Viola E. OKORO: A Development Expert, Author, Parenting Coach, Entrepreneur, and the Founder of Leadership Foundation for African Girl Child and Women.
She holds an HND in Food Science and Technology from Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna in Nigeria, a Master’s Degree (MBA) in Marketing from Lagos State University (LASU) in Nigeria and Master’s Degree (MBA) in Leadership from University of East London (UEL) in the United Kingdom (UK).
Her local and international work experience is an advantage in achieving collaborative goals in cross-cultural settings. She had over eight (8) years of work experience in SANBATH Nigeria Limited as Public Relations Officer and later Public Relations Manager [Lagos Region]. She had over four (4) years of media work experience in Insider Weekly Magazine in Nigeria.
During her secondary school days, as a teenager in Girls’ Secondary School Okigwe now called Mercy High School Okigwe, she led over five hundred girls as their Hostel Prefect.
The teenage leadership experience gave her an early insight into how challenging leadership can be and the plight of the girl child.
Sampson U.OKORO: He is a skilled entrepreneur who nurtured different businesses from the foundation to the production stage. He holds HND in Purchasing and Supply from Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State, Nigeria. He is a Nigerian whose knowledge and experience in business nurturing have helped in the Foundation’s organizational growth and the smooth running of projects.
Stella OKEKE: She is a Housing Consultant and holds a master’s degree (MA) in Housing Studies from South Bank University, London. She has over twenty (20) years of combined theoretical and practical experience in housing, and at present, manages a property portfolio.
She worked with several UK local authorities in housing management, front line service, housing needs, homeownership, and leasehold services. Skills such as training, PowerPoint presentation, interviewing, assessing problems, report writing, advocacy, lobbying, or negotiating on a client’s behalf. She also worked as a volunteer to Housing4women housing association, mentoring vulnerable women who were trafficked and suffered domestic violence.
She hopes to bring her transferable volunteering experience from her previous roles as a non-executive director of Deptford City Challenge (UK Government quango), a management committee member of DSLP and school governor. Alongside this, she is currently working for an organization involved with helping vulnerable young people.
In Nigeria, she has a track record in supporting the vulnerable through scholarships and financial empowerment. She is a Nigerian with a wealth of experience that supports the Foundation’s growth.
Declan OKPALAEKE: He is a multiple award-winning journalist, writer, teacher, media trainer, and communications consultant. In 1999, he became the first Nigerian to win the much-coveted CNN African Journalist of the Year Award. He later became the first journalist on the continent to win in three different categories of the award for his coverage of health, environment, and sports stories. He is a prolific journalist who covers several issues and writes across beats.
Okpalaeke began his journalism career at The Guardian in 1995 after previously working in advertising and theatre production. He joined Tell magazine in 2000 for a short spell before teaming up with others to found Insider Weekly news magazine in 2001. He left the magazine in 2008 as Deputy Chief Executive after serving previously as executive editor and deputy editor-in-chief, respectively. He was subsequently co-Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of News Digest International.
He has trained thousands of young and mid-career journalists and mentored several. He is a 2004 Nieman Fellow of Harvard University and a Knight International Journalism Fellow of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), a media development organisation in Washington DC.
Okpalaeke holds a first degree in microbiology and a Master’s degree in mass communication. He is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE), and the United States-based Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE). He is also the President of the African Health Journalists Association.
Okpalaeke has served in many organisations at decision-making levels and has led many professional teams. He is a Fellow/Part-Time Teacher at the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, and is Principal Consultant/CEO at InterPares Media Limited.
He is married and has children.
Ikechukwu AWA is a legal practitioner, clergy, and Deputy Director (legal services) in the government of Abia State, Nigeria.
He holds a Bachelor degree in Law (LL.B) from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and a Master’s degree (LL.M) from Abia State University Uturu. Presently he is at the verge of completing his Doctorate degree (Ph.D) in law. He was called into Nigerian Bar in December 1990. He has been involved in numerous pro bono services as legal aid to poor and indigent persons.
He is also a Part time Pastor with The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM). He is an Area Pastor with the commission and presently the Resident Pastor of TREM Market Road branch, Aba, Abia State. He is a teacher, counsellor and he is committed to raising leaders of influence. God has used him greatly to positively impact many lives.
He is actively involved in community and humanitarian activities. He is also a member of Board of Trustees of Onyekachi Ukaegbu Agu Foundation and Igbere Ministers Global Forum.