Tel:+234 905 895 5509
| Address: No 58A, Usuma Street,Maitama, Abuja, Nigeria
| Email: info@womenli.org
Governing Board
Members
Amb. Dr. Kema Chikwe
Her pedigree is unmistakable; so is her political acumen. Strong, suave and stately, Kemafo Chikwe remains one of the most prominent female politicians the Peoples Democratic Party has ever produced. A one-time minister of aviation and ambassador to Republic of Ireland, she was at the heart of women development and involvement in Nigeria’s political landscape.
Dr. Kemafor Ogan
Dr. Anyanwu Ogan is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at North Carolina State University (NC State). She also directs the Semantic Computing and Big Data research laboratory at NC State. She graduated from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with a B.Sc. in Biochemistry in 1989. She migrated to the United States shortly thereafter and worked as a Biochemist for a few years before starting graduate studies in Computer Science. She obtained her Ph.D. degree from the University of Georgia in 2007 and began a faculty position as an Assistant Professor at NC State the same year. At NC State, she has had a distinguished faculty career, having graduated several Ph.D. and M.S students who have gone on to work for top American computing organizations like Microsoft, Yahoo, IBM, Amazon, E-bay, Uber, Lenovo and several others. Her research and publications are disseminated widely with >1300 citations, two best paper awards, best paper award nominations and other notable contribution nominations. Her research has attracted over $1.5M in research grants from the United States National Science Foundation, the United States Office of Naval Research and industry organizations like IBM and Bosh Global Services. She is frequent panellist on the National Science Foundation proposal peer review panels and a member of organizational and steering committees of several international conferences and workshops and editorial board of leading journals. Aside from research and teaching, Dr. Anyanwu Ogan has served or participated in organizations focused on promoting Women in Computing, Women in Engineering Leadership and Diversity in Computing. She is also extremely passionate about strengthening the role of the African diaspora in building STEM capacity in Africa (particularly in STEM research and technology transfe
Professor Marie Umeh
Ambassador (Dr.) Marie Linton Umeh teaches Global Literature, English Writing Composition, and Research Methods at CUNY and Boricua College in New York. Currently, she is a United Nation's Ambassador for African Women for Good Government (AWGG). She is also a member of the following UN/NGOs: UNESCO Centre for Global Education, and the Main UN Representative for Widows Development Organisation [sic] (WiDO). Some of her publications include, Flora Nwapa: A Pen and A Press (2010), and The Flora Nwapa Society Newsletter (2007-2012). Other published books to her credit are the following: Emerging Perspectives on Buchi Emecheta (1995), Emerging Perspectives on Flora Nwapa (1998), Who's Who in Contemporary Women's Writing (2001) and Kema Chikwe Across Borders: Selected Speeches and Essays (2016). Her critical and theoretical essays appear in books and journals worldwide. As the Founder and CEO of The Flora Nwapa Society International, she promotes Africana women’s legacies.
Mrs. Somachi Kachikwu
Somachi is a gender/education specialist and management consultant. She has a B.A in Women Studies (International Economics) from Wesleyan University, an M.A in Gender Studies (Empowerment Strategies) from University College, London and is currently studying for her MSc. /PhD (Educational Leadership) at the University of Leicester, UK.
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She had worked at Platinum Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance and international development firms like Chemonics working on development projects. She has experience working as a LEADS Consultant at the National Universities Commission before starting The Gifted Minds Academy - an education service firm that aims at providing a wide range of extended school programmes for children and educators.
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She has used her experiences to provide strong academic, communication and leadership skills’ foundation for children, parents and guardians using children’s libraries, comfortable classrooms and great outdoor spaces. She also hosts workshops where teachers are trained.
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Her hobbies include mentoring, of which she is a part of two Mentoring Networks- Girls Unite and Women and A New Orientation. She loves reading; and co-founded a Ladies’ Only reading club – Books and Dessert Club. She’s a strong believer that the world will be a better place with more women in charge.
Dr. Alhaji Buhari Balla FCCA, FCA, OFR
Alhaji Buhari Bala serves as Principal Partner of Bala- Ogunleye & Co. Chartered Accountants, and Deputy President of Lacom Consultants, producers of Policy Magazine.
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Mr. Bala held various key positions in public and private sector including Director of Finance & Supplies in various Ministries in the defunct Sokoto State Government before venturing into Private Sector as Assistant General Manager Finance and Head Lagos liaison office of Peugeot Automobile (Nig.) Ltd.
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Mr. Bala has served on two occasions as Hon. Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Member, Federal Executive Council. He served as Chairman Technical Sub-Committee on International Boundaries; Chairman Technical Aid Corps Scheme and Chairman Pilgrims Affairs. He serves as Director of Metropolitan Bank Limited.
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He is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants of (F.C.C.A.), Member Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (A.C.A.), Member Nigeria Institute of Management (N.I.M). Mr Bala obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (B.Sc. Bus. Admin), a Master of Business Administration Degree (M.B.A) in Finance from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He also obtained a post-graduate Diploma in Advanced Accounting from Luton College of Higher Education. U.K.
Dr. Charles Aniagolu
News Anchor & Special Correspondent - Arise TV News London.
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Charles is currently a senior editor, news anchor and special correspondent with Arise TV News in London. In addition, he does occasional radio/TV reporting for CBC Canada, ABC Australia, CBS America, RTE Ireland, France 24 in Paris and Global Radio/TV News, based in London. As a BBC trained broadcast journalist, Charles worked for 8 years with BBC World Service Radio and BBC World Television as a reporter, producer and news presenter. Charles later worked as a casual television reporter with ITN, a freelance news producer with Sky News and as a casual news presenter on CNN International.
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Charles is also Chief production Executive and Partner at Spirit Creations, a media production and PR company, based in the UK and Nigeria (www.spiritcreations.co.uk). Charles is the writer, producer and co-director of the international Nollywood hit movie “Streets of Calabar” which was filmed in Cross River State of Nigeria and London, England with an international cast and was released in cinemas in Africa in December 2012.
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Charles is also author of five books: “A British Nigerian Deadbeat in Cincinnati” (Trafford UK & Canada, 2010); “The Great Judge: A Biography of Justice Anthony Aniagolu” (St Paul’s Publishing, Nigeria, 2009); “Osibisa: Living in the State of Happy Vibes” (Trafford UK 2004), “Unbroken Spirit” (FIT Consult, Nigeria, 2003) and “Despatches From Lagos: Nigeria in Crisis” (Alpine UK, 1996) Charles holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio and a Master of Arts degree in Broadcast Journalism, Film Production & Communications Law from the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. He also holds a certificate in Intellectual Property Law, from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Academy, in Geneva, Switzerland.
Mr. Chris Maiyaki
Mr. Christopher J. Maiyaki graduated, with a B.Sc. in International Relations from the famous Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria. He also obtained a Master in International Law and Diplomacy degree from the University of Jos in 1991. He has also attended training programmes which appertain to procurement & project management, computer application to human resource management.
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Mr. Maiyaki started his public service career 23 years ago as a young Administrative Officer in the Policy & Administrative arm of the Cabinet Office in the Governor’s Office in Plateau State. Subsequent to this, he joined the National Universities Commission on inter-service transfer in 1993, where he was appointed Administrative Secretary of the World Bank Project Implementation Unit of the National Universities Commission, which executed the $120m Credit facility for twenty federal universities. At the expiration of that project which was adjudged to be one of the best administered in the Word Bank portfolio in Nigeria, Mr. Maiyaki was redeployed to work in the various arms of the National Universities Commission, where he has fulfilled various secondary leadership function positions.
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Mr. Maiyaki has been invited to form part of and participated in various Adhoc committees and panels formed to address problems in NUC to deal with policy, general coordination and regulation of university education in Nigeria. He has also participated in the recent promotion of bilateral cooperation between the NUC and diplomatic missions located in Nigeria and beyond. For instance, between 2000-2001, he served on the Secretariat of the Government Negotiating Team set up to negotiate thorny issues with staff unions associated with the universities. More recently, he formed part of the Adhoc Committee to develop the blue print for Open & Distance Learning, among several other assignments. Mr. Maiyaki has developed solid organizational, managerial and negotiation skills at the National Universities Commission. He served the current executive secretary as Deputy Director/ Chief of Staff. The governing board of NUC was to later appoint him a substantive director of special duties and protocol responsible for implementing two presidential scholarships and the linkages with experts and academics in the diaspora scheme. He is currently the Director, Special Duties at NUC. His hobbies include international & current affairs, football and reading.
Mrs. Nini Okey- Uche
She is known to be result-oriented in a manner that is often seen as an obsession to get the job well done! Excellence has always been her watch word, to the chagrin of those more comfortable in mediocrity.
She speaks fluent French, with a good grasp of Spanish. She is also an expert on Protocol Matters, Irregular Migration, Human Trafficking, Government, International and Public Relations, as well as Cultural Diversity, having travelled to over thirty-five (35) countries across the globe. She has lived in Nigeria, the United Kingdom (UK), the United States of America (USA), The Netherlands and Belgium. She studied at some of the most prestigious schools in the United Kingdom (UK) and then returned to Nigeria for University, in order to prepare herself for a 'real feel' of the professional realities in her home country.
In the course of her career, when on ground in Nigeria , she has served on deployment in Asa Rock Presidential Villa under three (3) different administrations of Former Presidents Abacha, Yar'Adua and Jonathan when he was Vice President. During these deployments she worked in the Offices of the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP) and that of the Chief of Staff (COS) to the Vice President. She held several positions, most notable among which was Assistant Director of Protocol (ADOP), during this time, she led several Advance Team VIP movements, locally and internationally. She also handled general coordination under the State Chief of Protocol (SCOP).
Furthermore, she designed and introduced a Manual consisting of Checklists for the organisation of the various forms of Presidential movements, in order to achieve improved organisation and block existing loopholes that often caused negative incidents due to inefficiency. Eventually, she was appointed as a Special Assistant for Operations and General Liaison (SA OGL) to the then Vice President.
In her rare leisure time, she loves travelling, music, dancing, sport, Bible study and poetry. Above all, she cherishes quality time with her husband who is a lawyer, as well as with their 7 children that she constantly teaches winning ways for life, as well as the privilege of adding valuable service to their nation - Nigeria.
Whenever presented with an opportunity, she is known to add clear value and play a strong part in taking any situation, issue, group, individual or organisation to the next higher level.
Mrs. Okey-Uche tries hard to live and not just exist, to add value and not just work, to nurture and not just mother, to give and not just want to receive, to laugh from within and not just an upturning of her lips. She is often described as a 'Passionately Patriotic' Nigerian, a 'Creativity Expert', a 'Change Agent', a 'Master-Organizer ' and one that adds colour, while ensuring professionalism and excellence in her every endeavor and assignment.
Prof. Nkadi Onyegegbu
Nkadi Onyegegbu is at present, Professor in the Science Education Department, the immediate past Director, Institute of Education; Professor and Reproductive Health and Sexuality Educator in Science Education Department of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She holds a BSc. in Microbiology, a PGDE in Science Education, M.Ed. and Ph.D. in Science Education. Her academic career is garnished with strings of academic publications. She has edited seven books, contributed chapters in many books and has published avalanche of academic articles in renowned national and international journals. She was the Editor-in-Chief of Review of Educational Journal, and Editor of Educational Research Journal and Online African Journal of Education. She has also for over fifteen years successfully organized and co-coordinated seminars, workshops, conferences for institute of Education and Leadership Training programs for the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her professional activities can be measured by her membership in nine professional societies and associations. As a researcher, Professor Nkadi Onyegegbu has severed as a consultant to many international organizations including the World Health Organization [WHO], United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF], John D, & Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, Action Aids, Rainbow West Africa, Ford Foundation, United Nations Development Program [UNDP], UKAID, DFID, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria and Millennium Development Goals[MDG] and National Reproductive Health, HIV & AIDs Prevention, Care and support through NYSC. As an academic and active researcher, she has globally travelled to the USA, UK, Canada, China, Malaysia, India, South Africa, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya just to mention a few. She has delivered keynote addresses and Lead Paper presentations in a number of conferences. She has also conducted a number of funded researches and facilitated as Lead Resource Person in a number of sponsored capacity building workshops, seminars and training programs for teachers and youths. Currently, she is a full time National Consultant for UNICEF on WASH, WINS4Girls MHM research Project. Despite her numerous commitments to teaching and research, professor Onyegegbu, still spends quality time with her family. At home she is an extremely humble and affectionate wife and mother. Her marriage to Emeritus Engr. Professor Sam Onyegegbu has spanned through 44years and produced wonderful and lovely grown up children and grandchildren. Nkadi Onyegegbu is a devoted Christian and enjoys hobbies like jogging, gardening, collecting flowers, stones and cake baking.
Member, Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN)
Member, National Academy of Education (NAE)
Member, Association for Promotion of Quality Education in Nigeria (APQEN)
Member, Association of African Women for Research and Development (AAWORD)
Member, Organization of Women in Science in Developing Countries (OWSD)
Member, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development)
Member, Gender, Science and Technology (GASAT)
Member, National Association of University Academic Women)
Director, Global Health and Awareness Research Foundation (GHARF)
Dr. Eleanor Nwadino
More than 20 years’ experience in Malaria , health education, reproductive health, safe motherhood, sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS
•More than 20 years’ experience in gender issues, violence against women especially widowhood and female genital cutting
•More than 20 years’ experience managing and coordinating multi-sectoral role players and stakeholders in the public, private and civil society sectors in Nigeria
•Twenty years’ senior strategic and management experience in social development
•Extensive experience working with output orientated teams in the rural and local government sector
•Experience in target setting, achieving expectations of donors, beneficiaries
•Sound knowledge of project design, implementation and monitoring
•Thorough knowledge of the LFA approach and its use in projects design, implementation and monitoring
•Thorough knowledge of development and funding mechanisms for project implementation
•Competent evaluator with extensive monitoring and evaluation experience of a wide range of development interventions
•Rigorous approach to establishment and implementation of procedures, protocols and systems of development finance tools and mechanisms
•Extensive experience with participatory learning approaches; strong orientation towards participatory and empowerment approaches and methods in the field
•Experience in capturing and disseminating best practice, lobbying and advocacy at senior decision-making and community levels
•Creative and improvising thinker geared towards practical, realistic and ecologically sound alternatives to rural development obstacles.
Thorough understanding of donor project management cycle and reporting including logical framework analysis
• Thorough understanding of Rights-Based Approach to SDGs
Proven track record performance managing technical expertise and service providers
•Strong commitment to working with poor, marginalized and vulnerable communities
• Extensive experience using participatory approaches and methodologies to plan, research, implement and monitor development interventions
• Conflict management using alternative dispute model and field visit to Kosovo
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5 years’ experience in peace building and conflict management in Nigeria
Prof. Seth Akutson
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Professor Seth Akutson holds a PhD degree in Economics from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria; where he taught more than a decade. He’s also a Graduate of the University of Ibadan and Ahmadu Bello University – Zaria. He’s been pioneer Head and Director Entrepreneurship at Kaduna State University, Nigeria; as well as head, Research and Training, Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers, Lagos. He’s been involved in University Governance and Sustainable Funding with DFID/UKaid/ British Council serving as resource person and panelist.
Prof. Akutson has served as a visiting professor at University of Capetown, South Africa and PhD supervisor at University of Lusaka, Zambia. A board member of Resource Associates Ltd involved in customized training with commercial Banks, Central Bank and corporate organizations. He has published scholarly articles in reputable journals and has facilitated and attended several conferences within and offshore. He’s a Grantspreneuer and one-time Principal Consultant with OAU Consultancy for a decade, securing projects funding.
Prof. Akutson experiences span 3 decades, being World Bank advisor in the office of Honourable Minister of Power; he’s policy consultant with German Government GiZ and facilitator of the Federal Government Enterprise Innovation Programme.
Pfor. Akutson is faculty member with leading Business Schools including EDC, Lagos Business School, where he facilitates growth and IFC-Wold Bank Modules. He’s grant recipient of United States Embassy Digital Marketing Modules for Nigerian Universities.
Prof. Akutson is Board Member/ Advisor for Green Shift South-Africa & working with Institute for Transformational Entrepreneurship, Coventry University, United Kingdom, researcher, Universiti Utara, Malaysia and working visit with Utah State University, USA.
Porf. Seth Akutson is a fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria, amongst several other professional bodies, including life membership of Nigeria Economic Society, Nigeria Institute of Management, Chattered Institute of Administration, Institute of Personnel Management, The European Business Competence License and Fellow, Institute of Public Speaking.
Yvonne Chizobam Momah
Yvonne Chizobam Momah is a dynamic and driven professional with a passion for making a positive impact in the world. As a Barrister/Solicitor at Law, Yvonne completed her legal education at the Nigerian Law School and further pursued an LL.M in International Development at the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, focusing on the intersection of the informal economy and Nigeria's economic development. With a keen interest in building strategic partnerships and addressing pressing social and gender issues, Yvonne serves as the Programme Coordinator and Partnerships Manager at the Women's Leadership Institute. She has also contributed significantly to national initiatives, serving as a member of the strategy unit for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreements in Nigeria.
