Our Leadership

Dr. Rich Young founded BuildIQ Africa with a singular vision: to protect diaspora investors from the fraud, delays, and heartbreak that too often plague home-building projects back home. With over 20 years of experience in construction management, infrastructure development, and diaspora community engagement across Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Nigeria, Dr. Young has personally overseen the delivery of more than 200 residential and commercial builds. He holds a doctorate in Project Management from the University of Cape Town and has advised multiple African government housing initiatives. His leadership philosophy is simple — every client deserves transparency, every milestone deserves verification, and every dream home deserves to be delivered on time and on budget.

Tendai Moyo leads the architectural vision for every BuildIQ Africa project. A registered architect with the South African Institute of Architects (SAIA), Tendai brings 15 years of experience designing climate-responsive, culturally rooted homes that blend modern comfort with African architectural heritage. He pioneered the firm's BIM (Building Information Modeling) workflow, enabling real-time 3D visualisation for diaspora clients thousands of miles away. Tendai studied at the University of Zimbabwe and the Architectural Association in London. His portfolio spans luxury villas in Lusaka, eco-lodges in Victoria Falls, and high-density housing in Accra. He believes great architecture should tell a story — and every BuildIQ home tells the story of its owner.

Amara Okafor is the financial guardian of every BuildIQ Africa build. As a chartered quantity surveyor (RICS), she ensures that every brick, beam, and bolt is accounted for — and that no client ever faces the surprise cost overruns that derail so many construction projects. Amara has 12 years of post-contract cost management experience across West and Southern Africa, having previously led procurement for a major Nigerian infrastructure consortium. She holds a BSc in Quantity Surveying from the University of Lagos and an MSc in Construction Economics from the University of Manchester. Amara designed BuildIQ's milestone-based payment system, which has saved clients an average of 23% on total build costs by locking in prices and eliminating middle-man markups.

Zara Bello is the voice and relationship engine behind BuildIQ Africa's rapid diaspora growth. With a background in international communications and brand strategy, she has built trusted connections with African communities in London, New York, Toronto, and Dubai. Before joining BuildIQ, Zara spent eight years leading marketing for a pan-African fintech platform, where she mastered the art of building trust across continents and time zones. She holds a BA in Media & Communications from the University of Nairobi and an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid. Zara personally hosts BuildIQ's monthly diaspora webinars, manages the ambassador programme, and ensures every prospective client feels heard, informed, and empowered before breaking ground.

Kofi Mensah is the boots-on-the-ground force that turns architectural dreams into structural reality. As BuildIQ Africa's lead project engineer, he coordinates site teams, manages sub-contractors, and enforces quality standards across every active build. A civil engineer by training, Kofi graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and earned his professional charter with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). He has supervised construction sites in Kumasi, Harare, Gaborone, and Nairobi — from single-family homes to multi-unit developments. Kofi is obsessed with build quality: he personally inspects reinforcement steel, concrete pour ratios, and waterproofing before any milestone is signed off. His calm under pressure and relentless attention to detail make him the clients' most trusted ally on site.