-led enterprise in agriculture and rural development across Turkey and Africa.
Led joint trade missions with Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) and Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality to Nigeria. Corporate Leadership Award recipient (Port Harcourt, 2024).
Fatih Tunalı
Co-Founder & COO
13+ years in tourism operations, technology, and cross-border commerce. Managing Director of Funny Tourism since 2013. Full-stack software engineer who has built and deployed 15+ live platforms serving clients across 30+ countries.
Creator of Airport Transfer Portal — a global transfer marketplace connecting suppliers in 50+ countries, TravelQuoteBot — an AI-powered quotation engine for tour operators, TurizmNetwork — a professional network for the Turkish tourism industry, and Grossara — a B2B wholesale trade platform bridging Turkey and Africa.
Operates across Turkey and Nigeria with hands-on experience in supplier networks, payment infrastructure, logistics, and regulatory navigation in African markets.
Technology and operations architect behind all Afrosum digital ventures — platform development, AI integration, multi-country infrastructure, and daily cross-border execution.
Dr. Yavuz Selim Sılay, MD, MBA
Co-Founder & Healthcare Strategy Lead
Physician entrepreneur and healthcare ecosystem builder with 10+ years of leadership across the U.S., Europe & Africa in pharmaceutical R&D, medical affairs, medical tourism, market access, and EU project management.
Co-Founder of AFROTURK TV & AFROTURK AGRO TV. Managing Partner at İstanbul Consulting Group. President of the Society of Physician Entrepreneurs Türkiye Chapter. Vice President of WIHU.
Currently practicing as a Family Physician at Yıldırım Beyazıt University, researching Learning Health Systems and building AI-native primary care infrastructure.
Creator of the Bridge Global Program at Yıldız Technical University — connecting startups, pharma, governments, and capital across the U.S., Europe, MENA, and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Leadership Team
Sahra Çelik
Managing Partner & CMO
Over 30 years of international experience in tourism, aviation, logistics, and cross-border operations. Deep expertise in DMC and MICE management, hotel contracting, supplier relations, and global partnership development.
Proven track record in international contract negotiations, inbound/outbound operations leadership, and building sustainable high-value business relationships across multiple markets.
Actively engaged in international trade consultancy, supplier management, and investor–partner mediation, expanding strategic impact across global markets.
Multidisciplinary background spanning tourism operations, international trade, and creative industries — including professional training in the USA and 8 years of international film production experience across the USA, Türkiye, and Egypt.
Yusuf Cihan Süslü
Managing Partner & CCO
Entrepreneur and tourism-technology professional with deep experience in sales, marketing, and business development. Founder of TurizmEkonomisi, CEO of Dots Group, and co-creator of Weepay — a fintech payment platform built for the tourism industry.
Through Dots Group subsidiaries — Dot Tourism, Dot Wedding, Dot Trade, Dot MICE, Dot Media, and Dot Event — organizes forums, fairs, festivals, fashion shows, and concerts while expanding e-commerce and e-export infrastructures across Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Since 2016, building projects that unite tourism with technology at national and international levels. Expert in business consulting, project management, brand strategy, corporate events, and trade shows.
Legal Network
Legal Advisors
Our clients benefit from direct access to trusted legal counsel across our operating markets — ensuring every investment is structured, compliant, and protected from day one.
Anthony Airewele
Managing Partner
Kislev Attorneys, Nigeria
Over a decade of proven expertise in facilitating seamless business entry and operations in Nigeria. Specializes in corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and investment advisory.
Successfully guided numerous international clients through business incorporation, mergers and acquisitions, and investment structuring — ensuring full compliance with Nigeria's legal framework.
Hon. Thomas Okyere
Ghana Country Advisor
Helgard Group of Companies | GanZa Farms & Consultancy
Ghanaian businessman, diplomat, and development advocate with extensive experience in African investment and business development. Founder and CEO of the Helgard Group of Companies, with interests spanning hospitality, logistics, and Ghana’s oil and gas sector. Partner at GanZa Farms and Consultancy, supporting agricultural productivity and international collaboration.
Serves as Honorary Consul of Botswana to Ghana and has held key leadership roles in business, cultural, and creative initiatives across the continent. As Ghana Country Advisor at Afrosum Consultancy, Thomas provides strategic guidance to international companies seeking to navigate Ghana’s market and explore opportunities across West Africa.
Advisory Board
Advisors
Sector experts and institutional leaders who bring deep domain knowledge to our engagements — from agriculture and blue economy to energy and trade.
Murat Sarıtoprak
Advisor — M.I.C.E., Congresses & International Events
Founder & Chairman, Literatür M.I.C.E. | Literatür Turizm, Ankara
Entrepreneur and event architect specializing in strategic event design, congress management, and international business organizations. Founder of Literatür M.I.C.E. — a platform that positions events not as logistics, but as strategic decision-making environments that drive brand impact, sales, and high-level partnerships.
Chairman of TÜSİAV Tourism Platform, founding board member of TURDER (Audit Committee Chair), and member of GGYD. Brings cross-sector experience in automotive, finance, pharmaceuticals, and telecom — combined with deep expertise in trade delegations, sponsorship models, and international business matchmaking.
Dr. K. Gökhan Kurtar, PhD
Advisor — Agriculture, Fisheries & Blue Economy
Section Director, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye
Over 20 years of experience in fisheries stock management, aquaculture, and agricultural technology policy. Currently leads the Agricultural Technologies Section at the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, identifying and implementing climate-smart agricultural innovations worldwide.
Represented Türkiye at FAO, ICCAT, GFCM, OECD, D-8, ECO, BSEC, and WTO — contributing to fisheries subsidies negotiations, sustainable food systems, and regional fisheries management. PhD from Çukurova University focused on aquaculture workforce management.
Dr. Zahid (Malik) Kerimov
Advisor — International Relations & Eurasian Diplomacy
Doctor of Political Sciences, Haliç University, İstanbul
Specialist in Turkish-Russian relations, Eurasian politics, and commercial diplomacy with over 25 years of experience across government, parliament, and academia. Coordinator of the Turkey-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group since 1999 to the present day.
Russia & Republics Representative at the Turkic Nations Cooperation Platform Bosphorus Summit (2009–2024), founding member of the European Muslim Forum, and OSCE election observer. Doctor of Political Sciences from Istanbul University in Political Science and International Relations. Fluent in Turkish, English, Russian, Armenian, and Azerbaijani.
Institutional References
Our institutional connections across Turkey and Africa form the foundation of every engagement we undertake.
Turkey
Afrosum Consultancy
Platform development, technology IP, Turkish supplier network, and export logistics. Headquartered in Ankara.
Harbiye Mah. Hürriyet Cad. No:52 A, Çankaya / Ankara
Nigeria
Afrosum Nigeria Ltd
Payment infrastructure, escrow management, KYC/AML compliance, and buyer network across West Africa.
Chamber of Commerce References
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
Nigeria
Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GNCCI)
Ghana
Lusaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Zambia
Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO)
Turkey
ATO and Lusaka Chamber signed a Good Faith Protocol (November 2023) covering trade, investment, tourism, healthcare, and agriculture — the exact sectors we serve.
Our Presence
Ankara, Turkey
Abuja, Nigeria
Accra, Ghana
Lusaka, Zambia
Let us discuss your Africa strategy
Tell us about your goals and we will suggest realistic next steps.
Schedule a Consultation